For Faculty

The Office of Foundation Relations (OFR) helps develop and implement strategies to secure philanthropic support for Institute-wide initiatives and priorities, as well as those of MIT’s schools, college, and departments, labs, centers, and institutes, in close partnership with senior leadership, deans, assistant deans of development, faculty, and other fundraising staff. We assist in proposal development and strategic solicitation planning. OFR also organizes campus visits and coordinates with MIT administrative partners.

OFR works with private foundations and philanthropic entities to inspire and deepen connections to MIT. We manage a vast network of relationships and regularly communicate to stay abreast of foundation funding priorities and to showcase the breadth of MIT’s exceptional work and its transformative impact on the nation and the world.

Because of the nature of foundation giving, we partner closely with key internal teams, including the Office of the Recording Secretary (RSO), Research Administration Services (RAS), Research Development, and the Office of Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer, to streamline fundraising efforts.

OFR Resources for MIT faculty and staff are:

How We Can Help

For key initiatives and priorities across MIT, OFR can:

  • Support both relationship-based and competitive funding opportunities that result in philanthropic funding
  • Provide background information on the history of MIT’s relationship with foundations and devise strategies for approaching them
  • Organize engaging campus visits
  • Help to develop a project from idea to fundable program
  • Identify relevant program officers at foundations and facilitate contact
  • Help ensure that proposals are compelling and respond to the foundation’s mission
  • Provide support in negotiating terms of an award in coordination with the RSO and RAS
  • Maintain contact with foundations throughout the life cycle of their support

For other projects, OFR staff can provide assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Please email the Office of Foundation Relations at ofr-ops@mit.edu for more information.