[Michele Siegal]

Like R1s, PIUs should invest time in developing a case statement and funding priorities at a variety of giving levels. The Grad Ed Toolkit provides more information about this exercise. Through the process, your institution should consider which potential donors or funders you have access to based on who you serve and the role of grad students on your campus and in the communities as alumni.
As an RUI, you can partner with regional businesses, chambers of commerce, community foundations, and area leaders because you can articulate the impact and importance of the university to the area in a way that is harder for R1s to do.
If you aren’t already, consider increasing your involvement in important regional organizations to build partnerships. Learn about the regional priorities and issues (i.e., workforce development, serving an aging population, clean water, etc.) and connect those needs with your funding priorities. In other words, demonstrate how an investment in graduate education at CWU will respond to the issues your partners seek to address.