Foundation Relations
Foundation Indirect Cost Policies Thank you! Foundation Relations Team Lauren Ward 268‐7761 [email protected] Jennifer Sobol 268‐9514 [email protected] Shaina Sine 268‐4395 [email protected] Krista Campbell 268‐5360 [email protected] Blue Moon Fund 15%; http://www.bluemoonfund.org/ Foundation Indirect Cost Policy Does not specifically prohibit indirect costs, but "does not fund general operational or capital support"; http://www.ritaallenfoundation.org/ http://www.benedum.org/ ‐ 0% ‐ Only direct grant expenses in approved budget will be paid. Foundation does not support: Organizations located outside West Virginia or Southwestern Pennsylvania; individuals; organizations not exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3); student aid, fellowships or travel; construction or equipment; endowment; ongoing operating expenses; biomedical research; religious organizations for religious purposes; annual appeals or membership drives; conferences, films, books, and audio‐visual productions, unless an integral part of a Foundation‐supported program. Policy is to NOT pay indirect costs. Foundation Relations prospect manager can help with proposal budgets because some overhead costs will be considered. Benedum Foundation Benter Foundation 0% ‐ 25% ‐ http://www.cancer.org/ ‐ ACS makes different kinds of awards, some of which do and some of which do not pay F&A costs. Awards which do pay these costs pay a rate of 25% on direct costs, excluding permanent equipment. These awards include Research Project Grants, Clinical Research Training Grants for Junior Faculty, Research Opportunity Grants, and Targeted Research Project Grants. Programs which do not pay include Postdoctoral Fellowships, Institutional Research Grants, Research Professorships, Clinical Research Professorships. 0% ‐ http://www.acls.org/programs/institution_info/ ‐ There is a distinction between awards that ACLS makes directly and awards they administer. Awards ACLS makes directly are fellowships, i.e., awards to individuals, and F&A costs are are not paid. Up to 10% ‐ http://www.americanheart.org ‐ AHA will pay up to 10% in F&A costs on awards that permit such costs. These awards include Scientist Development Grants, Established Investigator Grants, Grants‐in‐Aid, and some grants offered by the regional offices. F&A costs are not paid on fellowships. 0%; http://www.beckman‐foundation.com/ American Institute of Architects Check RFP, it varies. Decade of Design awards allow 20%. http://www.aia.org/advocacy/publicpolicy/index.htm 15% of total award; http://www.aetna‐foundation.org/foundation/apply‐for‐a‐grant/index.html No information available. The foundation does not provide grant agreements. http://www.archfoundation.org/ This is a partial list of U.S. private foundations’ policies on overhead reimbursement to universities, to the best of our knowledge. We hope that this will assist you in assembling budgets for foundation proposals. Please note that many foundations do not have consistent policies on this issue, and their decisions can even vary from program to program and grant to grant. If you or a faculty member hears something different from a foundation program officer than the information shown here, please let us know, so we can update this list for the campus community, and also so that such timely information can help CMU to maintain a good relationship with that organization. If you have a question about a foundation not on this list, please call us. We intend to update it as needed. As always, we encourage you to call us about any foundation proposal if we can help in any way. Aetna Foundation Allen, Rita Foundation American Architectural Foundation American Cancer Society American Council of Learned Societies American Heart Association Beckman FoundationFISA Foundation 0% ‐ http://www.bradleyfdn.org/ Will pay 12%. http://www.buhlfoundation.org/ Bradley Fdn (Lynde and Harry) Buhl Foundation No information available http://www.macphilanthropies.org/ 15% ‐ http://www.carnegie.org/ ‐ Carnegie Corporation does not have a fixed policy about indirect costs. Payment of such costs is negotiable and decided on a case‐by‐case basis, but will rarely pay more than 10% for indirect university costs. 10%; http://www.colcomfdn.org/ $15K of $90K award = approx. 17%; http://www.whcf.org/ The Foundation does not provide support for indirect costs. Instead, however, up to 10 percent of the total grant award may be used to purchase equipment for the study. The balance is to be used to meet direct research costs. http://www.dana.org/ Cargill, Margaret A. Foundation Carnegie Corporation Colcom Foundation Coulter Foundation Dana Foundation 8% ‐ http://www.ddcf.org ‐ The 2011 Clinical Scientist Development Awards are being offered to eligible junior faculty members at a funding level of $150,000 direct costs plus 8% indirect costs ($12,000) per year for 3 years; RFPs on Energy Efficiency Retrofit Policies and Programs ‐ Note that indirect costs cannot exceed 12% and the annual request for support cannot exceed 25% of your organization's budget for that year. 0%; http://www.dsfcf.org/ No Information Available. No website. Requests to cover operating expenses, endowments or accumulated deficits are discouraged. However, a discussion about an administrative fee is pending. http://www.edenhallfdn.org/ 8% of total award ‐ http://www.ellisonfoundation.org/index.jsp Doris Duke Charitable Foundation DSF Charitable Foundation Eberly Foundation Eden Hall Foundation Ellison Medical Foundation 0% ‐ http://www.avdf.org/FoundationsPrograms/SecondaryEducation.aspx Arthur Vining Davis Foundations No information available. http://www.ef.org/home.cfm Only direct research expenses as outlined in grant application. http://www.fidelityfoundation.org/contact/index.html Only expenses stated in the approved budget. Administrative expenses are acceptable. No website. http://www.fordfound.org/ ‐ Up to 10% ‐ The Foundation permits payment of F&A costs where these are appropriate, and there is no fixed percentage rate. Decisions are made on a case‐by‐case basis and F&A costs are calculated on the basis of costs related directly to the project. The Foundation tries to put F&A costs into the direct cost budget. Energy Foundation Fidelity Non‐Profit Mgmt Fdn Fine Foundation Ford Foundation Will pay current administrative fee. http://fisafoundation.org/grants/ Up to 10% ‐The foundation's position is that, whenever possible, specifically allocable costs of an applicant organization's project should be requested and justified in the proposal as direct costs, including those for dedicated ongoing project management, facilities, and support. Categorization differs from the U.S. OMB circular instructions familiar to many U.S.‐based institutions, in which some of these expenses can only be treated as indirect costs. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/grantseeker/Documents/Indirect_Cost_Policy.pdf No Information Available. No website. NO overhead, but they will pay the admin fee if it is listed as an expense in the approved budget. http://www.grablefdn.org/ Will not fund general annual operating expenses. http://www.grahamfoundation.org/ Gates Foundation ‐ Education and Life Sciences Gelman Trust (Jacques & Natasha) Grable Foundation Graham Foundation Grammy Foundation 15% ‐ The GRAMMY Foundation will pay up to fifteen percent (15%) of indirect costs with supporting documentation. http://www.grammy.org/grammy‐foundation/grants Grant Foundation, William T. Maximum indirect cost allowance is 7.5% of total direct costs for William T. Grant Scholars, William T. Grant Scholars Mentoring Grants, and Distinguished Fellows applications, and 15% for research and all other applications. This maximum applies to the total proposal budget, inclusive of the subcontractor direct costs, submitted by the primary institution.
0%; http://www.hfsp.org/ Link Foundation 0% ‐ http://www.linkenergy.org/guidelines.html Human Frontier Science Program 10% overhead (50% salary); http://www.greenwall.org/ 0% ‐"Indirect/general overhead/administrative" cost assessments (i.e. those typically expressed as arbitrary "factors" or flat percentage cost add‐ons) often applied to grant proposal budgets by large educational and/or research institutions are not acceptable and will not be included in the amount of any grants awarded. However, direct costs administrative costs can be added to the budget. http://www.heinz.org/index.aspx No information, but probably the same as Heinz Endowments. http://www.heinzfamily.org/ Greenwall Foundation Heinz Endowments Heinz Family Philanthropies Lounsbery Foundation 15%; http://ineteconomics.org/ 12% ‐ http://www.rwjf.org/applications/unsolicited/faqlist.jsp#13a. As of July 1, 2006, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's indirect costs rate for new grants is 12 percent. This increased rate only applies to new grant awards that start July 1, 2006, or later. Indirect costs are limited to 12 percent of total direct costs (Personnel, Other Direct Costs and Purchased Services). When Purchased Services total more than 33 percent of the RWJF portion of a budget, the Foundation limits indirect costs on the Purchased Services category to 4 percent. 0%; http://www.wmkeck.org/ The award of $150,000 is payable over a three‐year period. It may be used for salary support, research assistants, equipment, or for any other purpose which promotes the scientific activities of the Klingenstein Fellow. The award is for the exclusive use of the Fellow and may not be used for institutional or departmental support. No institutional overhead, but fringe benefits may be charged to the award. http://www.klingfund.org/ 20% ‐ Health Program ‐ Budget may include up to 20 percent of entire award for indirect costs. http://www.kresge.org/ Institute for New Economic Thinking Johnson, Robert Wood Foundation Keck Foundation Klingenstein Fund Kresge Foundation Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Up to 20%, depends on the program. For example, the New Idea Award is 5%, the Translational Research Program is 20%. http://www.lls.org/#/researchershealthcareprofessionals/academicgrants/ Kauffman, Ewing Marion Foundation 0% indirect costs. http://www.kauffman.org/grants/letter‐of‐inquiry. All grant funds are required to be used for direct project/program expenses. No portion may be used for indirect expenses. Hillman Foundation Roy A. Hunt Foundation 0%‐15% of entire award; http://rlounsbery.org/ 0% ‐ http://www.hewlett.org/ The Foundation prefers not to pay F&A costs and would like the funds it provides to go entirely to the direct costs of a project. When a grantee has no alternative, however, the Foundation will allow not more than 10% of the total amount granted to go to F&A costs. HHMI Scientist Host Institutions ‐ HHMI does not pay indirect costs with respect to its research
activities at host institutions. 2011 International Early Career Scientists ‐ an additional 0% ($65,000)
will be paid over the five years to the scientist's institution for indirect or administrative costs. http://www.hhmi.org/
HHMI Scientist Host Institutions ‐ HHMI does not pay indirect costs with respect to its research
activities at host institutions. 2011 International Early Career Scientists ‐ an additional 10% ($65,000)
will be paid over the five years to the scientist's institution for indirect or administrative costs. http://www.hhmi.org/ Must be negotiated case by case. PI should work with Foundation Relations to develop budget. http://hillmanfdn.org/ Must be negotiated case by case. PI should work with Foundation Relations to develop budget. http://www.rahuntfdn.org/ Hewlett, Wm & Flora Foundation HHMI ‐ Education HHMI ‐ Investigators
March of Dimes Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education No information available. http://www.mathersfoundation.org/ MacArthur Foundation Mallinckrodt, Edward Jr. Foundation Mathers, G. Harold & Leila Y. Fdn Pew Charitable Trusts ‐ Bio Scholars 0%; No portion of the funds awarded may be used for indirect costs (overhead). Benefits are allowable. 0%; The funds can be applied only to work commissioned after the grant start date. Funds must be used exclusively for preservation expenses and may not be applied to staffing or operational costs. National Film Preservation Foundation No information available. http://www.mccune.org/ 10%; http://www.mcknight.org/ Varies depending on program; most programs pay 0%. http://www.mellon.org/ Will pay current administrative fee. http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/rkmellon/ 12.5%; http://www.moore.org/ McCune Foundation McKnight Foundation Mellon, Andrew W. Foundation Mellon, Richard King Foundation Moore, Gordon Fdn University indirect and overhead costs capped at 10% on grants with direct costs less than $1,000,000. University indirect (overhead) costs include facilities (buildings, equipment, physical plant operation and maintenance, and libraries) and administration costs. Mitchell, Cynthia & George Foundation PNC Charitable Foundation 12%; The charitable trust does pay the administrative fee. It must be put into proposal budget as 'administrative costs' for approval. Pew Charitable Trusts ‐ Other Pittsburgh Foundation Progeria Research Foundation Readers' Digest Partners for Sight Foundation 10% ‐ F&A payments are limited to 10% of salaries and fringe benefits. Lauren says it is 8%. http://www.pewtrusts.org/ 0% ‐ The Foundation does not generally award grants for annual operating costs, sectarian purposes, private or parochial schools, individual public schools, individual hospitals, organizations addressing the needs relating to single diseases, endowment campaigns, capital costs, special events, conferences, scholarships, internships or awards. http://www.pittsburghfoundation.org/ 0% ‐ http://www.progeriaresearch.org/ Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation has an indirect cost policy which states that we primarily fund specific projects aimed at specific outcomes, and we request that the budget for each grant reflect all of the expenses that can be directly tracked to the project. From time to time we realize that it may be necessary to fund some indirect costs. We do not, in any circumstances, fund F&A costs, but we do, at our sole discretion, sometimes fund a reasonable amount of administrative overhead costs. I think that your request of a 9.6% administrative charge is reasonable. Please note, however, that the total amount requested for the grant cannot exceed our guidelines for this RFP. 0%; http://www.nammfoundation.org/ Most of funding goes to project grants rather than core operating grants; for project grants, the administrative overhead is usually expected to be under 10%, although this may vary depending on the nature of the project. http://www.soros.org/ 0%; http://www.osherfoundation.org/ 10%; http://www.packard.org/ 10% ‐ F&A payments are limited to 10% of salaries and fringe benefits. Lauren says it is 8%. http://www.pewtrusts.org/ NAMM Foundation Open Society Foundations Osher, Bernard Foundation David & Lucile Packard Foundation 10% of direct costs; http://www.marchofdimes.com/ Up to 15% ‐ http://www.macfound.org/ The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recognizes that grantees may have overhead costs that are directly attributable to projects or activities being funded by Foundation grants but are necessary to carry out the projects or activities. The Foundation will consider paying these indirect costs up to a maximum of 15% of direct project or activity costs. Indirect costs do not apply to general operating support or endowment grants. 0%; http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi‐bin/getRec?id=3691
Sprout Fund John Templeton Foundation Andy Warhol Foundation Rockefeller Foundation Sarah Scaife Foundation Schmidt Family Foundation Searle Scholars Program Shubert Foundation Simons Foundation Sloan, Alfred P. Foundation Spencer Foundation Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Sustainable Arts Foundation Scaife Family Foundation Rockefeller Brothers Fund Skoll Global Threats Fund 15% ‐ The Foundation will cover overhead costs of up to 15% of the overall grant amount. http://www.templeton.org/ No indirect costs. Only expenses directly related to the project. http://www.warholfoundation.org/ 0%; No website. 0%; http://www.searlescholars.net/ NEW policy. Shubert grants must be used as scholarships and no indirect costs can be applied. http://www.shubertfoundation.org/grantapps/downloadapp.asp Autism Research Initiative ‐ Indirect costs are limited to 20% of direct costs with the following exceptions: equipment, tuition, pre and postdoctoral fellow stipends and benefits, any subcontracts with budgets including direct and indirect expenses and SSC biospecimens. New Institute for the Theory of Computing ‐ The Simons Foundation anticipates making an initial award of up to $6,000,000 per year for ten years, contingent on excellent performance in the first five years. This sum will include up to $1,000,000 per year in indirect costs. https://simonsfoundation.org/ Up to 15% ‐ No overhead for grants $50K or lower, and no overhead on Sloan Fellowship grants. On Trustee Grants, which are over $50,000, the Foundation will pay at most 15% of direct costs. http://www.sloan.org/ It is the Spencer Foundation's policy not to pay indirect costs on any proposal requesting an award of $50,000 or less. For research grant proposals requesting over $50,000, the Foundation will pay indirect costs equaling up to 15% of the direct costs of the proposed project. The Foundation does not pay government‐approved overhead rates on research grants. http://www.spencer.org/ 10% of the entire award. Sprout funding should be predominately used in ways that will directly serve the programmatic ends of the project. Administrative and other non‐programmatic expenses will be supported but should not constitute a significant portion of the budget. In particular, Sprout funding for indirect administrative costs, also termed overhead, cannot exceed 10% of the total award amount requested. An organization knows best how funds may be needed, so administrative costs can be included in a budget proposal. http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/ Inclusion of up to 18% indirect costs; more than 18% requires a lot of additional explanation‐ and are therefore more challenging for the foundation to approve. They are currently working on developing a more formal set of policies, including a university overhead policy, to better explain the parameters. http://www.skollglobalthreats.org/ As a general rule, the Foundation pays 5% in F&A costs on grants of $100K or less and up to 15% above $100K. http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/ No information available. The foundation does not provide grant agreements. http://www.scaife.com/sarah.html No information available. http://theschmidt.org/ 10% of entire award; http://www.stauntonfarm.org/ No information available. http://www.surdna.org/ The Foundation does not support indirect administrative costs. www.scaifefamily.org/ 10% ‐ RBF funds indirect costs at 10 percent although there can be a range depending on the needs of the grantee. http://www.rbf.org/content/before‐you‐apply Staunton Farm Foundation Surdna Foundation