To support the Higher Education Forward donor collaborative

Higher education has been under assault over the last few years: curriculum, research, governance, and accreditation have all been attacked—in some corners of the media, by alums and donors, and, most concerningly, by elected officials, legislatures, and government agencies. The results are clear: declining public confidence in colleges and universities and even in the value of a college degree; weakened institutional autonomy; and reduced public funding at the state level. In response, The EducationCounsel and the Raikes Foundation have invited grantmakers to collaborate to advocate for higher education and the values espoused by colleges and universities. They seek to create a $5 million fund that can be used for public opinion polling, message testing, communications initiatives, and other activities that support the higher education sector in making its case and defending itself.