Foundation Relations
The Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) Office is the University of Alaska's central office in support of fundraising from private foundations. CFR's primary role is to manage and monitor relationships with private foundations to advance university goals and priorities.
Private Foundations tend to support projects that address a specific problem and benefit a larger community outside of the University. Foundations typically do not provide funding for core University needs such as course development or endowed chairs or centers.
The Corporate and Foundation Relations Office is available to work with University of Alaska faculty and staff who are planning to approach private foundations. We provide research information on foundations and identify those that might be interested in funding particular projects. We review proposals and letters of inquiry, provide editorial assistance, and help gather materials for submission.
Please note that the Corporate and Foundations Relations Office is responsible for coordinating philanthropic (vs. grant) approaches to all private foundations on behalf of the University of Alaska. This allows us to ensure that new approaches to foundations are strategic and initiated appropriately. Please visit the list of Foundations currently managed through the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office here.
It is also important to note that many Foundations are managed through the Office of Sponsored Research and Grants and Contracts at each campus.
A Culture of Giving
Mellon Foundation to Help Increase Alaska Native PhDs
Alaska Natives constitute nearly 20 percent of the state’s population and 16 percent of UA’s student body – but represent only three percent of the university’s faculty positions, a fact that is commonly attributed to a lack of educational credentials. To increase the number of Alaska Native students earning doctoral degrees – and subsequently raise the number of Alaska Native faculty – the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation recently awarded a $700,000 grant to UAF to support students in the dissertation-writing phase of their doctoral programs.
Partnership Helps Support Lifelong Learning and Re-entry Students
Bernard Osher Foundation Donation Creates Endowment Fund and Scholarship Fund
A $1 million gift from the Bernard Osher Foundation will provide a permanent and stable source of support for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks . The eight-year old institute serves the Interior's older adult population through classes ranging from art, computer technology, current events, to health, history, literature, and more. Students meet for classes or study groups, but there are no tests or grades. “In addition to offering 100 courses a year and a lecture series, we offer educational travel excursions during the summer months to other areas of Alaska such as Katmai National Park , Kotzebue and McCarthy," says Barbara Lando, Director of OLLI.
