It was suggested that one of the problems in raising endowment funding is that UC has not done a good job in communicating the importance of graduate education to the state. If you make the case based on impact to economy or quality of life, legislature would be responsive. The OP is working on a PR piece about graduate education. Now called for proposals to conduct studies on benefits of graduate education for the state. Will distribute relevant documents.
Some members think that it is the most important issue.
Should also Include dissertation year fellowships. Faculty would pool resources, work out criteria for reinsurance procedure. This would be a mechanism to insure the use of funding to get better students, not simply more. It can be a give and take with the deans to provide funding for our students. Most graduate students do get funding somehow.