Foundation Relations

Foundation funding is critical for early-career and early-stage research. Private funding also supports innovative projects, educational activities, and community-based initiatives in which federal funders are less likely to be interested. The Foundation Relations Impact Report conveys the impact of work supported by foundations – impact that often reaches beyond the grant period and generates ongoing scholarship and far-reaching benefits.

Our team of nine Foundation Relations staff across the Charles River and Medical campuses works closely with university leaders and faculty to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships between the University and the charitable organizations that share our research, teaching, and social service missions. Our services are provided by BU’s central administration and there is never any cost to faculty for our services, which include the following.

Faculty Assistance

We promote faculty grant-seeking from foundations and other private charitable organizations by assisting individual BU faculty members with prospect identification and proposal development and submission.

This aspect of our work involves close cooperation with Sponsored Programs for the promotion of funding opportunities, the submission of correctly budgeted and fully authorized grant proposals, and the administration and stewardship of awarded funds.

Coordination and Stewardship

We manage institution-wide relationships with Boston University’s largest organizational donors and other key foundation partners.

Fundraising

We help the president, provost, and deans of Boston University’s 17 schools and colleges identify and build relationships with private foundations in support of priority programs and projects.