Supporting the University of Washington does not only come in the form of thousands of Husky fans in purple screaming their heads off at a football game or cheering on the women’s crew during a race on the Montlake Cut. Those actions mean a lot, but the most vital show of support comes from the state and federal governments in the form of investments so the University can teach the state’s students, conduct research that will solve society’s problems, and create an economic engine that pumps billions and billions of dollars into the state’s economy.
These critical investments are possible in large part due to the incredible work of the University’s state and federal relations teams. They work closely with legislators, telling the story of the UW’s positive impact locally and globally. But credit also goes to a growing grassroots advocacy effort created by a small team called UW Impact. Housed inside the UW Alumni Association, UW Impact has generated a base of nonpartisan alumni and University supporters who make sure the state government understands how valuable the University’s impact is.
One of UW Impact’s most important programs is District Dawgs, a growing group of alumni and friends who do their part to ensure it receives the resources it needs to serve the Evergreen State, participating in such programs as Husky Day in Olympia and connecting with their legislators through constituent meetings and town halls. UW Impact has been so effective on the state level that it is now expanding its efforts on the national front—a move that is fitting, given how the UW receives more federal research funding than any other public university in the nation. Only a handful of other institutions are currently engaging in grassroots advocacy at the federal level—and they all have something in common: they receive significant research funding from the federal government.
With the UW facing budget cuts for the first time in a decade, UW Impact’s efforts are even more important as the University grapples with the idea of reduced resources. It’s time to sound the alarm for supporting the UW in these trying times. And UW Impact is helping lead the way.