Greg Tananbaum will discuss the rise of institutionally-supported Open Access Funds - what they are, why institutions are launching them, and the economic and policy considerations that go into their design. Since the late 2009 establishment of the Compact for Open-Access Publishing Equity (COPE), more than a dozen North American universities have established mechanisms for underwriting OA publication charges. Tananbaum has explored the programs at these institutions and created a practical campus guide for design and implementation on behalf of SPARC.  This session will delve into the lessons learned to date, as well as the strategic considerations that go into launching and managing a Fund.