Establishing Partnerships for Excellence

Philanthropic support from corporations and foundations takes many forms, including gifts for endowment, faculty support, facilities construction, scholarships and fellowships, research, public outreach, internships, sponsorship, technology transfer, diversity programs, and access to education for under-served audiences.

The Corporate and Foundation Relations staff offers expertise and guidance to members of the University community in funding strategies, prospect identification, proposal review, editing and writing, and in building relationships with corporations and foundations. We promote the development of interdisciplinary partnerships and help coordinate an effective, University-wide approach to corporate and foundation donors and prospects.

Corporate News: The Washington Trust Charitable Foundation has made a 5-year, $100,000 commitment, establishing an endowment that will support juniors and seniors majoring in finance who participate in the Ram Fund. The Ram Fund, which was established in the spring of 2001 with $100,000 in seed money from the URI Alumni Association, gives students the opportunity to invest and manage money for the long term.

Since its inception, students have said participation in the Ram Fund has been one of the defining experiences of their time at URI. The program allows them to invest real money in real firms. A course in the College of Business Administration, the Ram Fund also has its own advisory board to provide information, encouragement, advice and access to ideas and opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to students.

The gift from the charitable arm of the Westerly-based bank is part of the $100 million Making a Difference Capital Campaign.