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Main Image for Office of Institutional Support

Office of Institutional Support

OIS Menu
  • Home
  • Grant Resource Center
The Office of Institutional Support (OIS), one of three offices within the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs, manages the College’s fundraising efforts from foundations, government agencies, corporations, and other entities to support College-wide needs and maintain the College’s ability to raise and receive funding.

OIS News

OIS is now offering Office Hours and regular Lunch-and-Learn events in the Faculty and Staff Dining Room! Come join us and learn more about what services we can provide or discuss your projects and funding needs!

RKC 200 Office Hours (1:30-3:30 pm)                                    FSDR Lunch & Learns (12:30-1:30 pm)
September 20      October 4                                                        September 28     October 12
October 18           November 1                                                    October 26          November 9
November 15       November 29                                                 December 7        December 14
December 20

Click the links below for new grant awards and other OIS news!
  • Avery Arts Fdn 2023

    Avery Arts Fdn 2023


    The Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation awarded Bard College $10,000 to support scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students in studio arts and MFA program. 
  • Bard College Awarded $124,936 by the Heising-Simons Foundation to Simulate and Detect Potential Biosignatures
    Bard College Awarded $124,936 by the Heising-Simons Foundation to Simulate and Detect Potential Biosignatures
  • Bard College Awarded $26,532 Grant from New World Foundation and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley for Sustainability Project
    Bard College Awarded $26,532 Grant from New World Foundation and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley for Sustainability Project
  • Bard College Awarded $300,000 by the Booth Ferris Foundation to Support the Center for Ethics and Writing

    Bard College Awarded $300,000 by the Booth Ferris Foundation to Support the Center for Ethics and Writing


    Press release: www.bard.edu/news/bard-college-awarded-300000-booth-ferris-foundation-center-ethics-writing-2023-08-22

    Additional info: https://www.bard.edu/news/dinaw-mengestu-wamc-the-center-for-ethics-and-writing-2023-09-05
  • Brothers@Bard Receives Major Grant in NBA Foundation’s Largest Round of Funding to Date
    Brothers@Bard Receives Major Grant in NBA Foundation’s Largest Round of Funding to Date
  • SAT 2023
    Bard College Awarded $750,000 from National Park Service for Restoration of Montgomery Place Mansion
  • UM Sub award

OPR by the Numbers

Research completed by OPR on potential sources of funding is key to developing successful grant proposals. 
195 Institutions Researched Per Month
Average Grant Request- $387,387
Average Grant Award- $164,540 

Our Staff

  • Johnny Brennan '10
    Assistant Director, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7264
     

    Johnny Brennan '10

    Assistant Director, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7264
     

    Johnny is the Assistant Director of the Office of Institutional Support. He leads campus-wide efforts to secure institutional grant awards by assessing the alignment of Bard College priorities, programs, and faculty-led projects with potential funders. He cultivates relationships with faculty and administrators, thinks strategically with the Office of Prospect Research to identify promising funding opportunities, and assists project leads in developing compelling proposals. Prior to joining OIS, he worked as a Program Officer at the American Council of Learned Societies. Johnny received his BA from Bard College, his MA from The New School for Social Research, and his PhD in Philosophy from Fordham University. He researches and teaches on issues of trust, ethics, and social epistemology.
  • Sarah Donnatien
    Administrative Coordinator
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7316
     

    Sarah Donnatien

    Administrative Coordinator
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7316
     

    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
    Prospect Research Analyst
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7435

     

    Jordan Jeffries

    Prospect Research Analyst
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7435

     

    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
    Grant Officer
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7262
     

    Megan Miller

    Grant Officer
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7262
     

    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
    Associate Vice President, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7434
     

    Karen Unger

    Associate Vice President, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7434
     

    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
    Prospect Research Analyst
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7408
     

    Daina Vitin

    Prospect Research Analyst
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7408
     

    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
    Vice President of Development & Alumni/ae Affairs
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7405
     

    Debra Pemstein

    Vice President of Development & Alumni/ae Affairs
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7405
     

    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.
  • Josh Bardfield ‘01
    Special Projects Lead, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7260
     

    Josh Bardfield ‘01

    Special Projects Lead, OIS
    Email: [email protected]
    Ext: 7260
     

    Josh is the Special Projects Lead, OIS, and oversees grant applications for various special projects across the Bard network. 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.

Bard Staff That Work Closely With OIS
 

OIS works closely with the Office of Post-Award Management (OPAM) on post-award grant management. OPAM will be available to help you manage all financial aspects of your grant once it has been received. Once you have been notified of your grant award, OIS will help set up a launch meeting with them to discuss the next steps. You can contact OPAM at [email protected].

For Bard Annandale faculty seeking support for individual projects, please contact Faculty Grants Officer Sue Elvin ([email protected]).

What We Do

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!

Location and Contact

  • Our Location

    You can find the Office of Institutional Support at:
    Bard College Alumni/ae Center 
    4604 NY-9G, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY 12504
  • Contact Us
    Bard College Office of Institutional Support
    P.O. Box 5000 
    Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000

    Sarah Donnatien, Administrative Coordinator
    [email protected]
    845-758-7316
Bard College
30 Campus Road
PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
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