Research universities and higher‑education associations increased lobbying expenditures in 2025 to shape federal policy on financial aid, AI, immigration and student visas, and to defend international‑student programs. Institutions pressed Congress and agencies on grant rescissions, oversight rules, and workforce visas as regulatory changes threatened core operations. Locally, community colleges continue to rely on millage renewals for stable operating revenue; administrators are refining strategies for voter outreach, demonstrating return on investment, and aligning program offerings with workforce needs to win support. Guidance for millage campaigns stresses early engagement, transparent outcomes reporting and long‑term community partnerships. The twin plays—federal advocacy and grassroots funding campaigns—show institutions diversifying political strategies. Boards and chief advancement officers must coordinate national lobbying with local constituency building to secure both policy outcomes and operating dollars.