How to apply
Lumina Foundation does not have a formal letter of inquiry (LOI) policy. However, we do review unsolicited requests. Unsolicited requests are reviewed by the grants management team for alignment with the Foundation's current strategic priorities. If the request aligns with current work, it is referred to a program officer for further review. Requests considered viable are invited to submit concept papers for further consideration by Lumina Executive Team members. Formal invitations for full proposal may be advanced following initial evaluation. Contact: Program Office New Inquiry, Lumina Foundation for Education Po, Indianapolis, in Deadlines: Unsolicited inquiries received by the end of september for the year Restrictions: Lumina carefully reviews every grant inquiry that meets foundation guidelines. Following the initial review, we will inform applicants within two months of receipt whether the inquiry fits our current priorities and resources. Due to limited resources, we cannot request proposals from all inquiries that meet our criteria. If we decide to request a full proposal, a Program Officer will contact the applicant to request additional information and to provide instructions on applying for a grant. An invitation to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding. Lumina carefully considers all solicite…
Quoted from Part XV of the foundation's 2024 Form 990-PF; the full text is in the filing. Confirm on the foundation's website before you write.
Grants paid in 2024
Top 60 of 357 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blackbaud Giving FundCharleston, SC | To support Lumina's 2023-2024 Gift Programs through the Blackbaud Giving Fund. | $2.5M |
| Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC | To strengthen the alignment of postsecondary education and workforce via research and technical assistance. | $900K |
| Illinois Board of Higher EducationSpringfield, IL | To implement direct admissions statewide in Illinois for community college transfer students and high school seniors, using the Common App | $750K |
| Northern Arizona University FoundationFlagstaff, AZ | To expand Northern Arizona University's universal admissions program to nine Arizona community college districts | $750K |
| Trustees of the California State UniversityLong Beach, CA | To automate admissions to the CSU system through California's official K-12 college & career readiness platform | $750K |
| The Third Way Foundation IncWashington, DC | To assess the true costs of developing and offering short-term workforce development programs at community colleges and evaluate the implic… | $745K |
| Complete College AmericaIndianapolis, IN | to support the continued implementation of the Historically Black Community College Network | $740K |
| Competency-Based Education NetworkFranklin, TN | To pilot competency-based math course redesign models to foster more equitable pathways to success at community colleges | $700K |
| John N Gardner InstituteBrevard, NC | To work with Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education institutions to create and implement five-year plans that transform the foundation… | $670K |
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association IncArlington, VA | To support public television news broadcast segments related to the nation's need for increased educational attainment after high school. | $650K |
| Washington Monthly Institute IncWashington, DC | To support independent, policy-oriented journalism about issues vital to creating a better-educated country. | $650K |
| Research for ActionPhiladelphia, PA | To conduct research and evaluation on Lumina's Great Admissions Redesign Challenge grantees. | $550K |
| Association of Community College TrusteesWashington, DC | To support the Kids on Campus framework for co-locating Head Start programs on community college campuses | $450K |
| SUNY Impact Foundation IncNew York, NY | To support the SUNY system in implementing the ASAP | ACE model with 10 institutions. | $425K |
| Public Radio ExchangeMinneapolis, MN | To support coverage of immigrants seeking education and training after high school. | $400K |
| Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin SystemMadison, WI | To study the impact of integrating proactive financial aid notifications with direct admissions programs in at least two states, in partner… | $350K |
| Rutgers the State University of New JerseyNew Brunswick, NJ | To support sustainability efforts of the Non-degree Credentials Research Network (NCRN) | $350K |
| Louisiana Board of RegentsBaton Rouge, LA | To support a faculty professional development program to equip faculty with equity-driven pedagogical tools to improve student learning and… | $330K |
| Vip Consortium IncAtlanta, GA | To further the efforts of the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Consortium of postsecondary institutions seeking to enhance student empl… | $330K |
| Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, IL | To support the SIU system to implement evidence-based interventions to improve academic progress, decrease DFW rates, and increase students… | $300K |
| Community Services Society of New YorkNew York, NY | To provide capacity building support to the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program. | $300K |
| Louisiana Board of RegentsBaton Rouge, LA | To plan for automated admissions for Louisiana's universal transfer pathway students and high school seniors | $300K |
| Miami UniversityOxford, OH | To implement a faculty professional development intervention to promote innovation and equity in redesigning programs, courses, and learnin… | $300K |
| Regents of the University of California - MercedMerced, CA | To conduct an analysis of student family wealth and existing Pell awards towards the development of the framework of a supplemental, wealth… | $300K |
| UnidosusWashington, DC | To support research, policy analysis, and non-partisan advocacy in support of efforts to increase postsecondary attainment and quality for… | $300K |
| Open Campus Media IncWashington, IN | To support in-depth coverage of race and equity in higher education, and higher education coverage in Indiana. | $275K |
| Organisation for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentParis, FR | To identify international best practices in how collaboration between higher ed institutions, cities, and regions can support sustainable d… | $265K |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation IncWashington, DC | To support the Higher Ed Forward joint funder effort designed to advance student success, academic freedom, and democratic principles throu… | $250K |
| American Academy of Arts and SciencesCambridge, MA | To support the Aspen Higher Education Forum with journalists' participation. | $250K |
| Education Strategy GroupChevy Chase, MD | To provide technical assistance to SHEEOs involved in cross-agency workforce collaboratives, and facilitate the launch for an 8 state colla… | $250K |
| Leadership Conference Education Fund theWashington, DC | To convene a coalition of national civil rights partners around advancing racial equity and economic mobility in federal higher education p… | $250K |
| Schott Foundation for Public Education theCambridge, MA | To provide operating support for the next iteration of the Executives' Alliance for Boys and Men of Color. | $250K |
| State Higher Education Executive OfficersBoulder, CO | To build capacity among SHEEOs to advance equitable policy agendas. | $250K |
| Texas Higher Education FoundationAustin, TX | To develop direct admissions pathways for Texas students using the state's official college & career readiness platform | $250K |
| Washington Student Achievement CouncilOlympia, WA | To conduct research around the narrative surrounding higher education and its benefits and deliver new messaging to target audiences | $250K |
| Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under LawWashington, DC | To address challenges arising from US Supreme Court rulings prohibiting colleges and universities from considering race as one factor among… | $230K |
| Memorial Community Development CorporationEvansville, IN | To provide general operating support for Our Times, a Black community newspaper in Evansville, Indiana. | $210K |
| Civic News CompanyNew York, NY | To support higher education coverage in Colorado. | $200K |
| Excelencia in Education IncWashington, DC | To inform institutional, state, and national policy with practices and strategies to address affordability and more intentionally serve Lat… | $200K |
| Foundation for California Community CollegesSacramento, CA | To support the California Education Learning Lab to develop a novel statewide, intersegmental professional learning cooperative serving Cal… | $200K |
| Foundation for California Community CollegesSacramento, CA | To support implementation of California's Master Plan for Career Education. | $200K |
| Free Press Indiana IncIndianapolis, IN | To support advertising and marketing efforts to build audience and brand recognition for a local newsroom. | $200K |
| Georgia State University FoundationAtlanta, GA | To support The National Institute for Student Success to deliver its Diagnostic Playbook services to 3 SUNY institutions. | $200K |
| Linked Learning AllianceSan Francisco, CA | To evaluate the implementation and progress of the Golden State Pathways Program in California. | $200K |
| National Student Legal Defense NetworkWashington, DC | To support policy analysis and advocacy addressing reverse redlining and basic needs insecurity in higher education. | $200K |
| Project on Predatory Student Lending IncJamaica Plain, MA | To support the Project on Predatory Student Lending in building infrastructure to harness student borrower clients' voices. | $200K |
| Research Foundation of CUNYNew York, NY | To support professional development of CUNY four-year and two-year college faculty on the ethical use of AI and the development of open edu… | $200K |
| Student Borrower Protection CenterWashington, DC | To conduct an analysis of companies that facilitate low-quality, high-cost education and training and a study exploring the implication of… | $200K |
| American Association of Colleges and UniversitiesWashington, DC | To support the rollout of Democracy Re/Designed and support IDHE's transition to AAC&U | $180K |
| Data Quality Campaign IncWashington, DC | To elevate the use of state longitudinal data systems in automating admissions processes and to provide TA to Great Admissions Redesign gra… | $180K |
| Partnership for College CompletionChicago, IL | To support community engagement and strategic communications related to equitable higher education policy in Illinois. | $175K |
| Trellis StrategiesRound Rock, TX | To develop solutions for improving college participation and student success among transportation-challenged students at community colleges. | $175K |
| Steve Fund theProvidence, RI | To poll students about their perceptions of campus climate and the impact on their mental health. | $157K |
| Arizona State University Foundation for a New American UniversityTempe, AZ | To support strategy and implementation planning for the University Innovation Alliance. | $150K |
| Capital B News IncNew York, NY | To provide general operating support to a nonprofit news organization that's strengthening the local news ecosystem nationally. | $150K |
| Center for Racial Equity in EducationCharlotte, NC | To support CREED to elevate policy to improve opportunities for students attending North Carolina's ten Historically Black Colleges and Uni… | $150K |
| Clean Power InstituteWashington, DC | To pilot a community college training program for wind technicians. | $150K |
| Equity Research CooperativePhiladelphia, PA | To launch research projects and build coalitions to create actionable evidence for college affordability, including the free college and st… | $150K |
| Free PressWashington, DC | To provide general operating support for a nonpartisan nonprofit that strengthens local news through public policy education. | $150K |
| New England Commission of Higher EducationWakefield, MA | To build on the work of the Lumina-funded NECHE Taskforce on Non-Credit Credential Recognition by piloting the use of a new Non-Credit qual… | $150K |
By state: District of Columbia 75 · Indiana 114 · South Carolina 2 · California 26 · New York 24 · Illinois 9
Giving by year
Contributions, gifts, and grants paid, from Form 990-PF via ProPublica.
About this foundation
Lumina Foundation for Education Inc is a private grantmaking foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, administered in care of Erin Archer, tax-exempt since 1991. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.
Foundation websiteLatest 990-PF (PDF)All filings on ProPublica
Does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc accept grant applications?
Yes. On its 2024 Form 990-PF the foundation indicates it accepts applications. Lumina Foundation does not have a formal letter of inquiry (LOI) policy. However, we do review unsolicited requests. Deadlines: Unsolicited inquiries received by the end of september for the year.
How much does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc give each year?
In tax year 2024 it paid $30M across 357 grants, a median of $13K.
Where does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc give?
District of Columbia (75 grants), Indiana (114 grants), South Carolina (2 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.
More foundations near Indianapolis that accept applications
All in Indiana| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lilly Endowment Incsince 1938 | Indianapolis, IN | $3.9B2,285 grants · 2025 | $100K | Yes | $62B |
| Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trsince 1998 | Indianapolis, IN | $23M328 grants · 2024 | $35K | Yes | $428M |
| Eugene and Marilyn Glick Foundation Corporationsince 1983 | Indianapolis, IN | $21M210 grants · 2024 | $2,500 | Yes | $298M |
| Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Incsince 1990 | Indianapolis, IN | $17M160 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $173M |