WSU students, faculty and staff looking for additional funding to help a project reach its utmost potential have another opportunity to galvanize a group of university supporters.
The third Cougar Cage event is set to take place May 10 in Seattle. Cougar Cage is a semi-annual event where members of the Palouse Club – a group of WSU alumni from the Puget Sound region dedicated to supporting WSU’s success – evaluate projects and provide funding to the most outstanding pitches.
“The idea of Cougar Cage is to create an avenue for exceptional members of the WSU community to receive additional financial support while simultaneously providing a way for some of our most ardent supports to directly impact the work that happens at campuses across the system,” WSU President Kirk Schulz said. “I’m excited to see this program continue to grow and present opportunities for more and more Cougs.”
Since its inception, a dozen projects have received funding through Cougar Cage events totaling nearly $425,000. These projects range from cancer research in Tasmanian devils to creating a tool that can rapidly grow cancer-fighting T-cells. Palouse Club members have guaranteed funding for at least three projects with support ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
The deadline for those interested in submitting proposals for Cougar Cage is April 15. Proposals must include a roster of presenters, a description of the project, an impact assessment or prospective return on investment, a cost analysis, and a simple budget. Projects that are selected will receive one-time funding.
Projects that advance WSU’s efforts to be a world-leader in a particular field or those efforts that aim to have a transformative impact are particularly of interest to members of the Palouse Club. Also of interest are projects that could bring additional revenue to the university after being spun off into their own business or licensed technology.
Purchasing research equipment or materials, supporting scholarships, upgrading existing classroom or lab spaces or small renovations to make a space more function are among the costs eligible for funding.
Funding proposals are whittled down through the review process until a dozen are selected for evaluation by Schulz and Vice President for Advancement Mike Connell. Six proposals are selected to go before the Palouse Club as part of the Cougar Cage.
Presenters whose projects are selected to go before the Palouse Club in May will receive travel support to attend the event in Seattle. Proposals and questions can be submitted to the WSU Advancement Principal Giving Team at wsuf.principal.giving@wsu.edu.
