Faculty and Staff
We can help you successfully navigate the gift and grant process —from identifying prospects, to developing strategic proposals and stewarding awards. We provide help for all types of projects, including single-investigator and interdisciplinary multi-investigator programs. We also can assist with projects that span both UNM and collaborators at other universities.
We are happy to talk with you about the potential and benefits of private funding and help you understand how and why corporations and foundations work with UNM.
Services Include:
Researching and identifying potential corporate or foundation partners that may align with your project.
Matching funding interests based on specific projects or concepts.
Working with a school or college-based development officer to coordinate activities that advance institutional priorities.
Helping you write materials such as concept summaries, letters of inquiry and proposals.
Facilitating conversations with foundations and companies.
Determining whether a particular project will be administered as a gift or sponsored project.
The first step is completing our Project Planning Worksheet to help us gather information about your project prior to meeting with our staff. Once submitted, we will contact you about this request to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty and Staff
How do I get started if I want to send a proposal to a corporation or a foundation?
Contact us, whether you have a proposal ready to send or don’t know where to begin. We can conduct prospect research as well as review and edit documents for compliance with application guidelines and donor interests. This can improve your proposal’s chances of success. We can also provide background information on organizations and help develop a strategy for successful fundraising.
Our Project Planning Worksheet can get you started thinking about how to communicate the importance of your work to funders.
Do I need to contact Corporate and Foundation Relations if I just want to contact a corporation or foundation to discuss my program?
Yes, please. Some corporations and foundations prefer that we act as their liaison with UNM. Because some organizations limit the number of proposals from an institution or have other stipulations, clearance is required before you approach these funders. In other cases, the university may have a larger, ongoing conversation with a funder, and we would want to consider requests to the organization as part of that conversation.
Is there a charge for CFR services?
No. As part of the UNM Foundation, we regard your success as our success. Our services are available to all University units, faculty, and staff free of charge.
Does the UNM Foundation charge a gift fee/tax on any gifts or grants I receive?
No. Contributions received by the UNM Foundation in support of the University of New Mexico are transferred in their entirety to the school, college, department, or program designated by the donor.
Our department could really use an endowment or an endowed chair. Can you help?
Private funders are typically not good sources of funding for general operating support or endowments. That said, we will always explore all possible options for supporting your program.
What about federal grants? Can you help me with those?
The UNM Foundation’s mission is to work with private funders, i.e., individuals, corporations and foundations. For help with federal grants on Main Campus, please contact the Faculty Research Development Office (FRDO) at https://frdo.unm edu/, email: frdo@unm edu, tel: (505) 277-6128. At the Health Sciences Center, please contact the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) at https://hsc.unm.edu/about/finance/sponsored-projects/, email: HSC-Preaward@salud.unm.edu, tel: (505) 272-9383.