FAQs

What is the role of Foundation Relations (FR)? How can FR help me?

• Foundation Relations helps faculty and campus partners at UMass Amherst pursue funding from private foundations. We offer strategic consultation about funder priorities, current funding trends, campus connections, narrative development, general budget development, and timeline planning.
• FR is also a thought partner, helping faculty and development officers align their needs with funder priorities. We can help make your proposals more competitive.

Why should I involve FR when reaching out to program officers?

• We can provide valuable insights that substantially benefit your proposal and learn about approaches adopted by other campus stakeholders in working with the funder you are targeting.
• As UMass Amherst’s official recordkeeper of all interactions between faculty/development officers and private foundations, we have a responsibility to our campus to maintain the latest information in order to guide future outreach to specific funders.
• At a time when the competition for private philanthropic dollars is becoming increasingly fierce due to federal funding cuts, we strive to help our campus position itself for success.
• Should you decide – for whatever reason – to proceed with a funder meeting/call without us, we ask that you provide us with a clear synopsis of your meeting either via email or call.

Why is it important to collaborate with FR early in the process?  

• We can help you think through the strategic alignment between your proposed project and a particular funder or funding opportunity. FR can provide valuable information about a funder's recent grantmaking, insights from previous interactions with that funder, information about campus connections, and an overview of a foundation's history and current priorities. We can help you maximize alignment between your proposal idea and a funder's priorities, leading to a more productive conversation.   

Can FR help me connect with faculty who have previously been funded by a specific foundation?

• Yes, FR has a database of faculty who have received specific awards and can connect you with them (with their permission). We are unable to share their specific applications without first gaining permission.

How do private foundations differ from federal funders?  

• Private foundations are overwhelmingly project focused. (They rarely fund construction projects, general operating support, or endowments.)
• Private foundations typically place more trust in (and give higher levels of funding to) individuals/programs with which they have an established relationship. Aligning your project with each funder’s stated programmatic priorities will create a solid foundation on which to build those relationships.
• Private funders favor more "experimental," "high-risk" approaches, especially in areas that have not been traditionally supported by federal, state, and local agencies. Most private foundations see their role as that of a catalyst for bold new ideas that can eventually be upscaled or incorporated into more established and consistent funding streams.
• Private foundations emphasize maximizing the impact/s of a project. They allow a much lower indirect cost rate, and their priorities tend to change more frequently.

Are private foundations automatic replacements for public funding?  

• Unfortunately, no. Private foundations often position themselves to fill "gaps" in public funding and to launch promising new ideas.

How do I find private funding opportunities for my work?  

• You can begin by identifying foundations that support colleagues in your field whose work aligns with yours. You can also conduct preliminary research on Foundation Directory Online through the UMass Amherst Libraries, read the weekly Foundation Funding Guide (a publication distributed to all faculty members by FR), read FR’s monthly list of annual limited submission opportunities, explore relevant funder membership associations, and reach out to us for  more a more detailed prospect list specifically tailored to your unique needs.

How important are relationships with private foundations?  When should I reach out to a private foundation?  

• Personal relationships tend to be more important with foundations, and cultivating those relationships takes both time and preparation. Whether you seek to initiate a first contact or to deepen your partnership with a specific funding entity, we can help. The benefits of these efforts can be significant, placing you within funding orbits that may be closed to others.  

Do private foundations always organize open calls for proposals? 

• Not all private funders have open calls for submissions. Some engage in proactive grantmaking, researching a specific topic deeply and then reaching out to those whose work is familiar to them and aligns with their priorities. Even under these more challenging circumstances, we can help you get on these funders’ radars.

Do private foundations prioritize certain types of projects? What does it mean when private foundations seek to "leverage other resources and maximize impact"? 

• Foundations tend to favor more experimental, high-risk approaches not already supported by public funding agencies. They often seek to seed innovative ideas that can then be upscaled by larger investors. It is important to show the relevance your project has either to a larger field of study or beyond the confines of our campus. Remember that foundations want to see the potential for significant impact down the road.

Are private foundations' funding priorities stable? 

• Foundations' priorities tend to change more frequently than those of federal funders. They often occupy opportunistic spaces left open by federal funders, responding to changing circumstances in ways they think can have the most impact, often in collaboration with other private and public funders.

Does FR provide feedback on proposal narratives?  

• Yes, FR is happy to provide in-depth feedback on your narrative, particularly its style and alignment with the funding opportunity and the funder's general goals.

Does FR provide budget assistance

• Budget assistance is provided by business managers at each of the schools and colleges. Contact administrative staff in your dean's office to get assistance with proposal budgets. FR can help with early-stage budget conceptualization. Please submit the service form to get in touch.

When should I contact the Grant administration office in my college?

• You should reach out as soon as possible to request assistance from your college/school’s grant administration team to develop your proposal package for submission to the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS).  

When do I need to route my proposal through the Office of Pre-Award Services (OPAS)? 

Any time you are submitting a full proposal (or an LOI with a budget) that will bring funding to UMass Amherst, you need to route it through OPAS for approval. Please note OPAS’s required timelines:

• Proposals must arrive at OPAS five full business days prior to the funder's deadline.
• It is recommended to route your proposal in Kuali at least one full business day before the OPAS deadline to ensure timely review.
• Remember to keep FR informed about your proposal submission progress.
• In those rare instances when a 501(c)(3) intermediary is required, you must build an extra five business days into your pre-submission timeline. 

What is a 501(c)(3) organization, and is UMass Amherst one?

• A 501(c)(3) is a nonprofit organization that is sometimes required as an intermediary by some private foundations. UMass Amherst is NOT a 501(c)(3) entity. The university is tax-exempt under section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code.

What should I do if a private foundation requires a 501(c)(3) intermediary? 

• Reach out to Foundation Relations immediately, and we can help you determine if it is, in fact, required. If so, we can assist in putting the proposal through the appropriate intermediary.

What are limited submission funding opportunities? 

• These are funding opportunities where the sponsor has placed a limit on the number of applications that may be submitted from an institution.

Where can I find a list of limited submission funding opportunities? 

• You may find a list of current limited submissions on the UMass InfoReady portal and at the top of each week’s Foundation Funding Guide newsletter.

How can I apply for a limited submission funding opportunity? 

• Simply click on the relevant opportunity in InfoReady, where you can both read more about the RFP in question and complete your internal application (proceed to the bottom of the page and click the “Apply” button.)

How are nominees for limited submission opportunities selected by our campus?

• An internal review committee – composed of the vice chancellor for research & engagement, the associate vice chancellor and vice provost for research & engagement, the senior vice provost for faculty & academic affairs, and the associate deans of research from each applicant's home college – assesses the internally submitted applications and selects the nominee/s who will be allowed to proceed with sending their proposal/s to the funder.