Visit our Find Foundation Funding webpage or search for opportunities on your own.
Contact our office with you have questions about private foundations, or want to begin exploring private foundation funding opportunities. We can help with prospect research, developing proposals, planning foundation visits, and more.
Yes. our Director for Foundation relations will serve as a proposal consultant for letters of inquiry (LIOs) or proposals requesting foundation support. We can provide guidance on framing your request, review draft inquiries and draft proposals, and ensure that the language and context align with the audience that will be reviewing your request. Review our proposal resources as well.
We have "restricted" several foundations due to the nature of the University's relationship with the foundation. Various factors can lead to a foundation ending up on this list. For example, the foundation might limit the number of submissions from Michigan Tech during each grant cycle, or their program officers have requested that communication be routed through the Director for Foundation Relations (DFR).
Limited submissions are funding opportunities where the number of applications from Michigan Tech are limited by the foundation each year. If the foundation you are pursuing has placed a limitation on the number of submissions you will be notified by our office prior to submission. Depending on the number of PI's interested in specific RFPs, the Office of Foundation Relations would likely host an internal submission phase.
The Office of Foundation Relations focuses specifically on building and strengthening relationships with private, professional foundations. We support faculty and staff across Michigan Tech in developing and submitting the strongest proposals to the most appropriate foundations. We also monitor all foundation proposal activity and track philanthropic gifts on behalf of the University.
It depends on the nature of your request to the foundation. When you fill out the Intent to Submit form, Sponsored Programs will help guide you as to whether your proposal falls under sponsored research or an unrestricted gift. If your funding will arrive in the form of sponsored research, you will submit a transmittal to Sponsored Programs. If your funding will be in the form of an unrestricted gift, you will submit an Unrestricted Gift Transmittal to the Tech Fund. Both forms and an explanation of how to use them can be found on our About the Foundation Relations Process page.
Sponsored Program Office
The Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) is responsible for formal proposal preparation and submissions to federal/state agencies, universities and other various entities. SPO Proposal Analysts assist with budget preparation and proposal review for conformity to sponsor and internal guidelines. SPO helps to review and negotiate grant/contract terms and conditions with funding entities and sub recipient collaborators.
SPO also helps with all accounting, financial monitoring, reporting, and project close outs for grants and contracts with federal and state governments, private companies, and foundations.
You can find institutional documents in our Proposal Resource section. Contact Meredith Raasio, Director for Foundation Relations, for access to the current board of trustees list, IRS forms, etc.
Our office can also help you navigate the process of securing endorsements from the President, Provost, and other institutional leaders. Please contact Meredith Raasio, Director for Foundation Relations.
When you are awarded a grant, be sure to alert our office by sending a copy of your award letter to foundations@mtu.edu. We will setup report reminders, and alert you approximately six weeks in advance of the deadline. We can also help with reviewing reports, coordinating foundation visits, and more.
Please let our office know if you are submitting a funding request to a private foundation. We strive to track all private foundation activity, including foundation responses to proposals, and can help in crafting your approach or proposal. See our proposal resources.
Also, make sure you are in touch with your research administrator early in the process so that proposals can be reviewed and approved by the Office for Sponsored Research.
Our office provides limited support to graduate students. We recommend that you reach out to the Graduate School.
There are many resources in the philanthropic community that can familiarize you with private foundations and help you get started in seeking funding. We recommend:
- GrantForward- the University pays for a subscription to GrantForward for all mtu.edu email addresses.
- The Foundation Center provides an online course on foundations, as well as tutorials on proposal writing and creating a budget. The website also provides access to tax returns (Form 990-PF) for foundations. Its Philanthropy News Digest service provides free updates on foundation news and current requests for proposals (RFPs).
When you're ready to explore funding opportunities for your research or project, contact our office or submit a Foundations Prospect Research Request to our office.
Foundations typically do not fund equipment needs. Occasionally, RFPs specific for equipment or instrumentation are disseminated, and some foundations will fund equipment as part of a larger grant proposal.
It varies by foundation - it is essential to review the submission requirements. Many do limit overhead costs; some require a match to show institutional commitment; still others others are considered an unrestricted gift to the University. Our office can connect you with the Sponsored Projects Office to help you navigate budget expectations and requirements.
Proposals to foundations need to address their philanthropic strategy; each foundation has a unique approach to their giving and solicitation of proposals. Working with the foundation relations team will help to frame your ask in a way that aligns with their mission and submission process.
Typically with a foundation, the stewardship needs to be handled at the University level - this is unlike a federal proposal that would typically be stewarded by a PI working directly with a program officer. It is not uncommon for organizations to prefer building relationships with the foundation relations team, who can help coordinate applications, streamline communication, and build upon previous successes to the benefit of all parties.
If you are responding to a specific call for proposals, review the materials provided by the foundation. Foundations will limit overhead costs at a rate much lower than other funding sources. If you are unsure what F&A rate to use to form a budget, please contact us for assistance.