Lumina Foundation

Lumina Foundation is a private, independent foundation focused on increasing higher education attainment in the United States, with a goal of having 60% of Americans hold a postsecondary education credential by 2025, as outlined by Complete College America and supported by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation works with a variety of partners, including community colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations, such as The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and The Education Trust. Lumina Foundation's efforts are also informed by research from institutions like the National Center for Education Statistics and the Pew Research Center. The foundation's work is closely aligned with the goals of organizations like the College Board and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

● Overview

Lumina Foundation is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was established in 2000, with initial funding from the USA Group, a student loan guarantor. The foundation's work is guided by a board of directors that includes leaders from higher education, business, and nonprofit sectors, such as Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University, and William Kirwan, former Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. Lumina Foundation's efforts are also supported by partnerships with organizations like the American Council on Education and the National Association of Colleges and Universities. The foundation's focus on increasing higher education attainment is closely tied to the work of institutions like the Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research and the Stanford University Center for Education Policy Analysis.

● History

Lumina Foundation was established in 2000, with an initial endowment of $770 million, which has since grown to over $1.4 billion, making it one of the largest private foundations in the United States, with a similar endowment to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation's early work focused on supporting innovative higher education programs and policies, such as the 21st Century Scholars Program in Indiana, which is similar to the Tennessee Promise and the Oklahoma's Promise programs. Over time, Lumina Foundation has expanded its focus to include a broader range of initiatives, including efforts to improve college affordability and completion rates, as outlined by reports from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center. The foundation's work has been informed by research from institutions like the University of Michigan National Center for Institutional Diversity and the University of California, Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education.

● Mission_and_Goals

Lumina Foundation's mission is to increase higher education attainment in the United States, with a focus on supporting low-income and minority students, as outlined by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and the My Brother's Keeper Alliance. The foundation's goals are closely aligned with those of organizations like the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Lumina Foundation's work is guided by a set of core values, including a commitment to equity and excellence in higher education, as reflected in the work of institutions like the University of Texas at Austin Center for Community College Student Engagement and the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. The foundation's efforts are also informed by research from think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress.

● Grantmaking_and_Initiatives

Lumina Foundation provides grants to support a wide range of initiatives and programs focused on increasing higher education attainment, including efforts to improve college readiness and completion rates, as outlined by reports from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems and the Education Commission of the States. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include supporting innovative higher education models, such as competency-based education and online learning, as reflected in the work of institutions like Western Governors University and the University of Maryland University College. Lumina Foundation also provides support for research and policy analysis focused on higher education issues, including work by think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The foundation's efforts are closely aligned with the goals of organizations like the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the College Board.

● Leadership_and_Governance

Lumina Foundation is led by a board of directors that includes leaders from higher education, business, and nonprofit sectors, such as Michael McPherson, former President of the Spencer Foundation, and Bridget Terry Long, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The foundation's CEO is Jamie Merisotis, who has served in this role since 2008, and has worked closely with leaders like Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education, and Ted Mitchell, former Under Secretary of Education. Lumina Foundation's leadership team also includes experts in higher education policy and research, such as Dan Porterfield, former President of Franklin & Marshall College, and Nicholas Hillman, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

● Impact_and_Achievements

Lumina Foundation's work has had a significant impact on higher education policy and practice in the United States, with a focus on increasing access and affordability for low-income and minority students, as outlined by reports from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Pew Research Center. The foundation's initiatives have supported the development of innovative higher education models, such as competency-based education and online learning, as reflected in the work of institutions like Western Governors University and the University of Maryland University College. Lumina Foundation's efforts have also informed policy discussions at the federal and state levels, including work by organizations like the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The foundation's work has been recognized by awards from organizations like the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Category:Private foundations in the United States