For Faculty
How can we help you?
UD’s Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) team works with faculty and staff to facilitate funding for programs and research. The team strives to understand key goals, develop a plan, coordinate with potential funders and submit proposals. The team seeks to cultivate strong, long-term relationships with private foundations and corporations, enabling UD to grow its programs and research and strengthen its reputation in higher education.
Faculty and staff who seek funding are encouraged to work with the CFR team and Research Office to help maximize funding opportunities. Our goal is to work to create meaningful funding initiatives and help UD focus on its impactful priorities.
For more information, contact the CFR team below.
Prospect Clearance
Successful corporate and foundation engagement depends on coordinated, strategic outreach. Prospect clearance ensures that the University of Delaware presents a unified, thoughtful approach to external partners while maximizing opportunities for meaningful, long-term relationships.
A Collaborative Approach
Prospect clearance is not intended to limit access. It is designed to strengthen proposals, protect relationships, and ensure that every interaction reflects the best of the University of Delaware. CFR serves as a partner in developing competitive, well-positioned opportunities that advance both faculty priorities and institutional goals.
For questions or to discuss a potential opportunity, please contact the CFR team at dar-cfr@udel.edu.
What is Prospect Clearance?
Prospect clearance is the process through which Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR), in consultation with university leadership, reviews and approves outreach to corporations and foundations. This includes proposals, letters of inquiry, meetings, and other forms of engagement. Clearance helps prevent duplication, ensures alignment with institutional priorities, and strengthens the university’s reputation with funding partners.
When is Clearance Required?
You should request prospect clearance if you are:
- Planning to submit a proposal or letter of inquiry
- Initiating contact with a new corporate or foundation prospect
- Re-engaging a funder after a period of inactivity
- Inviting a corporate or foundation representative to campus
- Unsure whether a relationship already exists
If you are working on a foundation or corporate opportunity of any kind, CFR is here to help guide the process.
How to Request Clearance
To initiate prospect clearance, please submit a request via email to dar-cfr@udel.edu. Please include the following in your email:
- Name of the corporation or foundation
- Brief description of your project or funding need
- Anticipated amount and timeline
- Any known contacts or prior interactions
CFR reviews requests on a rolling basis and will respond within 10 business days with next steps, including approval, coordination, or strategic guidance.
What Happens Next?
Following submission, CFR will:
- Review existing institutional relationships and activity
- Assess alignment with funder priorities
- Coordinate internally, as needed, with colleagues across UD
- Provide guidance on strategy, messaging, and next steps
In many cases, CFR will partner with you throughout the engagement process, from initial outreach through proposal development and stewardship.
CFR Staff
