New Report: Mapping California’s Higher Ed Advocacy Coalitions

The Haas, Jr. Fund is working with partners across California to ensure that all students can find their way to a bachelor’s degree and the opportunities that come with it. In the course of this work, we identified a need for a better understanding of coalition-fueled higher education advocacy in California: Who’s doing what? Where are the gaps? And how can we and other funders make a meaningful difference?

That’s why we commissioned a new report, Mapping the Movement: California’s Higher Education Coalition Landscape. Authored by Ria Bhatt of Mandala Strategies, the report draws on interviews with 25 coalition leaders and profiles more than 20 active advocacy efforts across the state. It surfaces key insights about how these coalitions are working to improve student outcomes, especially for those historically underserved by the system.

In addition to mapping the field, the report highlights promising practices and offers strategic recommendations for funders and stakeholders committed to advancing equity, affordability, and access in higher education. We hope it serves as a valuable reference for other funders seeking to deepen their impact in this critical area.