Corporate and Foundation Relations

Regional, state and national foundations are the backbone of external support for Saint Mary’s College. A few of these not-for-profit partners and their impact can be found below.

Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation 

Paul Kalmanovitz was an entrepreneur who bequeathed his fortune to support hospitals and institutions of education in California. The Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation has supported facilities, scholarships, and special programs at Saint Mary’s College since 2003.

Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation 

The Carl Gellert Foundation was established in 1958, and merged with the Celia Berta Gellert Foundation to become the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation in 1994. The legacy of Carl and Celia Gellert lives on through their philanthropic generosity in the education, religious, and scientific fields in the Bay area. The Gellert Foundation has provided support for endowed scholarships and facilities at Saint Mary’s College since 1982.

William Randolph Hearst Foundation 

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a philanthropic resource for institutions working in the fields of education, health, culture and social services. The Hearst Foundation supports annual scholarships and the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship at SMC. Saint Mary’s College has been the recipient of the generous support of the Hearst Foundation since 1965.

Henry Luce Foundation 

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to bring important ideas to the center of American life, strengthen international understanding, and foster innovation and leadership in academic, policy, religious and art communities. The Clare Boothe Luce Program is a significant source of private support for women in science, mathematics and engineering. Saint Mary’s College has been a recipient of the Clare Boothe Luce Scholarship since 2014.

Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation 

The mission of the Lesher Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Contra Costa County by helping people in need, enriching the lives of all citizens, and promoting a healthy and exciting future for the community. The Lesher Foundation has provided resources to Saint Mary’s College to support buildings and equipment, athletics, and education scholarships since 2001.

A growing cadre of businesses and corporations are helping to build the future at Saint Mary’s College. A few examples of these generous companies includes:

Able Building Maintenance 

Able Building Supply is a strong supporter of Gael Athletics, specifically the Rugby Endowed Scholarship fund, other Rugby Scholarship, and general programs since 2009. They are also SMC’s onsite facilities contractor.

Apple Computer 

Apple Computer has been a consistent partner of Saint Mary’s College since 2011 through their employee matching gifts program, which supports the endowment and current operations.

Cisco 

Cisco has partnered with Saint Mary’s College to establish the innovative Accelerated Career Entry Students (ACES) program. The vision for the ACES program is to develop a partnership among for-profit and non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for underserved and underrepresented students.

Heffernan Foundation 

Heffernan Foundation, supported by the Heffernan Insurance Group, provides funding for College operations including tuition, student support, leadership training, and enhancements to student life such as classroom and residence hall improvements.

The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations is able to assist faculty with funding requests. When you are ready to move forward with a funding request;

1. Review the FAQs below

2. Complete this Intent to Apply form

   Intent to Apply Form 11-4-18.docx

3. Send to: Bill Olds, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at wlo1@vaftizo.com

What is the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office and what does it do?

Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) is part of the Advancement Office. CFR responsibilities include planning, preparing, and submitting institutional grants, and helping faculty and staff to seek external funding for their projects. As the content experts, you are responsible for writing grant proposals with our assistance.

Can I submit a grant request on my own?

All grant requests to foundations and corporations are processed through Corporate and Foundation Relations. The support we provide can be crucial in your success as a grantseeker, and also to the success of the mission of the College.

What types of support does Corporate and Foundation Relations offer and to whom?

CFR has the privilege of helping Saint Mary's faculty and staff secure external funding. Here are some of the ways we can serve you:

• Maintain and promote relationships on behalf of the College and its faculty with external funders.
• Help avoid potential conflicts or multiple proposals being prepared for a particular funder.
• Help you calendar the tasks required to secure a grant.
• Assist with proposal development including budgets.
• Identify matching requirements.
• Proofread, edit, and give feedback on draft proposals.
• Provide Saint Mary's information required for your proposal.
• Manage the internal approval process for your proposal.
• Ensure that the required proposal and budget are complete prior to submission.
• Submit proposals electronically on behalf of the College and its faculty and staff.

When do I contact Corporate and Foundation Relations?

Feel free to contact us early in the development phase of your project. We can help steer you through the process to avoid delays, duplications, and omissions. If you are ready to submit a formal request, please use the Intent to Apply Form.

Where do I find Saint Mary's statistics that are required for my proposal?

The Saint Mary's Fact Book provides a wealth of information you may need.

What if I don’t find the information I’m looking for?

Contact Corporate and Foundation Relations. We’ll do our best to help locate institutional information or other relevant data sources.