Fund Your Research: Partnering with Foundation Relations at Rice
Private foundations are a powerful catalyst for research and innovation at Rice. In FY25 alone, 22% of Rice’s total research expenditures were funded by foundation resources — underscoring the critical role these partnerships play in advancing academic excellence.
This page is for faculty and academic administrators seeking to engage with private foundations to support their research, programs and institutional initiatives. Whether you are identifying new funding opportunities, building relationships with foundation partners or preparing a proposal, Rice’s Foundation Relations team is here to support you every step of the way.
Ted Walker
Director,
Foundation Relations
Ashley Booher
Associate Director,
Foundation Relations
Hannah Rodriguez
Assistant Director,
Foundation Relations
LaCole Garza Gongora
Development Coordinator,
Foundation Relations
Working with Foundation Relations
The foundation relations team collaborates closely with faculty and academic leaders to:
Identify and evaluate potential foundation funders.
Understand the unique interests and expectations of foundation audiences.
Develop tailored strategies and proposals that resonate with funders.
Foster long-term, meaningful relationships between Rice and its foundation partners.
Laying the Groundwork for Foundation Success
Below are key steps to help you navigate the foundation landscape, identify the right opportunities and position your work for success.
Adopt the Foundation Funding Mindset
Private foundations are mission-driven organizations that seek to fund bold, high impact ideas aligned with their priorities. To successfully engage with them, it’s essential to understand their goals and values.
Start by exploring foundation websites and initiating conversations with program officers. These insights will help you craft proposals that resonate and demonstrate clear alignment with their mission.
Identify Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities come in many different forms — from open calls for proposals to invitation-only opportunities. Rice’s Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (OCFR) provides several tools to help you discover and pursue meaningful funding:
- Monthly Funding Opportunities Bulletin: Curated list of current foundation opportunities.
- Pivot-RP Database: Searchable, international database of funding opportunities across disciplines.
- Early Career Opportunities: Targeted resources for emerging researchers and scholars.
- OCFR’s monthly open house: Drop in at Dandelion Cafe the first Friday of every month from 9 -11 a.m. to ask questions and connect with our team.
Participate in Internal Funding Competitions
Some foundations limit the number of proposals Rice can submit. In these cases, OCFR coordinates internal competitions to select the most competitive application.
Please visit the linked resources below to see a list of limited submission competitions. If you are interested in participating, submit an internal Notice of Intent and/or Pre-proposal by the stated deadline. An interdisciplinary Research Awards Committee will review submissions and notify selected applicants.
Establish Relationships
Posted calls for proposals are not the only pathway to foundation support. Many funded projects begin with relationships between faculty and foundations.
Networking is key. Engaging with foundation staff, attending events and staying connected can open doors to future funding. The more you build authentic relationships, the better positioned you’ll be to secure support for your work.
Steward Supporters
Securing foundation funding is just the beginning. Stewarding your foundation supporters is vital to ensuring the success of your grant and opening doors for future support. Key stewardship practices include:
- Acknowledging the foundation's generosity.
- Sharing updates such as publications, conference presentations and press coverage.
- Submitting timely and thorough reports. Foundations rely on reports to understand the impact of your work and share that information with their stakeholders.
Additional Resources to Support Your Funding Journey
From early career guidance to stewardship best practices and internal partnerships, these tools are designed to support faculty at every stage of the foundation funding process.
Support for Early Career Faculty
Many foundations offer programs designed to support early-stage researchers. OCFR can provide:
- Strategy tips for navigating foundation funding.
- Advice from Rice faculty peers.
- A curated list of early career opportunities from foundations and corporations.
- Visit the Early Career Faculty page
Internal Partners on the Path to Success
OCFR partners with the following campus offices to support your funding journey.
- Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP)
OSP provides assistance in the development and submission of proposals and award acceptance to external sponsors. - Research and Cost Accounting (RCA)
After a grant is awarded, RCA, situated in the Controller's Office, provides financial reporting to foundations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about working with foundation relations.
"We have received invaluable support and guidance from OCFR. Their staff, with their deep knowledge of foundations, acts as a crucial bridge, connecting us with funding opportunities. They are consistently generous with their time and expertise, offering essential perspectives to help us succeed."
Shengxi Huang
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Materials Science and NanoEngineering
Contact Us
If you’re ready to fuel your research with foundation funding or want to learn more about what OCFR can do to help you secure funding, reach out to the foundation relations team today.