UEDA Member Toolkit
Resources to Support Your Institution’s Economic Development Work
The UEDA Member Toolkit offers practical guides created for and by university economic development professionals. These resources are designed to help institutions build stronger partnerships, align internal efforts, communicate impact, and engage effectively with stakeholders.
Each guide addresses a specific challenge or opportunity and is built to be adapted for your local context. New tools will be added as they’re developed, so check back often. These guides are available exclusively to UEDA Members.
Template: University Economic Engagement Inventory Survey
A template to help university economic development leaders identify and understand activities already happening across campus that contribute to regional economic growth. Designed to capture input from faculty and staff across innovation, talent, partnerships, and place-based engagement — with a focus on alignment, not evaluation.
Demonstrating Value: How University Economic Development Drives Institutional Impact
Provides strategies for building awareness and support for economic development work within your own institution. Offers messaging tips, talking points, and tactics to engage leadership, faculty, and staff in understanding how their efforts contribute to the university’s economic mission.
Partnering for Regional Impact
Provides a framework for identifying, initiating, and sustaining partnerships with industry, government, and community stakeholders. Focuses on mutually beneficial relationships that support regional economic goals and highlights practical steps for managing and growing strategic collaborations.
Communicating Impact
Offers messaging strategies and tools to help university economic development professionals tell their story more effectively. Includes guidance on tailoring messages for different audiences, building internal and external awareness, and using success stories and data to demonstrate impact. Developed with Anthology Communications.
Talking Points for Engaging Congress
Helps universities effectively communicate with federal legislators about the value of higher education in economic development. Includes key messaging, sample language, and suggestions for highlighting your institution’s impact through data, partnerships, and success stories.
Funding Opportunity Guide
Outlines how to evaluate and pursue funding opportunities that align with your university’s economic development goals. Includes criteria for assessing fit, tips for coordinating across campus units, and guidance on positioning proposals for competitive advantage.
University Economic Development Association
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