Frequently Asked Questions

Genentech is committed to being a strong corporate citizen. By harnessing our unique resources, both financial and human, we contribute to the best interests of patients, the medical and research professions, our employees and our communities.

Funding Priorities

• How do I submit a signed W-9?

  If you already have a PDF version of the signed W-9, simply upload the file where indicated when you register in the Genentech Funding Request System.
  
  If you have a scanner, you can print the blank W-9, sign it, scan it into your system and then upload where indicated.
  
  Click here to access the 2011 version of the W9.

• What if my descriptions, agenda, budget, etc. do not fit into allocated space?

  You will have the opportunity to upload supporting documentation within the grant request form.

• Can I start the online grant request and come back to it later if I don't finish?

  Yes. If you are unable to complete your grant request in one sitting, you may save the request and come back to it later. You will see the draft version of your application in your inbox on the home page. It will be labeled as "unsubmitted". You can also go back through your application and make changes at any point prior to submitting.

• Can I request a grant for an activity that has already occurred?

  No, Genentech does not provide retroactive funding. Requests for support must be submitted to Genentech at least 60 days in advance of the live activity or creation of enduring materials.

• What are the supported Genentech/Roche therapeutic areas?

  Genentech/Roche will consider funding requests in the following therapeutic areas:

  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Asthma
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cardiometabolics
  • Catheter Clearance
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Diabetes

  • Diabetic Macular Edema
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Gastric Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal Cancer
  • Genitourinary Cancer
  • Glioblastoma
  • Growth Hormone Deficiencies
  • Heart Transplant
  • Hemodialysis
  • Hepatitis B / C / Co-infection
  • Influenza
  • Kidney Transplant
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma

  • Liver Transplant
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lupus
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Oncology
  • Osteoporosis
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Renal Cell Carcinoma
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Skin Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Vascular Permeability
  • Vasculitis
• Can an organization submit a paper request for a charitable contribution from Genentech?

  No. All funding requests must be submitted online at our grants and giving section.

• How do I know if my organization qualifies for support?

  Genentech funds five types of requests through its online funding request system:

  • Philanthropic Charitable Requests
  • Healthcare Related Charitable Requests
  • Independent Medical Education
  • Fellowships
  • Scientific Projects

  To see the minimum qualifications for each type, please visit the our grants and giving section and click on the funding type for which you wish to apply.

• Will I be able to print a copy of my submission for my records?

  Yes. All requestors can print a copy of their request prior to final submission. Just go to funding.gene.com and click the "Apply for Funding" button to get started. Once you submit your request, you will receive an email acknowledging that it has been received by Genentech.

• What is the deadline to submit a grant request?

  Funding requests must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the start of the activity.

• Who can I contact for questions, or to find out about the status of my grant?

  You may contact the Genentech Funding Request Support line from 9am - 5pm PST, Monday - Friday at (877) 313-5778.

  Customer support personnel can provide information related to the status of your request and as well as support in navigating the funding request application process.

  For the sake of clarify, Genentech representative may not provide input on grant request content, or any assurance of funding prior to the formal review process. Responsibility and control over the selection, content, faculty, educational methods, materials, and venue for an independent medical education event belongs solely to the organizers of the event in accordance with the accredited provider's guidelines. Genentech/Roche will not provide any advice or guidance to the accredited independent medical education provider (even if asked) regarding the content or faculty for any program that has received funding.

• If I received funding in the past, does that mean I am guaranteed funding for future programs?

  No. Funding is not guaranteed for any project/program. Every grant is evaluated individually based on established guidelines, criteria and remaining budget.

• For Medical Education requests, what does it mean to have an opt-in process for enduring materials?

  Genentech maintains specific guidelines regarding the manner in which grant supported enduring materials are distributed to healthcare professions. These guidelines state that Genentech can only support the dissemination of enduring materials directly to recipients who have specifically requested them.

• What constitutes a proper medical education firewall?

  Genentech prohibits grant requestors and their educational partners (e.g., third party providers) from performing promotional activities for Genentech while also contributing to, providing or accrediting independent medical education (IME) funded in whole or part by Genentech, unless there is sufficient separation (firewalls) between the grant requestor's or partner's promotional and medical education business units.

  Before a grant request is considered, the grant requestor must certify to Genentech that it and all its educational partners adhere to a firewall policy that is in compliance with Genentech's firewall criteria, an overview of which may be found below. All requestors must complete a Firewall Certification Form when registering online with Genentech's Funding Request System and must re-certify compliance annually.

  Firewall Criteria:

  • Separate Employees/Contractors
  • Separate Legal Entity
  • Separation of promotional/IME information and content, including, but not limited to, prohibition on sharing substantive information, physical separation of functions, and information technology (IT) safeguards
  • Compliance training and audits
  • Monitoring of compliance policies and corrective action
• What is a request for additional information and how much time do I have to complete it?

  If more information is needed to consider your funding request, we will contact you via email. If we do not receive a response after 10 business days we will send an email reminder. If we have not received all necessary information within 10 business days of the follow-up request the request may be denied.

• I don't see the in process medical education grants from the old system. How do I access them?

  In order for you to have access to the "in process" grants from the legacy IMED grant system, you should have registered in the new system with the email address that you had for the legacy system. If you did not do this, you will need to re-register in Genentech Funding Request System. You may access this through our website at funding.gene.com and clicking the words "New User?" under the login section. After you have registered and have logged in, click on the "Create New Funding Request" button. Enter the Organizational Detail, Location Information and upload your W-9 forms. This will complete the registration for your account and link the in-process grants from the old system. Please note that the migration of grants may take up to 6 weeks from when we first launched the system. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact the Genentech Funding Request Support line at (877) 313-5778.

• What do you mean by a Needs Assessment (required for an independent medical education grant request)?

  All requests for funding from Genentech must include a needs assessment that clearly defines the unmet educational need or gap the activity will address. Once the educational need is determined, a documented Needs Assessment can be formulated with associated Learning Objectives. The needs assessment must be documented and referenced. For a Needs Assessment Guideline, click here.

• Why is a detailed implementation plan required for an independent medical education grant request?

  Genentech is interested in understanding elements of activity execution. The purpose of this understanding is not to exercise any level of control over the activity, but to assess whether the elements of the proposed activity are consistent with the provider's stated objectives and their ability to achieve them. For general guidelines for the type of information to be included in an implementation plan, please click here.

• If I received previous funding from Genentech will that influence future requests for support?

  No. Each individual grant submitted to Genentech will be evaluated on its own merit. Please do not consider any grant request approved until you receive an email confirmation from Genentech and a Letter of Agreement that has been accepted by all parties.

• How will I know when a decision is made on my grant?

  Once a final decision has been made, requesting organizations will be notified via email. You may also access the grant status by logging into the funding request system via our grants and giving section. The status of your grant is shown in your inbox.

• What if I have my own Letter of Agreement?

  In order to receive funding, all recipient organizations must accept the Letter of Agreement issued by Genentech.

• Can I use the Genentech logo on my activity materials if I receive a grant?

  If you want to use the Genentech logo on your activity materials to disclose that Genentech provided financial support for the activity, you may do so, although it is not required. You may not use the Genentech logo until your grant is approved and you have signed the Genentech LOA. Specific details on how Genentech logo use are detailed in the LOA. Whether or not you use the logo you are required to disclose that Genentech provided funding in support of the educational activity.

• What do I do if the scope of my activity changes?

  If the scope of your program or activity changes, you may access the status report area within the Genentech funding request system at any time and answer the related questions. This will trigger a notification to Genentech's medical education grants manager who will review the scope changes and assess whether Genentech will continue to fund the activity.

• Does Genentech support international programs?

  It depends. Genentech may consider an international medical education program if the majority of the audience is US physicians and the organization requesting the funding is located in the United States.

• What is an exhibit opportunity? If there is no exhibit opportunity, will the application be evaluated differently?

  Exhibit opportunities include booth space, or other space where Genentech staff may distribute appropriate promotional materials, and where these opportunities may be purchased separately from the any grant support.
  
  Grant funding may not be used for promotional exhibits, so we ask this question to ensure that exhibit fees are not included in the grant request. However, exhibit opportunities may be offered to and paid for by other Genentech departments, including field sales.
  
  Whether or not an exhibit opportunity is available has no impact on the grant decision process.
  
  In the event that an exhibit opportunity is offered in conjunction with an independent medical education event, providers are expected to follow ACCME guidelines.