Graig Eastin

Advancement executive with extensive experience spearheading fundraising strategies that generated over one billion in contributions to date for leading academic institutions and nationally recognized healthcare organizations and hospitals. Expertise encompasses foundation board development, management of capital campaigns, principal and major gifts, external and alumni relations, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, marketing, and communications.

Graig earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984 and his master of science in education (counseling psychology) in 1997 from the University of Southern California.

Here are a few of his accomplishments:

In partnership with the president, campus leadership, and trustees secured more than $640M towards a $1B goal at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Secured more than $100M in new gifts during the 18 months of the COVID pandemic.

While at the University of California San Diego, worked with campus leadership and donors to secure a $40M gift to name the Rady School of Management. Leveraged the gift to raise a total of $100M to sustain the new business school in three years. Two additional gifts of $10M were secured following the naming gift.

Extensive experience and in partnership with the Institute Advancement Communications team, designed, developed, and launched digital/social media alumni engagement initiatives for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute serving over 100K alumni nationally and internationally.