The expectations of philanthropic funders are changing. Is your university ready to meet them?

U.S. universities are facing growing financial pressure as traditional sources of funding, particularly federal and state support, are under increasing strain. But this moment also presents an opportunity to reimagine their role in society and forge deeper, more strategic partnerships with philanthropic funders*.

Philanthropy has been vital to higher education for over a century - giving grew 175% between the 1980s and 2018, reaching $52.9 billion in 2020–21, with research consistently accounting for 33–38% of restricted funds.

— Giving USA 2022; CASE Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) Report

Partnering with Philanthropy to Further Research agenda

Historically, many universities have approached philanthropy as a supplement to budget gaps or as restricted project funding. But the landscape has shifted. Philanthropic leaders are no longer looking for organizations that can execute grants, they're looking for institutions that can co-create systemic change, collaborate across sectors, and deliver measurable transformation.

Today’s leading donors invest in efforts that:

• Tackle real-world challenges through translational and applied research.

• Build inclusive innovation ecosystems.

• Support equitable solutions through community collaboration.

To succeed in this new era, universities must become strategic partners, co-designing solutions with communities and demonstrating impact beyond traditional academic metrics.

What Makes a University a Partner of Choice?

Philanthropic leaders look for institutions that are accountable, authentic, and aligned. Key differentiators include:

• Values Alignment

  Funders prioritize universities that embed inclusion into research, and show community trust.
  96% of funders say collaboration-focused funding, rather than siloed projects—would improve partnership quality and impact.

  — Unite to Ignite, 2023

• Honest Impact Storytelling
  Funders look beyond glossy metrics. They want to know: Who benefited from the innovation? What changed? Why does it matter? Transparent stories, even about failure, build trust.

• Co-Designed Solutions and Trust-Based Partnerships
  Funders look for partnerships are built on shared power and co-creation with communities and stakeholders. Universities that intentionally invest in these capabilities can leapfrog peers and become prototypes for institutional readiness.

• Cross-Institutional Collaborations
  Collaboration between research powerhouses and MSIs (e.g., HBCUs, HSIs, community colleges) sends a strong signal of ecosystem thinking.

• Metrics That Matter
  While IP and publications remain relevant, funders increasingly focus on real-life impact: economic mobility, climate resilience, health outcomes. This often requires new forms of measurement, long-term tracking, and narrative storytelling to capture what changed and why it matters.

Building Institutional Readiness

Many universities still operate in siloed, discipline-based structures- this makes long-term, cross-sector collaboration difficult to prioritize. Institutions that shift incentives, build in cross-disciplinary supports, and invest in partnership skills are better positioned to succeed in the evolving funding landscape.

To fully embrace this shift, universities must invest in building internal capabilities:

• Impact measurement frameworks that integrate equity and track long-term outcomes.

• Tools for strategic storytelling that convey transformative work.

• Partnership and systems thinking that focus on ecosystems, not just fundraising

• Capacity-building relationships with underrepresented institutions, forming coalitions around shared goals.

“It’s not just a strategy shift—it’s a paradigm shift. You have to change your internal policies, practices, and culture to support systems change.” - Building Foundations for Collaborative Transformation, 2025

How Saath Partner Can Help?

We support universities in shifting from transactional fundraising to ecosystem leadership by offering:

• Training: Equipping university teams in participatory design, systems thinking, impact storytelling and relevant MEL frameworks

• Design & Facilitation: Convening collaborative workshops for forming cross-sector collaborations, conducting co-creation sessions and fostering trust-based partnerships.

• Strategy: Aligning institutional priorities with philanthropic goals using systems strategy, equity-centered planning, and clear impact frameworks.

“If we are to raise the game, we must build the enabling accelerators for widespread partnering.” — Unite to Ignite, 2023

Let’s talk about how we can support your institution. Contact us at info@saathpartners.com

*philanthropic funders include: Individual giving including High Net Worth Individuals, Family foundations, corporate foundations, Private foundations, Donor-advised funds (DAFs), Bequests, Alumni and parent donations, Religious and community-based philanthropic support

References and Thought Starters

• American Council on Education (ACE), 2019

• Giving USA 2022

• CASE Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) Report

• Building Foundations for Collaborative Transformation, The Partnering Initiative, WINGS, Philea, 2025

• Unite to Ignite: Accelerating the Transformational Power of Partnerships, TPI, UN DESA, 2023

• RPLC and Partnership: How the Regenerative Production Landscape Collaboratives Benefit from Partnership, The Partnering Initiative, 2024

• Venturewell Webinar: The Philanthropy Pivot: Unlocking Foundation Partnerships for Your University (July 2025)