University President Morton Schapiro said this week he will devote part of his upcoming fundraising efforts to push for $50 million in need-based aid for international students, including illegal immigrants, and he is “pretty optimistic” he will find the money.

That much need-based aid for international students would allow many more lower-income students, including those living in the U.S. illegally, to have a shot at attending Northwestern. Currently, international students get no help toward the University’s $56,000 pricetag.

Schapiro made the comment Monday at a meeting with The Daily while discussing the Strategic Plan, which will inform the University’s fundraising efforts for the next decade. He said he will approach major donors about the idea and it would be up to them to decide to fund it or not.

“I’m going to say that, ‘I think this is important. What do you think?’ and I’m going to try to find some money,” Schapiro said. “We have some prospective donors all over the world who might really support that.”

A similar strategy during his capital campaign at Williams College led to a $20 million investment in need-based aid for international students that funded dozens of students, Schapiro said.

But the president cautioned that if no major donors voiced support for the idea, it was unlikely to be funded.

He called it a “really tough sell” because of domestic and international politics, but he expressed optimism that the effort would result in at least $50 million for the proposal.

“We’re hoping it resonates with donors,” he said.