Join Us and These Participating Foundations

You'll hear leaders from these foundations during the key sessions: 

• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation 
• Henry Luce Foundation
• Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA)
• Surdna Foundation 

Preconference Activities 

All times listed are Eastern Time (US & Canada) 

Day 1: Wednesday, May 11

7:15 AM – 8:00 AM

Preconference Registration 

8:00 AM – Noon  

Preconference Workshops 

Separate registration required. 

• Newcomers Workshop
  
  This year’s Newcomers class will be an exciting opportunity for those new to our field to get a chance to network with each other as well as leaders in the community. The class will start with a session entitled “What I wish I knew when I first started” and will address important topics such as terminology, building bridges with key units on campus, as well as giving each participant a chance to ask their own questions. The second part of the session will feature key leaders who will talk about their career path, within and without CFR, as well as answer your burning questions. We hope each participant will leave with a deeper understanding of the field as well as a knowledge of future career opportunities. We hope to be able to connect interested participants to mentors in the field as well.
  
  Speakers: Kristin Anderson, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, Colby College; Dondi Cupp, Senior Vice President of Development, Oregon Health and Science University; and Maureen Martin, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, University of Michigan
• Master Class

  This year’s Master Class will be aligned strongly with the overall conference theme of Social Justice and Racial Equity. The class will begin with a session led by Jessica Elmore, Ed.D, Senior Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Training at CASE and will focus on diversity in the field—hiring and leading diverse teams. Immediately afterwards, Ryan Rydzewski author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids will present a session “Leading Like Mr. Rogers." 
  
  Speakers: Jessica Elmore, Ed.D, Senior Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Training, CASE and Ryan Rydzewski, Writer, The Grable Foundation and Author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids

10:00 AM – Noon  

Affinity Group Discussions for Liberal Arts and Academic Medical Centers (optional)

All are welcome to join a structured conversation on the unique challenges and opportunities involved in running a corporate and foundation relations office at a liberal arts college or academic medical center.

Conference Program

Day 1: Wednesday, May 11

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Registration 

Welcome to New York City! Stop by the registration desk beginning at 12:15 PM to check in for the full conference and pick up any conference materials.  

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM 

Conference Welcome and Opening Key Session

Catalyzing Collaboration

Research Corporation was founded in 1912 by Frederick Gardner Cottrell, at that time a member of the Berkeley faculty in chemistry.  He turned his invention of the first industrial-scale anti-pollution device into a tripartite, not-for-profit company that manufactured and installed electrostatic precipitators to remove pollutants from smokestacks; that developed the system of technology transfer from laboratory discoveries; and that originated philanthropic support for scientific research at universities and colleges.  Cottrell emphasized the importance of support for early-career faculty.  The first two parts of Research Corporation spun off in the 20th Century, leaving Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) as a philanthropic foundation focused on support of early career faculty in the physical sciences and closely related fields, and their development as researchers, teachers, and leaders.  RCSA, working with many partner foundations and federal funding agencies, emphasizes collaboration and community building in enabling scientists to tackle challenging problems in research and education.  This talk will focus on approaches and outcomes for catalyzing collaboration.  Questions and discussion will be most welcome.

Speaker: Daniel Linzer, President and CEO, Research Corporation for Science Advancement

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM 

Refreshment Break

3:15 PM – 4:25 PM 

Elective Sessions (choose one):  

• Grantmothering: Helping Project Directors Manage, Spend, and End Their Grants
  
  When faculty members direct major institutional grants, the possibilities are limitless–in every direction. An excellent project director can fuse content expertise with administrative know-how, delivering everything the proposal promised, becoming a leader on campus and beyond, and positioning herself for new roles and responsibilities. However, PDs can also struggle to effectively manage their projects and succumb to problems ranging from underspent budgets to imbalances between teaching, research, and project administration. CFR professionals are in a unique position to serve as “grantmothers” who can help project directors avoid these pitfalls. In this panel, three experienced grants professionals will describe the experience, training, and support that can help faculty members excel as project directors. Using examples drawn from their work at undergraduate institutions, they will offer insights into selecting good project directors, providing formal and informal training to the PDs, fostering partnerships on and off campus that advance the project, ensuring the project receives support and recognition, and striking the right balance between the process of running a project and the products that the project must generate – especially products that the funders expect. This panel will appeal to staff in sponsored programs, academic affairs, career centers, curricular support centers, development, stewardship, and finance who work with faculty directors to manage projects and assure their success.
  
  Speakers: Susan Ferrari, Assistant Dean and Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, Grinnell College; Lisa Stoffer, Director of Sponsored Research and Grants, Smith College; and Christopher Tassava, Director of the Grants Office, Carleton College
• Foundation Relations Reboot: Reviewing, Restructuring, and Revamping OFR
  
  Rebuilding or revamping a team is challenging under any circumstances, even more so while weathering a pandemic and the great resignation. During this time, Penn State benchmarked with peers, revamped the OFR staffing structure, and hired five team members. The University of Texas Austin similarly reimagined the foundation team philosophy, mission and staffing structure and hired 80% of the team into new roles during the global crisis. The directors of these teams will share insights and lessons learned from reviewing, revamping, and rebooting foundation relations.
  
  Speakers: Sophie Penney, Director of Foundation Relations (OFR), Penn State University and Jonelle Bradshaw Hernandez, Executive Director of Foundation Relations, University of Texas at Austin 
• Tech Talent Enablement at Scale
  
  As the opportunity gap continues to grow, the tech industry has a singular opportunity to help people who do not have a clear pathway to obtain a high earning career in the STEM fields. Come learn how one company is growing the pie of job-ready talent to ensure that the most under-resourced and high-potential populations can achieve career success, recreate the economic middle class, and substantively increase lifetime earnings. Hear how higher education plays a role as a stakeholder to help grow the STEM ecosystem and what we can do as fundraisers to help move these ideas forward.
  
  Speaker: Kennon Harrison, Jr., Vice President, Workforce Partnerships, Revature

4:30 PM – 5:45 PM

Key Session 

The View from Across the Table

Established in 1934, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation supports original research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics. Adam Falk became president of the Sloan Foundation in 2018. Before that he was a physics professor and then a dean at the Johns Hopkins University, and subsequently the president of Williams College. Dr. Falk brings an important perspective on philanthropic giving to universities, having participated in funding conversations from both sides of the conference table—first as a grantee and then as a funder. We will hear from Dr. Falk on a broad range of topics, from indirect cost recovery to how foundations really want to engage with universities. He will also talk about what it means to lead a 21st century foundation that must remain true to the spirit of its 85-year history while addressing the challenges of today and stewarding its resources to solve problems in the distant future. There will be plenty of time for questions following Dr. Falk’s keynote address, so please come prepared for an active conversation!

Speaker: Adam Falk, President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 

5:45 PM – 6:45 PM 

Networking Reception

Join conference speakers and your colleagues to network and celebrate the first day of the conference. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. 

6:45 PM

Conference Adjourns for the Day

Dinner on your own

Day 2: Thursday, May 12

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM 

Breakfast Roundtables

 

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Key Session

Presidential Perspectives on the Present and Future State of Foundation Philanthropy: Don Chen

Established in 1917 by John Emory Andrus, the Surdna Foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in the United States — communities guided by principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures. For over five generations, the Foundation has been governed largely by descendants of John E. Andrus and has developed a tradition of innovative service for those in need of help or opportunity. Don Chen became the president of the Surdna Foundation in 2018 and has been a leader in the 100-year old Foundation’s efforts to strengthen and creatively leverage its commitment to social justice. President Chen will share more about Surdna’s approach to equity and sustainability, as well as offer his perspective on the successes and failures of foundation philanthropy and how we can learn from those to build a more just and equitable society. 

Speaker: Don Chen, President, Surdna Foundation

10:35 AM – 11:45 AM  

Elective Sessions (choose one): 

• A New Vision for External Support: The Intersection of Philanthropy, Government, Research and Innovation 
  
  The Corporate & Foundation Relations team at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio serves as the link between departments, focused on driving external support for the system, and stepping outside the more traditional CFR box.  While traditional corporate and foundation philanthropy remains a key component of CFR fundraising, the UH CRF team collaborates closely with the UH Research & Education Institute, including the Clinical Research Center; the Office of Government & Community Relations; and UH Ventures, our Innovation engine. The CFR team leads the development of not only philanthropic proposals, but also proposals at all levels of government (local, state, federal – including agencies like AHRQ, HRSA, SAMSHA, ASPR, EDA, as well as less formal proposals for funding like federal appropriations, the state capitol bill, and many more); national research or disease focused foundations; and competitively sought pharmaceutical funding for translational, clinical and health services research. In this session, leaders from University Hospitals will outline the evolution of this robust collaborative structure over the last five years, the challenges that were encountered along the way, the key opportunities that that have driven the successful model we see today, and our vision for continued growth into the future.  We will include a case study of a recent success – a $17.5 million investment from JobsOhio – that leveraged the power of our collaborative model and positions UH to drive additional research and innovation funding toward our academic mission. 
  
  Speakers: Tyler Allchin, Director of Healthcare, JobsOhio; Kendra Gardiner, Director of Product Strategy, UH Ventures; Jori Mintz, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, University Hospitals; and Kumar Mukesh, Director of Grants Accounting and Strategic Initiatives, University Hospitals
• Advancing Racial Justice: Higher Education and Foundation Partnerships
  
  Many faces of racial inequity have been made more visible by the disproportionate health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on communities of color, along with a summer of nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice catalyzed by the horrific murder of George Floyd. Addressing the call to focus on equity and anti-Black racism, foundations report increasing and expanding their commitments to racial equity and communities of color.  The Center for Effective Philanthropy reports that more than 80 percent of foundation leaders surveyed were making changes that incorporated racial equity into their grantmaking or programmatic strategies. Candid reports that racial equity funding increased dramatically since Floyd’s death.  As of October 2021, there were 41,796 grants made in support of racial equity/justice valued at $15.5 billion, with universities receiving grants valued at $2.8 billion.  What does this mean for higher education and its racial justice efforts?  This panel foundation program officers will discuss their grantmaking commitments to racial equity and share their perspectives about the role that higher education institutions can play as partners in promoting and advancing racial justice.  The audience will learn about the unique ways that these foundations approach their work and the partnerships they have developed with universities to change narratives, break down barriers, and examine and evaluate policies to address racial disparities and impact systems of racial inequity and oppression. 
  
  Speakers: Aixa Cintrón-Vélez, Program Director, Russell Sage Foundation; Claire Gibbons, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Donna Lartigue, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, University of Michigan; and Oronde Miller, Senior Program Officer, W. K. Kellogg Foundation
• Being Proactive: Tools for Strategic Engagement 
  
  Many CFR shops have expressed a hope to be less reactive and more proactive in steering their campuses towards more deeply engaged relationships with corporate and foundation partners. But what does being proactive look like in practice? How do we move from aspiration to implementation? This session offers a set of tools any size CFR team or institution can employ to move the engagement needle forward. From prospect research to internal communication plans, we lay out the specific pieces of a holistic model that allows us not only to anticipate but generate opportunities. Building strong, internal partnerships across an institution is as important as employing new technology. Making common cause with major gift officers who have their own goals to achieve is another critical piece. And, finally, we need to employ a system of metrics and incentives that better reflects and rewards the work that we do.
  
  Speakers: Tamara Chiba, Senior Associate Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Yale University; Jose Franco, Assistant Director, Corporate Engagement, University of California Davis; Cecilia Lalama, Associate Director, Foundation Relations, Boston University; and Molly McCarthy, Director, Foundation Engagement, University of California Davis

11:45 AM – 1:15 PM

Luncheon and Key Session

Making Deals to Save Democracy

Established in 1996, the mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) is to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being. Joining the Foundation as CEO and President in 2021, Sam Gill brings a new perspective to the Doris Duke’s commitment to support the well-being of people and planet. We’ll hear more from Sam about his priorities for DDCF, as well as his views on the responsibilities of foundations in combatting inequality and injustice, and how he sees the future of philanthropy in a post-pandemic world. 

Speaker: Sam Singh Gill, President and CEO, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

1:20 PM – 2:30 PM

Elective Sessions (choose one of three): 

• Sharing is Caring: CFR and Major Gifts
  
  When and why would (and should) a corporate and/or foundation relations officer collaborate with a major gifts officer? What are the benefits to collaboration, and what are the drawbacks? What are the obstacles, and how do we address them? This session will showcase examples of CFR/MGO collaboration, highlighting elements contributing to success as well as those that hinder. Participants will gain insights about how development office culture and organization can affect collaboration, incentives and disincentives to collaborate, the role of metrics, and best practices for effective collaboration.
  
  Speakers: Michael Dettelbach, Assistant Vice President, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Brandeis University; Traci Galbaugh, Managing Senior Director, Foundation Engagement Development and Alumni Relations, University of California, Davis; Jennifer Schmidt, Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of California, San Francisco; and Allison White, Director, University Development, University of California, San Francisco
  
  Moderator: Suzy Beemer, Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of California, San Francisco
• Leading Change in Criminal Justice Through Grantmaking
  
  Arnold Ventures LLC is recognized as one of the leading funders in the United States in criminal justice reform having made over $340 million in grants last year. Founded in 2010 as the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and restructured in 2019 as Arnold Ventures, the organization seeks to support high impact innovative research, policy, and advocacy to achieve fundamental system change. Attendees of this session will learn about Arnold Ventures criminal justice program, their grantmaking philosophy and will gain insights into best practices for engaging with a funder with an impact-focused lens.
  
  Speakers: Lindsey Lovel Heidrich, Criminal Justice Manager, Projects, Arnold Ventures and Alexius Marcano, Manager of Criminal Justice Research, Arnold Ventures 

• Philanthropic Approaches to Engagement
  
  Engagement describes the work we do as foundation and corporate relation officers while simultaneously engagement can be institutional work. A number of foundations have named public and civic engagement as priorities, have created new funding opportunities, and have made deep investments in public engagement. Join us for a deep dive into “engagement” during which we will learn more about how programs at Science Sandbox, an affiliate of Simons Foundation; the Pinkerton Foundation; and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Digital Information Technology program have defined and invested in this area and how we can be engaged partners.
  
  Speakers: Joshua M. Greenberg, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; Jennifer Negron, Senior Program Officer, The Pinkerton Foundation; and John Tracey, Program Director, Simons Foundation 

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM 

Dessert Break

3:00 PM – 4:10 PM

Elective Sessions (choose one): 

• Corporate Gifts: Navigating Intent and Agreements 
  
  What is a corporation's real intent when they want to support a university or college? What can you do if they say they want to make a gift, but the agreement they send is 20 pages long and appears to be anything but philanthropic? Are the problematic areas a matter of policy or a matter of law? This session will arm attendees with knowledge on what can--and can't--be done to keep corporate support and agreements in the philanthropic arena. Participants will learn how to navigate challenges, assess and influence funder intent, and find solutions to problematic agreement terms.
  
  Speakers: Liz Catalano, Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of California, San Francisco; Brooke Groves-Anderson, Director, University Corporate & Foundation Relations, Stanford University; and Stella Wixom, Executive Director, Corporate Relations, University of Michigan
  
  Moderator: Suzy Beemer, Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of California, San Francisco

• What We Can Learn from Mister Rogers' Blueprints
  
  Ryan Rydzewski is an award-winning author, reporter, and speechwriter whose science and education stories span everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Together with Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation, Ryan has co-authored, When You Wonder, You're Learning, exploring the science behind the iconic television show, and revealing the skills and mindsets we how consider essential.  In this session we will reflect on the legacy of Fred Rogers, a learning scientist who was decades ahead of his time. We will talk about how educators can use Rogers’ blueprints to create learning environments that support kids of all backgrounds and ages. We will learn inspiring, actionable ways to follow in Rogers’ footsteps within our own spheres of influence.
  
  Speaker: Ryan Rydzewski, Writer, The Grable Foundation and Author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids

4:15 PM – 5:30 PM

Key Session 

Presidential Perspectives on the Present and Future State of Foundation Philanthropy: Mariko Silver

Established in 1936, The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to enrich public discourse by promoting innovative scholarship, cultivating new leaders, and fostering international understanding. Under Mariko Silver’s leadership since 2019, the Foundation advances its mission through grant making and leadership programs in the fields of Asia, higher education, religion and theology, art, and public policy. President Silver will share more about the Luce Foundation’s programs and priorities, as well as give her insights into the role of higher education in foundation grant making and her thoughts on the future of philanthropy and higher education in supporting public discourse and understanding. 

Speaker: Mariko Silver, President and CEO, Henry Luce Foundation

5:30 PM

Conference Adjourns for the Day 

Dinner on your own

Day 3: Friday, May 13

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM 

Breakfast Roundtables  

9:00 AM – 10:10 AM 

Elective Sessions (choose one):

• Braiding Funding for Holistic Student Support
  
  For many students having access to quality postsecondary education may not be enough to build a bridge out of poverty. Students come to college with multiple challenges that go far beyond what they will face academically in the classroom, and often, unexpected “life happens” obstacles force our students to choose between staying in school and dealing with these critical issues.  Since its launch in March 2020, Forsyth Tech Cares, an initiative of Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC, has been supported by the work of the grants office and the Foundation by working together to braid funding from multiple federal, state, and local foundation grants, along with an employee campaign and personal donations to support their holistic student support.
  
  Speakers: Angela Cook, Director of Donor Relations; Amy Ball Braswell, Director of Strategic Initiatives; and Dr. Stacy Waters-Bailey, Associate Vice President for Academic Strategy and Partnerships, Forsyth Technical Community College
• Advancing Social Justice Through Community Partnerships 
  
  Colleges and universities prepare students to make an impact on the world after graduation - but they can also have a profound impact on issues such as educational access, criminal justice and health equity by creating opportunities for students, faculty and staff to work directly in communities. Many donors (foundations, corporations, government and even individuals) who might not be inspired to give to colleges and universities for the sake of education alone are attracted to the direct social impact made by these community partnerships. Successfully implementing and funding these partnerships takes big-picture forward thinking, and sustaining them requires innovative stewardship strategies to keep funders engaged past the pilot year of the program. In this session, we will give examples of successful town-and-gown partnerships that have gone on to have a significant impact on the lives of community residents. We will also provide techniques and lessons learned to assist session participants in obtaining support for similar partnerships at their own institutions, and maintaining relationships with funders for years to come.
  
  Speakers: Katie Cangemi, Senior Program Officer, Community Investment, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and Ingrid Parker, Director, Institutional Advancement, Adler University
• Internal Relations: Managing Across and Metrics for More than Money Raised
  
  Building on conversations about the evolving role of corporate and foundation relations officers, this session asks participants to consider how the value and impact of their work is measured at their institution. Starting from the premise that our work is worth more than just the dollars we raise for our institutions, this session asks participants to consider other metrics for demonstrating our impact as connectors and relationship builders. Participants will hear how the strategic planning process at one institution has led to a re-alignment of activity metrics, and participants will be invited to share and discuss how their own work is measured and valued at their institution.
  
  Speakers: Dr. Janice Ascano, Associate Director of Research Development, Vanderbilt University and Callie Walker, Executive Director of External Relations, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

10:10 – 10:30 AM

Break

10:30 AM – Noon 

Closing Key Session

Achieving Equitable Value in Higher Education

In 2019, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported the launch of the Postsecondary Value Commission, a diverse 30-member panel of higher education leaders, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and students, with a mission to address the question of value and higher education, with a focus on racial, socioeconomic, and gender equity. In 2021, the commission issued a report calling for colleges and universities to address inequities in college completion, affordability, and post-college outcomes, and launched the Equitable Value Explorer, a tool for institutional leaders, researchers, and policymakers interested in advancing value in their own institutions and communities. Join us for a discussion with Jamey Rorison, a central leader in this work, and collaborators who have joined the equitable value movement. Topics include the use of data for understanding inequalities, how the commission defined value in both economic and non-economic terms, and the role universities play in this important work.

Speaker: Jamey Rorison, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Noon 

Conference Adjourns