You Have Questions, We Have Answers! Here are the most commonly asked questions.  

Q. What is Institutional Engagement (IE)?

Institutional Engagement (IE) serves as the central university ambassadors to corporate philanthropies, foundations, other non-governmental philanthropic organizations and international donors. We primarily dedicate our efforts to the academic priorities of the University's strategic plan and other major projects with a budget of at least $100,000.

Q. Are there development staff assigned to my school that can also assist with fundraising needs?

Yes! The UDAR lead fundraiser for your school, center, or institute should be one of the first people you contact for fundraising assistance – they are sometimes more informed on what’s happening from the ground up. 

Q. What’s the difference between GIE and OSP?

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) oversees policies and processes for:

Government Funding – Federal, state, and municipal funding opportunities.

Sponsored Funding – Includes grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. Also referred to as proposals for non-charitable funding, this includes any work involving the disposition of rights in data, research, inventions, intellectual property rights, licensing, animal, or human trials, etc.

Institutional Engagement (IE) oversees fundraising for:

Charitable Funding – Charitable funding means that donors who are providing the funds are allowed to take a tax deduction from their income taxes for the amount donated.  Most private foundations and corporate foundations contribute charitable funds for programs and projects. The charitable funding for which GIE raises money can be directed towards academic research, scholarship, and projects and programs.

Q. When should I work with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)?

You should always consult with your OSP Project Officer when planning to submit proposals that include a budget and a defined scope of work to a philanthropic organization. Our UDAR IE Officers work closely with OSP Project Officers in supporting faculty and staff fundraising from corporate and foundation philanthropies.

Q. Can student organizations fundraise from foundations?

If a student organization has its own not-for-profit 501(c)(3) status, the organization may apply on its own to an institutional donor.  NYU will not acknowledge or accept any responsibility for the projects or programs for which the student organization is seeking funding.  If the student organization does not have independent not-for-profit status, it may not apply through the auspices of NYU.

Q. Do I need to get official approval to proceed with fundraising for my project?

Yes – you should always work to ensure that your project and budget have been reviewed by and received approval from your department chair, department dean, financial department, or the dean of your school.

Q. I have seen Request for Proposals (RFP) to which I would like to respond; may I do this on my own?

Yes – provided there are no restrictions. If your project has a budget is at least $100,000, please contact one of our UDAR IE Officers for assistance with the RFP process.

Q. Can GIE help me with writing my proposal?

If your project budget is at least $100,000, our UDAR IE Officers can provide hands-on assistance on all aspects of your efforts, including assistance with outreach and drafting and editing concept papers, letters of inquiry, and proposals. If your budget is below that threshold, we have created this Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising to assist with your fundraising needs. The Making Case: Persuasive Fundraising Documents section of thes Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising provides guidance, templates, and tips. In any case, we are available to review your proposal and give you brief comments on its strengths and areas for improvement. 

Q. Does my proposal need a line-item budget?

In most cases yes, as foundations and corporations want to know how you are planning to spend their money. You should work directly with the fiscal officer and grants manager of your dept and your OSP Project Officer to develop an NYU-approved budget. The Determining What it Costs section of the Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising provides helpful information on this subject.

Q. How far in advance should I begin fundraising if my project is time sensitive?

This is difficult to answer, as many institutional donors operate in decision- making cycles.  But it is safe to say that if you have a program or project that will take place at a specific time in the future (i.e.  a conference, seminar series, etc.), you should begin at least six months to a year before the actual event takes place.

Q. How do I know if my project is fundable and how do I find donors?

This requires thorough prospect research. When you conduct prospect research and begin reviewing the information on foundation and corporate sites, look for the specific kinds of programs, projects, and organizations that are being funded, what their goals and deliverables are, etc. If, after conducting sufficient research, you do not see any projects or programs that are similar to yours, it may be challenging to secure foundation funding. Your project may be more appealing to an individual or to a government agency. The Finding Funders for Your Work: Effective Research section of this Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising provides guidance, templates, and tips.

 

Q. How do I know if my project is fundable and how do I find donors?

This requires thorough prospect research. When you conduct prospect research and begin reviewing the information on foundation and corporate sites, look for the specific kinds of programs, projects, and organizations that are being funded, what their goals and deliverables are, etc. If, after conducting sufficient research, you do not see any projects or programs that are similar to yours, it may be challenging to secure foundation funding. Your project may be more appealing to an individual or to a government agency. The Finding Funders for Your Work: Effective Research section of this Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising provides guidance, templates, and tips.

Q. If I have a connection with someone at a specific corporation/foundation, is it all right to contact them to see if they can help me get funding?

Yes – provided there are no restrictions. Please be aware that – because NYU is a very large university and we are raising funds from hundreds of corporations and foundations annually – it is possible that someone at NYU is either getting a grant from, or also wants to approach, the foundation or corporation with whom you have a connection.  Connecting with an UDAR IE Officer would help avoid conflicts and maximize NYU’s fundraising efforts. We can provide strategic consultation in donor engagement as well.

Q. How long does it take to hear from a donor as to whether or not I’ve received funding?

Many institutional donors have regular decision-making cycles (quarterly, bi- annually, etc.). It is advisable to get this information directly from the foundation if you are able to engage them in a discussion about your program. The Maintainting the Relationship section of the Toolkit for Charitable Fundraising provides suggestions on how to connect with donors. This information may also be located on the foundation’s website or in their profile listed on Foundation Directory Online (FDO).

Q. If the foundation to which I am applying requires a letter from the president or provost or other institutional documentation (e.g.  audited financials) to accompany the proposal, can GIE help?

Yes – a list of institutional documents we can provide can be found here.  You should work through your school or department leadership or OSP Project Officer to secure endorsements from the president, provost, and other institutional leaders.

Q. Is it appropriate to contact a donor after I have submitted a proposal?

Generally, it is not advisable to make further contact, other than to ensure that the donor has all of the documents they require.

Q. What Is a gift?

A gift (charitable contribution) is the voluntary, non-reciprocal transfer of money or property from a donor to an institution. The donor may be an individual, a corporation or a non-profit organization. The donor does not expect anything of value in return other than recognition and does not have control over expenditure of the funds. A gift may meet the interests of the donor and can be restricted or unrestricted. A restricted gift is a contribution designated for a specific purpose, program, or project. If the donor does not specify any restrictions, the gift is unrestricted and the institution allocates the funds at its own discretion. Need further clarification? We recommend you familiarize yourself with the NYU Gift vs Grant Determination Decision Tree and FAQs, for further guidance.

Q. What is a grant

A grant (sometimes referred to as sponsored funding, award) is a transfer of funding from a sponsor to an institution that requires specific performance, financial reporting, budget, progress reports, return of unused funds, and other terms and conditions. Need further clarification? We recommend you familiarize yourself with the NYU Gift vs Grant Determination Decision Tree and FAQs, for further guidance.

Q. What does it mean when a funder requires a match?

If the corporation or foundation is considering your program and is stipulating that it will require a match, you must be willing and ready to secure additional funding from other sources.  Some matching gifts will require dollar for dollar matches, others a 2:1 match, etc. The funder will stipulate the exact requirements.

Q. What is an “in-kind” contribution?

A contriution of goods and services, (e.g.  equipment, supplies, etc.) rather than cash or stocks.