Who We Are: Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations

The Office of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations (CFR for short) matches external organizations who give money with the needs of UVI programs.  In addition to Federal granting agencies like the National Science Foundation (which are typically handled through the Office of Sponsored Programs), we build partnerships between UVI and two basic types of organization: foundations and corporations.

Richard Cleaver, Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations  •  (340) 693-1042 

 Office of Institutional Advancement, Faculty West #7, St. Thomas Campus 

 Weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Recent Grants 

 In October and November, CFR assisted in procuring $81,000 in scholarship funding for UVI students from: 

  • Coca-Cola
  • Cruzan Rum 
  • Wyndham Vacation Ownership 
  • Marriott Frenchman's Reef 


Starting the Conversation 
 To explore funding possibilities for your UVI unit or program, consider the following key questions, then feel free to contact us with your ideas. 

Foundations are typically set up in perpetuity to support causes that were important to the people whose wealth endowed the foundation. They have mission statements that guide their grant-making. The job of the CFR office is to identify which foundation missions match UVI programs and initiatives, and make UVI’s case for a partnership. Foundations typically have their own procedures for applying. No two foundations are alike in this respect. The key question we need to be able to answer is: How can UVI help the ABC Foundation advance their mission and goals?

The CFR office will help identify possible funding sources and navigate this process. It will also help develop a proposal, although the conceptual work for a proposal necesarily comes from the University unit the proposal is meant to support.

Corporations also have selected areas of interest for their giving, usually related to their business focus. Common reasons they give are:

  • funding research that can help their business
  • creating an attractive community environment for their workforce
  • generating good will & publicity for the company
  • providing opportunities for their employees to give back to their communities, or
  • recruiting UVI graduates for their workforce.

The CFR office will help navigate the approach and manage the relationship with corporations, just like with foundations. The key question we need to be able to answer is: What will the XYZ Corporation get out of a gift to UVI?

Office of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations  •  (340) 693-1042