What We Do
OIS includes a dedicated cadre of staff that work closely with project directors, program staff, and faculty on the successful submission of grant applications that meet College priorities. Also within OIS is the Office of Prospect Research (OPR), an important part of Bard’s fundraising efforts. OPR finds potential sources of funding and individual donors for the College and recommends outreach efforts. The OIS team has a diverse set of backgrounds that they use to assist you in thinking strategically about raising money for your Bard project. Please feel free to give us a call or stop by to meet with one of our staff members!
OPR by the Numbers
Research completed by OPR on potential sources of funding is key to developing successful grant proposals.
OIS News
Current Grant Opportunities
We are currently updating our list of current grant opportunities. Check back soon for new RFP's!
Funding How-To's
The grant process has four components:
1. Seeking grants
2. Writing a proposal
3. Receiving a grant award
4. Managing the grant award activities
Use these topics as a quick reference to funding instructions or download the manual below. To search in the manual, download the PDF file and use "command /control + F" or use the "Find Text" button in Adobe Acrobat.
Our Staff
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Josh Bardfield ‘01
Josh Bardfield ‘01
Josh is the Director, OIS, and oversees government (state and federal) grants and large institutional funders, such as major foundations and corporations. Prior to joining Bard in June 2019, Josh spent 20 years working with wide-ranging domestic and global public health initiatives, many which received significant grant funding, in program development, research, and technical writing spanning the non-profit, civil-service, academic and private sectors. Josh earned his MPH from Columbia University and is a Bard alum, Class of ‘01. -
Sarah Donnatien
Sarah Donnatien
Sarah is the Administrative Coordinator within the Office of Institutional Support. She manages a tier of foundation and corporate grants, manages the office's daily activities, and maintains the OIS grants archive. Sarah attended SUNY New Paltz, where, in 2018 she obtained her Bachelor's in Sociology. Before coming to Bard, Sarah served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. -
Jordan Jeffries
Jordan Jeffries
Jordan Jeffries is the Prospect Research Analyst in the Office of Prospect Research. He searches for foundation prospects for institutional projects at Bard and its affiliates, as well as researching individual prospects for the College. He provides data and documentation to grant seekers on campus and also assists with prospect research on institutional and individual funders. The Office of Prospect Research recommends grant ask amounts, strategies of approach, and provides briefing memos for meetings with potential funders. Jordan has a BFA in illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Check out Jordan's art HERE! -
Megan Miller
Megan Miller
Megan is the Grant Officer and manages mid-range corporate and foundation institutional grants. Megan earned her BS in Animal and Veterinary Sciences from Clemson University in 2018. During her time at Clemson, Megan was the Marketing and Communications Director for FIRST, an academic and social support program for first-generation students. -
Karen Unger
Karen Unger
Karen is the Associate Vice President of the Office of Institutional Support. She directs a staff of six who research and raise significant funding from foundations, corporations and government agencies to strengthen Bard’s commitment as a private institution working for the public interest. Karen began her mission-driven career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa, teaches English as a Second Language at the college level and has worked in administrative and creative roles for national non-profit organizations and public school systems. With a graduate degree from Queens College, CUNY, in creative writing, Karen is also an award-winning author of books for middle and high school students, short stories and print and online magazine articles. -
Daina Vitin
Daina Vitin
As part of the OPR/OIS team, Daina researches, analyzes, and ranks individual, corporate, and foundation prospects and donors. Using internal and external research sources she works to determine those prospects’ capacity and inclination to give. Daina provides strategic and collaborative advice for building relationships through connections and matching donors with like areas of interest. Daina earned her MLIS from Rutgers University. -
Debra Pemstein
Debra Pemstein
Debra Pemstein has been vice president for development and alumni/ae affairs at Bard College since 1998. She works with the President, administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers to raise annual, capital and restricted funds, serves on campus-wide strategic planning committees, and works closely with the President and Trustees as a member of the President's Council. During her tenure, Bard has been able to expand its programs through major capital campaigns that have resulted in new buildings for the performing arts, sciences, dormitories, and administrative use and endowments of several faculty chairs. Debra supervises development activities for all of Bard’s institutes and programs, including the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Bard Music Festival, Bard Prison Initiative, Bard High School Early Colleges, and the Center for Curatorial Studies- Hessel Museum, to name just a few. She also serves as chief administrative officer for the Fisher Center. Debra formerly served as director of major gifts and planned giving for New York City Ballet, director of development for Paul Taylor Dance Company, and associate director of development for the New York Philharmonic. In addition, she is a college lecturer and has presented papers on fundraising topics at national professional conferences. She has served on many boards and advisory committees, including those at Poughkeepsie Day School and Temple Emanuel (Kingston, NY). Currently, Debra is on the Board of Directors of Dutchess Tourism and is the Chair of the Dutchess Tourism Workforce Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. She is also a member of the Dutchess County Economic Development Advisory Council. Debra attended the London School of Economics, received her BBA from George Washington University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.
Bard Staff That Work Closely With OIS
OIS works closely with Casper Owuor (cowuor@bard.edu) and Steve Appenzeller (sappenzeller@bard.edu) on post-award grant management. Once you have been notified of your grant award, OIS will help set up a meeting with them to discuss the next steps.
For Bard Annandale faculty seeking support for individual projects, please contact Faculty Grants Officers Sue Elvin-Cooper (selvinco@bard.edu) or Brandt Burgess (bburgess@bard.edu).
For information regarding the Bard High School Early Colleges, please contact BHSEC Grants Officer Sarah Imboden (simboden@bard.edu).