FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION

• What do you mean when you say you fund a top priority of the president?  Are certain areas of more interest to your Trustees?
  
  Our Trustees are interested, literally, in funding a top priority of the president from the institutions seeking support (leading universities see below).  They do not restrict, in any way, how a president chooses to use a grant, recognizing that the president will know best how to use grant funds.  They do ask, however, that the president give careful consideration in making a request.  Their expectation is that presidents will seek the best possible leverage for Foundations’ funding by choosing a priority that allows the Foundations relatively modest assistance to have a significant impact. 
  
  
• Do you fund endowments or capital projects?
  
  Yes.  See above.
  
  
• Do you make exceptions to your published grant limit?
  
  No.  All grant requests within the Private Higher Education program should not exceed the current $250,000 limit.
  
  
• If you have no particular preferences for funding, how will our proposal be evaluated in competition with others?
  
  Our Trustees do have a particular preference for the type of institution that applies.  Their intent is to strengthen private higher education over the long term by supporting three categories of institutions: 1) leading universities, 2) strong residential liberal arts colleges, and 3) the strongest “underserved” institutions (Appalachian, HBCU, Native American, and others with similar profiles) that apply.  In taking this “100-year” view, they aim to assist in making the good schools better within their respective categories and are willing to put their faith in the leadership of the colleges and universities with proven and sustained quality.  Therefore, within their designated categories, grant evaluations focus on the overall quality of the requesting institution in competition with others that apply.  A majority of funds awarded annually go to the leading liberal arts colleges.
  
  
• Why must requests from leading universities focus on undergraduate education and have potential to influence other colleges and universities?
  
  Some of the most innovative developments in undergraduate education come from our leading universities, but Trustees only award a few grants each year to private universities.  Therefore, in order to maximize the impact on undergraduate education across the full sector, our Trustees prefer to fund presidential priorities for undergraduate education that also have the potential to serve as a model for others throughout higher education. 
  
  Initial proposals should focus on the grant purpose and its potential to assist others.  After a proposal is determined to have a reasonable chance to be competitive relative to others under review, our traditional institutional evaluation will commence.  Trustee decisions are based, ultimately, on both the quality of the institution and the proposed grant’s potential impact on undergraduate education.
  
  
• What should liberal arts colleges and underserved institutions include in their initial letter to the Foundations seeking support?
  
  The president’s letter need only request a grant and make a case justifying support for this particular need.  Upon receipt of a qualified proposal, the Foundations’ staff will evaluate the institution in relation to others seeking grants at the same time.  We always give the benefit of the doubt, but those determined not to be competitive will be declined.  Many fine institutions are screened out at this stage.  Our intent is to preserve the time of the requesting institutions because the next step involves an extensive institutional review that requires considerable work. 
  
  
• If we receive a grant in higher education, how long should we wait before applying for a new grant?
  
  Because the Foundations give grants nationwide, past grantees are eligible to reapply no earlier than four years from the date of notification approving their most recent Private Higher Education grant.  Institutions that have been declined may submit proposals at any time but may wish to wait until financial and other quality factors have improved, making the college more competitive.
  
  
• May we apply for a grant during a leadership transition?
  
  Due to our emphasis on presidential leadership, Trustees do not award grants during a presidential transition.  A president should be in office for at least a year before applying for a grant.  For example, if a president takes office on July 1, eligibility for a grant begins the following July 1.  Past grantees that have completed their four-year waiting period but are in a presidential transition must delay until they meet this requirement.
  
  This rule also applies to grants that are in progress.  For example, should a President announce his/her resignation at any time during the grant review process, then the proposal will no longer be eligible for Foundations’ support.  This applies even to long-tenured presidents.

Please click on the following links to see the FAQ sections for each program area.

General
Secondary Education
Religion
Health Care