Grantmaking for Research

A: Overview: Grantmaking for Research

The Charles Pankow Foundation awarded its first research grants in 2006. Summaries and details for each research grant award to date can be seen in Section C below.

All published research reports from CPF grants are accessible on-line. To view research products, use the link that appears in Section D below.

The Foundation's research program is driven by the MISSION of the Charles Pankow Foundation:

The Charles Pankow Foundation exists to advance innovations in building design and construction, so as to provide the public with buildings of improved quality, efficiency, and value.

In 2008 CPF adopted a goal-based research program. CPF now focuses our research grantmaking in two research goal areas:

RESEARCH AREA 1: Structures

CPF Goal: Improve the quality, efficiency and value of large buildings by advancing codifiable innovations in structural components and systems.

RESEARCH AREA 2: Project Teams: Tools and Practices

CPF Goal: Improve the performance of building design and construction teams by advancing integration, collaboration, communication, and efficiency through innovative new tools and technologies, and by advancing new means and methods for project team practices.

Illustrations of typical research purposes included in each of the two Goal Areas can be seen in CPF's Goal-Based Research Program Strategy document.

B: The CPF Grantmaking Process

CPF research grantmaking is carried out through a four-step process:

  1. Grantseekers submit a Research Need Statement that aligns well with our Research Program Focus and Goal-Based Research Program Strategy.
  2. For qualified Research Need Statements, CPF will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a single research entity that is highly qualified to perform the research.
  3. The grantseeker's ensuing Proposal is evaluated for consistency with the Foundation objectives, research purposes, and financial resources.
  4. CPF awards a Research Grant Agreement with terms and conditions on which CPF and the grantseeker's organization have reached agreement.

Information for Grantseekers:

The first step for a prospective grantseeker is to develop and submit a Research Need Statement (RNS) that describes clearly and concisely the need for, the purpose of, and the users of the proposed research project. An RNS is not a proposal. Grantseekers should study closely the Foundation's Research Program Focus; Goal-Based Research Program Strategy, and Guidelines for Research Need Statements. To qualify for an RFP, an RNS must align very well with the provisions of these three guideline documents. For example, it is essential that an "industry champion" (i.e., a professional building design and construction practitioner who attests to the need for and value of the proposed research) be a party to the RNS, and be committed to participating in the project. An RNS may be submitted at any time.

The Foundation awards research grants to non-profit entities that are qualified under IRS rules to receive charitable grants for scientific purposes. All products of CPF research grants must be made available in the public domain without restriction. A project budget is not needed at the RNS stage, but will be requested if the project qualifies for a subsequent CPF Request for Proposal.

Unsolicited research proposals, in the absence of a completed Research Need Statement that has been qualified by the Foundation, will not be accepted and will be returned unopened.

Grantseekers are encouraged to contact the Executive Director by phone at any time to discuss the feasibility of a prospective Research Need Statement.

Funding Cycle

The Foundation will receive and consider RNS's at any time. Research grant awards are made on a quarterly basis upon approval of the Foundation Board of Directors.

Questions about the CPF research grant program may be addressed to: info@pankowfoundation.org.

C: Research Grant Awards: Summaries and Details

To see annual summaries and detailed descriptions of all awarded CPF research grants, select by year below.

D: Published Research Reports

Charles Pankow Foundation archives and makes publicly accessible all published reports from completed research projects through a cooperative arrangement with the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR). All CPF published products are available for viewing on the SPUR website by linking to Pankow Reports.