Foundation Relations: A Guide to Navigating Private Foundation Funding Opportunities MEREDITH DORNEKER, RESEARCHER OFFICE OF FOUNDATION RELATIONS
Office of Foundation Relations The Office of Foundation Relations (OFR) is Northwestern University s central office supporting faculty and staff who seek funding from private professional foundations. OFR manages relationships with foundations to advance University goals and priorities.
Office of Foundation Relations Sarah Fodor Senior Director Susan Fisher Miller Senior Associate Director Michael Kelley Senior Associate Director Susan Dauber Senior Associate Director Traci Galbaugh Senior Associate Director Feinberg School of Medicine Meredith Dorneker Researcher Garth Huskey Program Assistant OFR - http://www.northwestern.edu/foundationrelations/
Session Objectives Define and describe private foundations Introduce participants to free and subscription based resources for identifying non-federal funding opportunities. Resources include: Philanthropy News Digest (PND) SciVal Community of Science/Pivot Foundation Directory Online (FDO) Highlight keys to successful foundation proposals
Private Foundations & Why They Give Private professional foundations are charitable, nongovernmental organizations that support research and outreach projects that align with their mission and programs. They purposefully try to work as a complement to federal funding programs, not a duplication.
Private Foundations & Why They Give At Northwestern, single-year foundation grants average $50,000 and multi-year foundation grants average $300,000. Foundations vary widely in funding interests and application guidelines which is why a dedicated foundation relations office is so useful!
Feds vs. Foundations Federal Agencies Highly specialized review boards that are aware of the latest literature You may recognize most of the reviewer names Huge volume but reasonably substantial staff Strict but mostly stable guidelines Foundations Review board expertise ranges, but even scientific boards typically straddle many subfields Reviewers from fields outside your own Huge volume and small staff Strict guidelines that can completely differ from foundation to foundation
What is Philanthropy News Digest? Philanthropy News Digest (PND) is a service of Foundation Center. Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. PND is a content-rich website with a variety of free search tools, tutorials, downloadable reports, and other information updated daily. www.philanthropynewsdigest.org
Searching for funding opportunities in PND Navigate to the PND RFP page: www.philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps Search by Interests, Locations, or Keywords Sort by Date Posted
Philanthropy News Digest (PND) www.philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps
Creating an Account and Setting Alerts Select Need to Register Fill in the following categories with your information: About You Account Information Additional Information
Setting up RFP Alerts RFP Alerts daily RFP alerts sent to your inbox Click on RFP Alerts Select your Geographic Locations Illinois National Other? Does the PI s research have a regional focus? Select Subjects What category is descriptive of the PI s work? Select multiple categories if relevant.
PND Newsletters and Alerts Philanthropy News Digest Newsletter - weekly digest that summarizes philanthropy related news from the last week. RFP Bulletin a roundup of recently announced RFPs. Sent out every Friday afternoon. Connections biweekly newsletter containing links to the best the Web has to offer on issues related to changing the world of philanthropy. Funding Alerts monthly newsletters offering the latest news in subject-based philanthropy, links to resources, funding opportunities for individuals and orgs, and job listings.
Questions about PND?
What is SciVal? SciVal Funding indexes funding content from over 4,700 international sponsors, providing more than 19,000 active opportunities and over 3.3 million awarded grant records. Funding content gets updated on a daily basis, with the content being captured directly from trusted sources. Elsevier Research Grants (ranging from philanthropic to transactional/contractual) Fellowship/Scholarship Awards
SciVal SciVal is accessible through the NU Research webpage: http://www.research.northwestern.edu/information-for/faculty-researchers/funding-opportunities.html
SciVal Create an Account Click Register Create your account, with email (username) and password
SciVal Home Screen Go to the Search link in the upper left.
SciVal Advanced Search via keyword is best by subject. Many parameters to choose from further below!
SciVal Scroll Further Down Further filters are available, including sponsor type, award amount, award type and others.
SciVal - Timelines Please note that Date Posted only filters for the last 4 weeks at most. Setting the Deadlines filter (and changing it later in your alert) will capture more.
SciVal Setting Alerts In your returned search, click Save Search/Set Alert In the pop-up: Name your alert Set alert to Yes Set your Frequency Set your email Set HTML for format Click SAVE
Any Questions?
What is Community of Science/Pivot? A comprehensive, editorially maintained database of funding opportunities worth an estimated $33 billion dollars. The database also contains 3 million pre-populated scholar profiles, drawing from the Community of Scholars and Community of Science profiles.
Accessing Community of Science (COS) Pivot at Northwestern www.library.northwestern.edu
COS Pivot: Register for an Account Click on: Register for a Pivot account Create your Pivot Account by entering: Name Email Password Affiliated Member Institution: Northwestern University Click: Create my account
COS Pivot Homepage Categorize your funding opportunities: Active the most critical or timesensitive funding opportunities. Tracked opportunities you want to monitor, but they aren t as timely as active. Saved Searches name and save important searches. You can receive weekly alerts when new or updated opportunities match your search. Shared tracks shared funding opportunities on this page. Received a list of opportunities that have been sent to you by colleagues. Advisor matches funding opportunities based on the PIs profile.
COS Pivot: Advanced Search Training session example: A faculty member is looking for funding for history research. She is also hoping to host a series of history seminars at Northwestern. She is seeking $150,000 over two years for the research and seminars. The PI is a U.S. citizen, and all of her research will be conducted in the U.S. She is interested in exploring all federal and non-federal funding opportunities.
COS Pivot: Advanced Search
COS Pivot: Advanced Search Example search criteria Key search terms/fields: history Amount: more than $50,000 Any deadline
COS Pivot: Advanced Search
COS Pivot: Advanced Search
COS Pivot: Advanced Search Results Results: Sort Results by: Relevance Title Sponsor Name Deadline Amount Filter by: Submission type Top funding types Top sponsor types Requirements Top keywords Click on individual opportunities to see more detail. Select opportunities that are of interest.
Managing Funding Opportunities in COS Pivot Add the deadline for the opportunity to your calendar. Have Pivot send you an email before the deadline.
Questions about COS Pivot?
What is Foundation Directory Online (FDO)? A database of over 100,000 foundations, corporate giving programs, and grantmaking public charities located in the United States. A database of over 4,000 sponsoring companies, offering a quick pathway to corporate funders. A database of over 2.4 million recently awarded grants. A keyword-searchable database of over 700,000 recently filed IRS Forms 990 and 990-PF.
Northwestern s Terms of Use for FDO Northwestern has purchased an institutional license for FDO, with a price based on NU s full-time enrollment numbers and strict access limitations. FDO is only to be accessed and used by current NU faculty, staff, and students. Access is for individual, noncommercial use, without systematically downloading, distributing, or retaining substantial portions of information.
Accessing FDO at Northwestern The sole point of access to FDO is through the Library website; start by entering Foundation Directory Online into the resource search on the Library s main page.
Accessing FDO at Northwestern Select the first search result, titled The Foundation directory online ; it should say Online access
Accessing FDO at Northwestern Log-in using an active NetID and password via the passport system
Accessing FDO at Northwestern The following disclaimer page comes up:
Why is There a Disclaimer? Northwestern s interactions with the organizations listed in Foundation Directory Online are officially managed and monitored by the offices of Corporate Engagement and Foundation Relations. If the user is searching FDO to locate funders that they wish to approach as a representative of Northwestern University, the user must communicate with these offices for advice and clearance. These offices seek to document and assist, and not hinder, approaches to the funders in FDO.
FDO Homepage
Using FDO Search for Grantmaker (fields) One main search method in FDO is by Grantmaker, using the various pre-populated search fields. I ll demonstrate this method using this request: A faculty member would like to know what funders exist who will support a research project on diabetes and nutrition. The research would be done with populations in the Chicago area. Exclude any grantmakers that won t accept unsolicited applications.
Using FDO Search for Grantmaker (keywords) Doing a funder search with keywords instead of fields of interest can be very powerful, but tricky. Utilize Boolean terms for best results. I ll demonstrate the keyword method using our earlier request: A faculty member would like to know what funders exist who will support a research project on diabetes and nutrition. The research would be done with populations in the Chicago area. Exclude any grantmakers that don t accept unsolicited applications.
Using FDO Search for Grants Another incredibly useful approaching to locating funders involves searching FDO s extensive database of previously awarded grants. You use fields and/or keywords here as well. Here s a simple request: What organizations have made grants of $25,000 or more to universities regarding issues surrounding water pollution? Sort them chronologically.
Using FDO Power Search Power Search is the first option that comes up when you log into FDO. It s comprehensive but also tricky to use, since it essentially keyword searches all of FDO s databases at once. Search Grantmakers allows you to search for grantmaker names based on different criteria (fields of interest, keywords, geographic focus, etc.) Search Companies allows you to search for a company by business type, location, subsidiary, officers/directors, and keywords. Search Grants shows a listing of all grants awarded in a selected area. Search 990s helps you identify specific information on 990 tax forms.
FDO - Tips Tips: Search by keyword Use Boolean terms Recipient type: higher education (not university) We do not recommend using grantmaker location for most searches. Instead, use the geographic focus to narrow down the field of potential funders. Searching by both grantmakers and grants offers the most comprehensive search results.
Four Keys to Successful Foundation Proposals 49 1. Acknowledge the Occasion 2. Write to the Audience 3. Use Structure Persuasively 4. Communicate with Clarity
Four Keys to Successful Foundation Proposals 1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE OCCASION
Acknowledge the Occasion 51 What is the Occasion? How does understanding a foundation s history and trajectory help frame a competitive proposal?
Understand Acknowledge the Occasion What the foundation is trying to do Some history of how they got to where they are How the individual program that you are interested in works The opportunity itself: 1. A specific RFP 52 2. A formal or informal letter of inquiry
Acknowledge the Occasion How do you find out what foundations are really interested in? Website Other colleagues RFP and guidelines Program officer, if they accept inquiries Foundation Relations 53
In the proposal Acknowledge the Occasion 54 Appeal to the foundation s interest in accomplishing something critical to its mission Hammer home the idea that your work is going to help the program officer get her work done
Four Keys to Successful Foundation Proposals 2. WRITE TO THE AUDIENCE
Write to the Audience Who will be reviewing this document at this stage? How can I best write to them? 56 Program officer (and other foundation staff) Expert peer review or a scientific review board Board members
The program officer Write to the Audience 57 Program designer Gatekeeper Proposal manager Advocate and ally (Burnt bridge?)
Write to the Audience Writing for a program officer Assume a high degree of knowledge about program area but not necessarily your disciplinary lens Explicitly sell idea and its significance for addressing the specific problem addressed in proposal Connect work with mission and strategy of the program Follow the guidelines and treat each phase of proposal process as worthy of high effort 58
Write to the Audience 59 External reviewers Peer review or expert review panel? Expect sophisticated, demanding review Specify your design and methods! Anticipate reviewers and potential criticism
Write to the Audience Foundation Board Sets policy Potentially reviews grants 60 Look on website for friends or foes why? Provide program officer with answers to potential questions
Write to the Audience Knowing your Audience(s) is about: 61 Understanding and respecting the audience(s) at each stage of review Personalizing your message when possible and appropriate Providing your program officer with clear prose that he can use to advocate on your behalf
Four Keys to Successful Foundation Proposals 3. USE STRUCTURE PERSUASIVELY
Use Structure Persuasively Obey the guidelines Searle Scholars: Please make sure that all application materials HAVE NOT BEEN stapled or double-sided.... NO STAPLES. W.M. Keck Research Program: Print single-spaced on 81/2 x 11 paper with 1 margins At least 12 point type using Times New Roman font 63 Captions must be at least 9 point type... etc. Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation: Proposals must contain an adequate budget with a breakdown as to how the funds will be used.
Use Structure Persuasively 64 Exploit the guidelines Packard invests in future leaders who have the freedom to take risks, explore new frontiers in their fields of study, and follow uncharted paths that may lead to groundbreaking discoveries.... Support for highly creative researchers.... Inquisitive, passionate scientists and engineers who take a creative approach to their research, dare to think big, and follow new ideas wherever they lead.
Use Structure Persuasively Abstract, Summary, Lay Summary This piece matters! The gateway to the entire application; triage Needs to account for the essentials of the longer research statement Write it last! Should match the research statement content, but avoid verbatim wording Lay summary: a key designation 65
Use Structure Persuasively Opening Paragraph The written equivalent of an interview handshake: be sure YOU and the OCCASION are present The elevator pitch, essentials, signposts An opportunity to position yourself in charge, the reader s guide An opportunity to define the terms and parameters Hypnosis, brainwashing, rhetoric... Persuasion! 66
AN EXAMPLE Use Structure Persuasively Opening sentences, Before: 67 Genomes can be used in many ways to produce different phenotypes. This is particularly obvious in multicellular organisms in which cells having the same genome become distinct tissues. Therefore, a key question in biology is how the qualitative and quantitative expression of genes is controlled.
Use Structure Persuasively 68 Opening three sentences, After: The next big challenge in the field of cell nucleus organization and architecture is to understand how gene-specific regulation can be integrated into the three-dimensional organization of the genome as a whole. I propose to use the W.M. Keck Distinguished Young Scholars Award to expand my past analysis to understand more globally how chromosomes are spatially organized and how this influences gene expression, information which ultimately can show the way to improved treatment of human disease resulting from aberrant gene expression. My successful engagement to date in this uncharted, often difficult realm of medical research encourages me to pursue a compelling new problem.
Use Structure Persuasively Position your material strategically Don t bury what s important: your plan, your achievements, what s novel 69
Use Structure Persuasively Proportion your material strategically Page limit is a test in itself Hard choices: what s in, what s out Temptations: textbook, lecture, background, PAST research Priority = how money will be spent, i.e., the FUTURE 70
Use Structure Persuasively 71 Proportion, Before: Western society often looks to the democracy of ancient Athens for texts and philosophies through which to understand the modern world. Until the beginning of the 20 th century, texts from antiquity formed the core of school and university education. Greek drama, arguably classical Athens most renowned literary product, has been adapted and reused in every age, not only in academe, but also in popular contexts. Particularly in the twentieth century, artists have used Greek drama to express current political concerns. This complicated cultural history remains largely unexplored because we tend to turn directly to the ancient texts without considering the intervening traditions. We submit this application for the Sawyer Seminars to open a forum for investigating the reception of classical drama in two important areas.
Use Structure Persuasively 72 Proportion, After: This interdisciplinary seminar will compare how Athenian drama was received and adapted in Europe, North Africa and the Near East up until the Middle Ages, and in the United States since 1776. With the participation of specialists from Classics, Theatre, English, Political Science and History, we would consider how and why adaptations and reproductions of ancient Greek plays are so often used and what this reception history can tell us.
Use Structure Persuasively Integrate the elements of the application 73
Four Keys to Successful Foundation Proposals 4. COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY
Communicate with Clarity Identify a problem and offer its solution Express need in terms of a problem Your fix is your distinct future contribution 75
Communicate with Clarity 76 Imagine a world in which we could adapt biology to manufacture any chemical or material from renewable resources, both quickly and on demand. Scientists can already re-engineer organisms for use as cellular factories to make fuels and targeted therapeutics. However, the current approach to engineering cells is prohibitively laborious and difficult because of our incomplete knowledge of how life works, and because unlike typical engineered systems cells have their own agenda such as growth and adaptation. To overcome these limitations, I aim to reconceptualize the way we engineer biology, bypassing the cell wall to harness the biosynthetic potential of biological systems. This new paradigm for constructing biosynthetic functions without using intact cells will enable a deeper understanding of why nature s designs work the way they do and will open the way to novel antibiotics and new classes of tunable materials that have been impractical if not impossible to produce by other means.
Communicate with Clarity Let your strengths and individuality shine 77 I is stronger than we
The passive voice vanishes the PI Passive: Experiments were conducted that established that mice like cheese. Active: 78 In 2014 I directed experiments that gave undergraduate researchers particular responsibility in establishing that mice like cheese.
Communicate with Clarity Provide readers a map to your thinking Externalize the narrative Provide definitions Add linking sentences Use strong topic sentences to start paragraphs Translate: In other words..., 79
Communicate with Clarity Anticipate the opposition and address it Sound rhetorical strategy Answering for high risk research 80
Communicate with Clarity Illustrate the bland general with the vivid specific for example the most interesting example I have observed 81 an illustration from my own lab would be
Questions, Answers, Discussion POWERPOINT SLIDES WILL BE SHARED