The Office of Corporate Relations helps generate financial support for the university’s priorities by developing mutually beneficial relationships with corporations. We work with corporations to develop strategic partnerships that support company goals and facilitate connections to the students, faculty, researchers, and academic programs of Washington University.

Explore the engagement opportunities below, and contact us to learn more.

How we can help

Academic engagement

We help connect companies with talented WashU students. For example, companies might provide real-world business problems for student projects; offer guest speakers for the classroom; or host tours and events at their businesses.

Community engagement

Companies can meet their corporate social responsibility goals through partnerships with WashU’s community-facing programs and involvement with special initiatives. 

Executive engagement

We work closely with WashU leadership to arrange rewarding and mutually beneficial engagement opportunities for corporate leaders, such as serving on an advisory committee or as a keynote speaker at one of our events.

Philanthropy

We carefully select a menu of opportunities that align with each company’s philanthropic goals. Corporations may choose to support scholarships, professorships, faculty research, specific academic programs, student activities, and more.

Research

We serve as a central point of contact for companies that wish to support faculty research. Our staff supports initial discussions and will help initiate agreements.

“This will position us to tackle the toughest challenges in drug development by applying the newest metabolomics technologies to a wide range of biological systems that span from cells and animals to human patients.”

 Gary Patti, Michael and Tana Powell Professor of Chemistry in Arts & Sciences and professor of medicine at the School of Medicine

Resources for companies​

Recruiting

Washington University’s Center for Career Engagement connects you with the students and skills your business needs through internships, externships, co-ops, or full-time employment. Explore the options below or contact us, and we’ll find the right contact for you.

Executive education

Looking for professional and executive education? Whether you’re interested in a current program, conference, workshop, or seminar or would like to explore a custom approach, the following schools are ready to work with you. 

Resources for faculty

Corporate Relations provides support to faculty and university leaders in the processes of corporate prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Prospects include local businesses, corporations, and corporate foundations. We will work with you to find funding for university initiatives, school priorities, programmatic initiatives, and individual research projects.

Clearance to approach a corporation or corporate foundation for funding should be obtained in advance so we can coordinate the solicitation and avoid duplicative solicitations or violation of corporate funding guidelines.

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research

This office promotes and supports Washington University researchers as they seek funding sponsors, conduct world-class researc​​h, and share their research results through publication and commercialization for the benefit of the public.

Office of Technology Management (OTM)

OTM coordinates the transfer of innovative technology and new discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace. The office oversees a portfolio of active and pending patents in areas of technology ranging from gene therapies to magnetics.

Giving opportunities​

There are many ways your company can build a partnership with Washington University. The Office of Corporate Relations can work with you to develop a philanthropic plan that suits your interests and goals.