Lumina Foundation strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access to and success in education beyond high school.

Who we are

Lumina Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in Indianapolis in August 2000. We employ 46 staff members and have invested assets in excess of $1 billion. This total ranks Lumina among the nation’s top 40 private foundations.

What we do

Lumina is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college. In fact, we are the nation’s largest foundation dedicated exclusively to increasing students’ access to and success in postsecondary education. Our mission is defined by Goal 2025–to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025.

Lumina pursues this goal in three ways: by identifying and supporting effective practice, by encouraging effective public policy, and by using our communications and convening capacity to build public will for change. We have worked with and made grants to many colleges, universities, peer foundations, associations and other organizations that work to improve student access and outcomes across the nation. In 2010, we approved nearly 100 grants–ranging from $3,125 to $2.8 million–for a total commitment of nearly $43.4 million.

Learn more about our President Jamie P. Merisotis and read our Lumina Fact Sheet PDF | 87k | 2 pgs..