Corporate and Foundation Relations
Welcome to the Clemson University Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR), part of the Central Development Team within the Division of Advancement. We are dedicated to establishing support for the mission and priorities of Clemson University.
The Office of CFR works closely with private foundations (corporate, regional and national) and corporations to develop mutually beneficial philanthropic partnerships that can make a positive impact and transformative change at Clemson and in our local and global communities.
CFR also acts as a resource for Clemson faculty seeking funding from corporate partners and private foundations for select research, operational support and outreach programs. We partner with faculty, development officers and administrators in all colleges, centers and units to build relationships with the corporate and private foundation sectors.
For those faculty partners who would like to request CFR support, please fill out this brief Faculty Grant Proposal Intake Form. For government (e.g., local, state, federal agencies) grant support, please contact vprord@clemson.edu.
From humanities majors to those focusing on STEM subjects, Clemson University is preparing the next generation of thought leaders, innovators and changemakers. CFR connects with corporations and private foundations to partner with us to reach that shared objective and establish a deep partnership with our students and our University community.
CFR works to coordinate and further relationships with the corporate community and their philanthropic interests on behalf of Clemson. We partner with the Office of Corporate Partnerships (OCP) and Clemson Athletic Properties Company (CAPCO) for these initiatives.
The department works hand in hand with Clemson University Foundation (CUF) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to coordinate and strategize grants and gift opportunities from private foundations.
If your private foundation grant requires detailed budget reporting, has intellectual property restrictions and has specific detailed deliverables, it will likely need to be administered by OSP and submitted through InfoEd.
However, it may still be advantageous for CFR to be involved in the submission and proposal preparation efforts for strategic purposes and to ensure the greatest chance of success.
CFR Services
Services provided by CFR include:
- Identify new sources of corporate and foundation
- Connect with faculty, unit leads, and deans to discuss potential grant LOIs and
- Oversee and coordinate University wide corporate and foundation activities such as Zoom meetings, campus visits and more. Each philanthropic entity has different preferences for how we engage; CFR can help determine the best way to approach them.
- Leverage prospect research resources to consistently deliver recently announced RFPs to unit leads and various department representatives.
- Cultivate and steward new corporate and foundation relationships and
- Assist with Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and proposal development for major gifts/
- Supply supporting documentation (e.g., IRS Determination, audited financial statements, signatures).
- Submit LOIs and
- Assist with stewardship and follow-up, including recognition and acknowledgment of donor awards and impact
CFR rarely assists with small fellowships or helps postdoctoral or graduate students secure funding, although we may send opportunities to the appropriate staff or faculty to disseminate to potential applicants.
Some of the criteria that CFR considers when determining the level of support it may offer on a proposal include:
- Alignment with strategic priories of college and/or University
- Aggregate gift/grant amount
- Available team resources and requested level of support
- Sufficient lead time based on respective proposal/grant requirements
- Philanthropic commercial intent
What to provide to CFR:
Please send a concept note, preliminary budget and any published requirements by accessing the Faculty Grant Proposal Intake Form.
To provide the highest level of service to campus partners, CFR may request between 4-to-12 weeks' notice, depending on the level of support needed and individual requirements of the respective proposal. Whenever possible, please let us know if you are reaching out to a corporation or private foundation partner so we can determine if we already have a relationship and assist in coordinating with the respective campus partners across the University.
Questions? Email cucfr@clemson.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I have an idea for a project that seems appropriate for funding by a private foundation. How do I get started?
Speak with your department chairperson about your concept to determine whether it fits with department and University priorities and whether there is sufficient institutional support to move forward. If this meets guidelines for CFR’s assistance, please fill out the Faculty Grant Proposal Intake Form. If you have any questions, contact cucfr@clemson.edu.
- How can I keep informed of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for private foundation awards?
An effective way to stay informed about RFPs is to subscribe to The Foundation Center’s RFP Bulletin. You should also subscribe to the Clemson University Division of Research e-newsletter, which includes announcements about both public and private funding opportunities.
- Should I obtain approval from your office before contacting a prospective private foundation or corporate funder?
While we know it's not always practical to do so, we do ask for notification whenever possible so that we can help coordinate the proposal submission process across all units of the University as well as provide background on prior or current proposals to the funder.
- Can I apply to a foundation that another faculty member is applying to? How are multiple foundation proposals handled?
Many foundations accept multiple submissions from the same institution. However, to be strategic and as effective as possible in our approaches, we sometimes need to prioritize proposal submissions. Some foundations do limit the number of submissions per institution; in these cases, our office works with the appropriate campus partners to ensure an equitable process is implemented to select which submission(s) may go forward from the University.
- How much notice do I need to give to CFR when I decide to apply?
To provide the highest level of service to campus partners, CFR may request between 4-to-12 weeks' notice, depending on the level of support needed and individual requirements of the respective proposal. Whenever possible, please let us know if you are reaching out to a corporation or private foundation partner so we can determine if we already have a relationship and assist in coordinating with the respective campus partners across the University.
Meet the CFR Team
While the CFR team’s work extends across the entire University, there are select areas that respective team members focus on. Please contact us so that we may direct you to the appropriate representative.
Meet the Team
