Office of Foundation Relations

Kavita MunjalSr. Executive Director, Foundation RelationsAugust 2015

Who Gives the Gifts?(Source: Giving USA, 2015)

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In 2014, American philanthropists gave over $358 billion.

Where do the Gifts Go? (Source: Giving USA, 2015)

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• Increased competition for reduced NIH funds

• Stronger emphasis on translational research

• Collaborations across academic disciplines (not just within medicine, but across professional schools)

• Increased prestige of foundation support (often peer-reviewed decision making)

The State of Biomedical Research in the U.S.

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• Foundation funding can provide seed funding for projects needing more preliminary data

• Serve as bridge funding between grants

• Serve as a bragging point on researcher’s CV

Case for Private Foundations vs. Federal Grants

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• Kavita Munjal – Senior Executive Director Focus: Oversees Foundation Research Institutes (Norris, Broad, Zilkha),

Medical Education, Hospital, and all clinical and basic departments

• Nicole Diaz-Ordaz – DirectorFocus: Cancer Center, Hospital

• VACANT –Associate DirectorFocus: Medical Education, Preventive Medicine, Community Initiatives

• MariaElena Hege—Assistant DirectorFocus: Manages daily operations, and first point of contact with internal USC

community

• Dawn Muench – Coordinator (Part-time)Focus: Manages data management systems and foundation research requests

Office of Foundation Relations – Who We Are

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The Office of Foundation Relations advocates and secures funding for the following priority areas:

• Cancer (Norris)• Stem Cell (Broad)• Brain Science (Zilkha)• Medical Education• Keck Hospital• Keck Initiatives• Preventive Medicine

OFR – What We Do

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• In FY 15, we reached out to/submitted proposals to 75 unique foundations on behalf of Keck Medicine

• We traveled nationally to meet with foundations to advocate for our faculty

• The OFR received $17 million in awards during FY 15, with another $9 million pending

OFR in FY 15

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The OFR can provide the following assistance:

• Conduct in-house research on foundations

• Develop strategic plans and approaches for multiple funders

• Obtain “clearances” from central for foundations that have interest across schools at USC

• Author, edit and submit LOIs and proposals

• Cultivate relationships with Program Officers (acting as a “neutral” party, or from the Office of the Dean, can catalyze success or open doors)

Before the Award …

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The OFR will:

• Coordinate stewardship letters from appropriate parties (our office, the Dean, the President, etc.)

• Provide grants management for awards determined to be grants

• Track progress report deadlines and send reminders to PIs

• Discuss any changes with program officers at the foundation

• Coordinate press releases, obtain quotes and approvals from foundation leadership

• Ensure appropriate USC publicity

• Serve as one more office advocating on behalf of the program with internal and external leadership / stakeholders

After the Award …

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Collaborative Efforts with the Office of Research Advancement and Dept. of Contracts & Grants

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• The Office of Research Advancement coordinates research activities across the school, integrating with university-level management offices. The OFR works closely with Research Advancement as a means of building productive relationships with foundations.

• The Department of Contracts and Grants oversees the internal approvals process for awards designated as grants. About 40% of OFR awards are now grants.

• As part of the OFR’s grants management role, we:• Forward agreements to Jeri Muniz for gift/grant

decision• Work with academic depts. to initiate KC

proposals• Inform Gift Services so that awards are booked• Communicate with Sponsored Research office

(SPA) to obtain copies of award letters and checks received

• Ensure appropriate stewardship from the OFR, the Dean, and the President

• Serve as central liaison for program with external funder

Office of Foundation Relations

Research Advanceme

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Contracts and Grants

Questions?

Kavita MunjalSr. Executive Director, Foundation Relations

Keith Administration Building, 3rd floor323-442-2355

munjal@usc.edu