Foundations Programs: Private Higher Education

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

From their founding, the Foundations have been strongly committed to the support of private higher education in America. Trustees have concentrated on privately governed and supported four-year, residential, liberal arts institutions which place strong emphasis on teaching and whose students choose majors primarily in the arts and sciences rather than career or vocational studies. Support generally is reserved for schools of broadly acknowledged academic excellence and a solid record of financial strength with outstanding support from trustees and alumni/ae. A few grants are made to larger teaching and research universities with a national reputation for excellence in undergraduate education. Grants also are made competitively each year to help improve historically Black colleges, Native American tribal colleges, colleges in Appalachia, and similar schools providing opportunities for traditionally underserved students.

Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA

Evaluation of competing requests is focused on the overall quality of requesting institutions. Therefore, presidents have unlimited flexibility in selecting a high priority for reinforcing institutional excellence. Trustees have no preference for any particular category or type of project. It is assumed that presidents will seek to maximize the potential impact and lasting value of our grants, which range from $100,000 to an upper limit of $250,000.

In the special case of leading universities, requests should reflect the priority of the President for improving undergraduate education and offer the potential to influence undergraduate education beyond the university.

Proposals should be signed by the president of the institution. Institutions in presidential transition are not eligible. A president should be in office for at least one year prior to submitting a grant request. Because of intense competition in the higher education program and our limited resources, institutions receiving grants should wait at least four years from notification of an award before reapplying for another grant.

Colleges and universities with innovative programs for strengthening teachers and their teaching in grades 9 through 12 should refer to the description of the Secondary Education program. The higher and secondary education programs are independent and grant requests may be submitted in both programs at the same time.

For Frequently Asked Questions in Private Higher Education, please click here.