Philanthropy from foundations topped $51 million, about 45 percent of the University’s record fundraising total during the 2011 fiscal year.

While the focus is often placed on individual donors – including students, alumni, parents and staff – foundations contribute almost an equal amount to various parts of the University.

“Foundation support is spread throughout every program and school on campus through major gifts, faculty support or special projects,” David Garofalo, spokesman for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, said.

Efforts are made each year to increase giving to the University, but not to change the balance between individual and foundational donations, he said.

Various foundations donated to University initiatives that mirror their goals, Garofalo said. He declined to list all foundation-based donors, but noted that they are “large and small, family, private, governmental and corporate.”

Yet the special interests of foundational donors don’t influence the University’s policy decisions, Garofalo said.

“There is no pressure from foundations to change the way the University operates,” he said.

Individual families can establish and donate through personal foundations, which can distort data regarding the source of donation to the University.

“Foundation support is philanthropy. While it is recorded as grants, many individuals also give to the University through their family foundations,” Garofalo said.

The Ford Foundation – which distributed more than $16 billion in grants worldwide since its founding in 1936 – pledged funding toward the Elliott School China Policy Program.

The RCHN Community Health Foundation has continually supported the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy, based at the School of Public Health and Health Services.

A $2 million gift from the foundation in 2007 was the largest ever received by the public health school. This June, RCHN made an additional $1.75 million gift to the same cause.

“Like any donor, foundations contribute to the organizations whose programs and vision align with their own mission and ideals,” Garofalo said.

The University works to maintain relationships with certain foundations while attempting to build new relationships based on the priorities of the University as determined by chief faculty members, Garofalo said.

Some giving from foundations may represent more personal contributions from family organizations, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Mike Morsberger said.

Foundations approach the University and in turn it seeks out foundation giving, Garofalo added.

“The University seeks out and is sought out by those foundations whose missions match with our aspirational goals,” he said.