Universities produce tremendous amounts of written material—magazines, newsletters, websites. These publications rarely post guidelines for interested freelancers, but some investigation can pay off.

First, dive into the institution’s website. Links for “alumni” and “alumni relations” will lead to alumni magazines. To find the institution’s regularly updated news site, try “university news” or “public affairs.” Search for “development” and “donor relations” to identify publications aimed at philanthropists. Visit the specific web pages for the institution’s most highly ranked programs to see if they maintain their own publications.

Look for a masthead in sample copies or on the website. The university’s staff directory often provides contact information for editors you find.

Some universities hire contract writers for special projects such as time-limited fundraising campaigns. Go to the university’s careers page and search for “writer,” “public relations,” “marketing” or “content.” This will yield both on-site jobs and contract positions, if available.

No matter which type of university publication you are pitching, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Start with your home institution

An institution will likely prioritize assigning work to its own alumni. If you have an alma mater, start there. When pitching be sure to mention your degree and any other involvement you have with the institution.

Understand the mission

Universities produce publications with specific goals and audiences in mind. A donor relations magazine editor wants to recognize the impact of donors’ philanthropy and inspire them to give more. A university news office may be more interested in demonstrating the significance of faculty and student research. Before sending a pitch, understand the purpose of the publication.

Get your foot in the door

Editors will sometimes offer extra help in response to a positive interaction, even if they have to reject a pitch. Having worked on staff for university publications with extremely limited freelance budgets, I have seen firsthand how editors will reach out to freelancers who impressed them when they do have budget available, or will pass names to other departments who need writers.

Understand the process

A publication might need to be approved by department heads, fundraisers or other administrators. Get a sense upfront of the publication’s timeline and how much editing you’re expected to handle. If the publication doesn’t have a process for checking facts and quotes with sources, negotiate deadlines so you have time for a final check yourself. It’s especially important for alumni and donors you quote to be happy with the final version of your article.

Negotiate clearly

University budgets vary from one institution to another, one department to another or one fiscal year to another. Negotiate clearly about what you’re being paid and don’t make assumptions. If you can identify the institution’s fiscal year, it can sometimes work well to pitch or check for contract positions toward the end of it, when some departments have extra funds that need to be used. Public institutions usually align fiscal years with the state budgetary process, and private institutions may reveal their fiscal year through annual reports.

I received my first assignments for a higher education publication after pitching my alma mater’s alumni magazine an article about the anniversary of the institution’s decision to admit women. The editor helped reshape the concept to align with her mission and focus on the institution’s first female alumni. After this, she regularly contacted me to request alumni profiles when she had budget available.

It may take some work to find a university publication open to your pitches, but the effort can lead to lasting relationships with editors and repeat assignments.

Bio: Erica Naone’s articles have appeared in The College, the alumni magazine of St. John’s College, and MIT Technology Review, a hybrid publication that serves as both an alumni magazine and a technology magazine for general audiences. She is an alumni communications specialist for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where she writes for Shafer Court Connections, Scarab, VCU News, VCU Alumni news and the monthly alumni e-newsletter. Her personal website is ericanaone.wordpress.com.