The University of Wyoming Foundation has created a new resource -- the Foundation Resource Center (FRC) -- that will help UW faculty and staff research and approach private foundations to provide additional funding for their projects.
"The intention of the Foundation Resource Center is to support University of Wyoming faculty as they work with private foundations to fund their academic initiatives," says Ben Blalock, UW Foundation president. "We are grateful for the extraordinary generosity and leadership of the private donors and foundations that partner with Wyoming's university to advance critical research and teaching. UW is the fortunate beneficiary of these special relationships."
The FRC will provide guidance for university colleges, departments and units in the research of funding opportunities, the writing of private donative grants from foundations, and in the associated process. It also will help manage the reporting requirements of the foundation funders. Additionally -- similar to the work of the UW Foundation's major gift officers -- the staff will actively foster relationships with external private foundations and with faculty affiliated with UW institutional fundraising priorities.
"I owe many thanks to the UW Foundation for offering this new resource to our faculty and for working with UW's Research Office," says Myron Allen, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
"The Research Office is excited about this opportunity to work closely with the foundation on this endeavor," says Bill Gern, UW vice president for research and economic development. "This collaborative partnership will help to further the institutional mission and the future success of our faculty and students."
The FRC will assist with charitable contributions or donative grants from private individuals, foundations, corporations and organizations. These gifts are charitable in nature, and the proprietary results of supported projects are the property of UW and its researchers.
"Many small and large foundations are terrific supporters of community-based projects that start in schools with students and their teachers," says Audrey Kleinsasser, professor in the Department of Educational Studies and director of the Wyoming School-University Partnership, who has been working with the center. "That's the kind of support the partnership is looking for. Katrina McGee and Candace Garman from the UW Foundation talked with me and were able to identify multiple possibilities in short order."
Associate Dean of Students Dolores Cardona also is making use of the center's services.
"The Foundation Resource Center gave us some concrete specifics about foundations that had similar interests and saved us time in researching," Cardona says. "We also appreciated the consultation and advice we received on our preliminary proposal drafts. Our proposals will be a partnership of effort and that feels good."
The process of exploring potential private funding opportunities is relatively easy and works like this: the faculty member contacts the center and answers a series of questions that outline the project objectives and funding needs; shares the idea with his or her college dean or program director; and then submits it for review.
Staff from FRC will contact faculty within two weeks to discuss the potential private funding sources. The faculty or staff members will then write the first draft of a private foundation proposal, which will be polished with the assistance of FRC staff. Once a private gift is awarded, the center assists the faculty or staff member with reporting and other post-award activities.
"It's more of a resource than a center -- for faculty to come to for their funding ideas," says Katrina McGee, major gift officer/foundation relations for the Foundation.
For more information, visit the website ( www.uwyo.edu/frc) or contact UW college or unit major gift officers.
Other contacts: Major Gift Officer/Foundation Relations Katrina McGee at (307) 766-4266, kmcgee1@uwyo.edu;
Corporate and Foundation Relations Specialist Candace Garman at (307) 766-3723 or cgarman@uwyo.edu;
Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Development Chris Spooner at (307) 766-5087 or cspooner@uwyo.edu.
