What funding model will you follow? Where will the funding come from?
Programmes may be funded by philanthropic donors, foundations, national governments or local authorities, charitable organisations, individual donors such as alumni, or by a combination of sources. Programmes may also be funded by the university itself, from core funding, donations, or through a contribution from international student fees. Emergency funding is in some cases available from the European Commission, from religious institutions, and from certain NGOs.
Universities will have different priorities and values, and as a result may consider some funding sources to be inappropriate for their programme, for example oil companies or certain states.
Examples of funding models
Local government
National government
Large foundation
University-led fundraising with support of a benefactor or alumni
University-based funding from faculty or departmental budgets
Fundraising and contributions from unions, staff and students
Development agencies
National Human Rights Institutions
Funding sustainability and managing funding transitions
The Protective Fellowship Scheme for human rights defenders at risk at the University of York was initially funded by a large foundation grant. Over a 15-year period the scheme moved to a mixed funding model, including support from the University, university alumni, NGOs, and foundations. Some lessons learnt from this process include:
Use the time provided by initial support, such as a foundation grant, to diversify sources of funding.
Anticipate and try to manage transitions in funding to prevent the scheme having to dramatically reduce the number of defenders hosted or having to stop the scheme altogether.
Develop a diverse portfolio of funders as this not only makes the scheme more sustainable, but diversity is also attractive to new funders.
Optimise university-specific forms of funding (departmental or faculty budgets, alumni support) to embed the programme within the university, and as it helps to secure external assistance.
Build longer-term commitments to ensure programme sustainability (see Alumni Funding). Having to secure funding each year for the next year is very costly in terms of financial and human resources, whereas multi-year commitments allow more time to run the programme.
Secure relationships with funders that ensure ‘holistic’ funding. ‘Holistic’ funding includes funding for the programme but also for staffing and family support.
Scholars and Practioners at Risk Program
The University of Connecticut (UConn)
The Scholars and Practitioners at Risk Program is part-funded by philanthropic donor support, including by alumni. Paired with support from the University, UConn is able to fund one to two fellows per year for up to a two-year residency. When possible, UConn secures additional resources from other NGOs supporting short-term residencies so that more than one fellow can be hosted at the same time.