Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy

Connecting UC Berkeley’s Boldest Ideas With Foundation and Corporate Funding

With the guidance of Executive Director Sylvia Bierhuis, the Office of Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy (FRCP) is a specialized team within University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR). We connect UC Berkeley faculty, researchers, and Advancement staff with institutional grantmakers.

We partner with faculty, researchers, and Advancement staff across campus to secure philanthropic grants that advance UC Berkeley’s mission of teaching, research, and social impact.

By combining deep funder insights with strategic proposal guidance, we help campus partners navigate complex foundation and corporate landscapes — turning visionary projects into funded realities.

How We Support Advancement

Navigating organizational philanthropy requires strategic coordination across campus. FRCP adds direct value by:

  • Increasing Proposal Competitiveness: Translating complex academic concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with foundation boards.
  • Strengthening Donor Relationships: Managing institutional relationships and cross-campus clearance to ensure grantmakers are not overwhelmed by competing requests.
  • Building Long-Term Institutional Alliances: Fostering sustained relationships with major foundations that yield repeat investments across multiple campus units over time.

Services We Provide

Whether you need quick access to institutional documentation or comprehensive proposal development, we offer resources and hands-on support at every stage of the grant-seeking process.

Self-Service Tools and Resources

Are You Grant Ready?

A quick diagnostic checklist in PDF format to ensure your project is ready for foundation outreach.

Funding Opportunities

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are curated listings of active grant opportunities from foundations and corporations, updated regularly.

Funder and Proposal Library

Funder profiles, topical strategy briefs, historical giving trends, and standard proposal text.

International Prospects

A searchable database of global funders categorized by discipline (biomedical, humanities, fellowships, exchanges, and prizes).

Institutional Documentation

Get access to frequently requested proposal materials, including 990 forms, operating budgets, and board rosters.

Eureka

UC Berkeley’s central fundraising system for viewing campus donor records and relationship histories. A CalNet ID is required to access the site.

Direct Partnership Services

We work side-by-side with faculty and unit fundraisers to maximize grant success:

  • Strategic Proposal Development: Custom prospect research, alignment with funder priorities, and detailed proposal review.
  • Prospect Identification: Targeted matching of your research or program goals with viable foundation and corporate partners.
  • Funder Engagement and Visits: Advising on outreach strategies, coordinating site visits, and documenting engagement in central systems.
  • Pre- and Post-Award Collaboration: Close coordination with Research Administration and the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) to support smooth award processing and stewardship.

Students gathering at Sproul Plaza.

Meet the FRCP Team

Our directors serve as primary liaisons to specific schools, colleges, and units across campus. Find your point of contact by visiting the Foundation Relations & Corporate Philanthropy team page.