The Lumina Foundation Education Grants

Name: The Lumina Foundation Education Grants

Award Amount: Varies (institutional grants)

Information And Eligibility:
The Lumina Foundation Education Grants are among the most influential funding opportunities in the United States for institutions working to expand access to high-quality postsecondary education. Rather than awarding scholarships to individual students, Lumina invests in large-scale initiatives led by colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and state or regional networks. These grants focus on improving educational attainment—particularly for adult learners, low-income students, and students of color, who historically face barriers to earning college degrees.

The foundation’s core mission is to increase the proportion of Americans earning high-quality credentials beyond high school. As part of this mission, Lumina funds programs that redesign learning environments, strengthen student support systems, improve transfer pathways, and develop new credentialing models that help students complete programs efficiently. Proposals often emphasize measurable outcomes, cultural responsiveness, data-driven decision-making, and long-term sustainability.

Institutions applying for Lumina funding must show how their projects align with equity goals, particularly closing gaps in degree attainment. Projects should aim to transform systems—not just create short-term solutions. Examples of funded initiatives include competency-based education pilots, statewide adult-learning completion strategies, and programs that integrate work and learning for career advancement.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicant must be an accredited U.S. college, university, nonprofit organization, or education-focused institutional network.
• Projects must advance Lumina’s mission to increase postsecondary credential attainment, with a strong emphasis on equity and student success.
• Initiatives should focus on underrepresented groups such as first-generation students, low-income learners, students of color, and adult learners.
• Proposals must include clear objectives, evidence-based strategies, anticipated outcomes, and plans for long-term impact.
• The project must have the potential for statewide, regional, or national scale—not solely benefit a small or isolated group.

Application Requirements:

• Submit a formal grant inquiry or proposal through Lumina’s grants portal.
• Provide a detailed project description outlining goals, methods, timelines, and anticipated outcomes.
• Include a comprehensive evaluation and measurement plan with performance indicators tied to student success or equity improvements.
• Submit a line-item budget and narrative explaining resource allocation and sustainability beyond the grant period.
• Organizations may be required to demonstrate prior success in implementing large-scale educational programs or partnerships.
• Lumina may request supplemental materials such as organizational financial statements, letters of commitment from partners, or institutional data on student demographics and outcomes.

Additional Details:

• Funding amounts vary widely depending on project scope, ranging from pilot-level grants to multimillion-dollar system reform investments.
• Many grants span multiple years to support long-term transformation efforts.
• Lumina does not typically fund small, isolated programs; proposals must demonstrate potential for broad impact and replication.
• Grant decisions are highly competitive, and institutions are encouraged to demonstrate strong leadership, capacity, and a clear vision for improving educational equity.
• Institutions may contact Lumina to discuss project fit before submitting a full proposal.

Deadline: Rolling

Apply For This Grant: For more information on the Lumina Foundation Education Grants or to apply, please visit This Grant’s Application Page. To find more grants for college, search our College Grants Database.

View Grant / Fellowship Data

Grant Categorization

CollegeWhale offers one of the only true College Grant and Fellowship Databases online. Our College Grant and Fellowship Database is one of the largest databases, containing multi-millions of dollars in college Grant and Fellowship money. Unlike other online databases, ours is college Grant and Fellowship specific, it is not mixed with college scholarship opportunities. Get matched with TONS of college Grants and Fellowships in just a few simple clicks. Grant and Fellowship money for college made simple, period.