Global giving: The Elsevier Foundation

Founded and funded by Elsevier, The Elsevier Foundation is a non-profit organisation set-up to enrich and develop the communities in which Elsevier has a presence. Created in 2002, the Foundation awards cash-grants and donates products, materials and services throughout the world. With a budget of around US $1,000,000, each year the Foundation aims to award 30 to 50 grants of between $2,500 and $25,000.

Although The Foundation was only established in November last year, Director and member of the Elsevier Board John Regazzi, is quick to point out Elsevier’s long history of philanthropy and social responsibility. "Corporate giving is something Elsevier has always been involved in, in various ways, throughout all the business units," he explains. "We formed the Foundation so we could focus and centralise these efforts in order to build a stronger philanthropic emphasis throughout Elsevier."

Key goals
The Foundation does not support individuals: only non-profit organisations with a tax-exempt status in the county they are located qualify. "There are two key goals," says Regazzi. "Firstly, we want to help improve quality of life in the local communities in which Elsevier employees live and work. Secondly, the Foundation aims to recognize and contribute to innovative research and development work being carried out in the scientific, technical and medical (STM) communities."

Local education
At the local level, the Foundation focuses – although not exclusively - on literacy and education for children. Computer equipment is donated to schools and children’s reading programs and science exhibitions are funded. Contributions are also made to child welfare and wellness programs, with the aim to improve medical services and health education. Elsevier information and products can also be made available for the benefit of the whole community.

Innovative projects
Grants are provided to the STM community in order fund innovative projects for information dissemination, especially in the developing world. Grants can take the form of cash, program support, lectureships and scholarships. As access to digital collections and online services grow ever more important, computer hard and software as well as access to Elsevier services - such as online archives - are also available for donation.

Cash grant
“For example, the Foundation awarded a grant to the University of Tilberg, the Netherlands,” continues Regazzi. “This enabled three librarians and an ICT manager from universities in developing countries to attend a summer course in digital archiving.” Without this grant, these academics would not have been able to attend due to the substantial tuition and travel costs.

Suggest a cause
Editors and staff members are encouraged to suggest to the foundation worthwhile institutions or projects. Says Regazzi: "If an editor thinks that a university or charitable organisation was doing some interesting research or carrying out an innovative project, they should bring it to our attention. If they know of an education program that might need some funding, tell us. Simply, anything that editors feel meets our requirements; we want to hear about it."

Formal proposal
Editors can contact the Foundation directly or inform the institution, who can then get in touch themselves. Or they can simply give contact details to Regazzi and his team, which will then pursue it, mentioning the editors name if necessary. If all the requirements are met, in order to apply for funding, the beneficiary will need to submit a formal proposal.

Editors’ help
The Foundation Board meets approximately every three to four months to review all grant proposals received by the cut-off date. "At the first review meeting, we evaluated around fifty proposals," says Regazzi. "Considering we had only been up and running for a couple of months, this was quite a healthy number." To put things in perspective, hundreds of enquiries about eligibility were also received. "The Foundation can really help people, institutions and projects," concludes Regazzi. "However, we need editors’ help to point us in the direction of worthwhile causes so we can continue Elsevier’s long tradition of giving."

For in-depth details on eligibility, guidance on proposals and general information about The Elsevier Foundation, visit   http://www.elsevierfoundation.org or email: foundation@elsevier.com

Deadlines for 2003 submissions are June 30 and September 30.