Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Foundation's grant-making focus?
2. How much money does the Foundation grant annually?
3. How does the Foundation solicit grant applications?
4. What is the average grant amount from the Foundation?
5. Where can I send my grant proposal?
6. Does the Foundation give scholarships to individual students or institutional scholarship funds?
7. Does the Foundation provide any grants to Indiana civic or community organizations?
8. How was Lumina Foundation created?

Q1: What is the Foundation's grant-making focus?
Because Lumina believes that education can best help people achieve their potential and improve our nation’s future, we address issues that affect U.S. access and attainment in postsecondary education — particularly among traditionally underserved student groups. These students include 18- to 24-year-olds and adult students who face barriers to an education by virtue of their income, preparation or family background. We award grants and develop programs that fall into one of the following categories:

• Research to expand knowledge and improve practices that affect students’ access and success in postsecondary education.
• Innovative programs guided by research, that present practical approaches to access and attainment among underserved students and adult learners.
• Activities that enhance the impact of Lumina Foundation-funded research and programs, such as leadership development, communication, evaluation and public policy analysis.

From time to time, Lumina Foundation identifies and initiates a special program that has the potential to improve postsecondary access and success. We generally solicit participation in these efforts, rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Currently, the Foundation’s three major initiatives are:

• Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative to help more community college students succeed, particularly students of color and low-income students;
• Making Opportunity Affordable: Reinvesting in College Access and Success, which aims to help states and institutions increase degree attainment for all students and improve learning outcomes at a cost that students and taxpayers can afford;
• KnowHow2GO college-access campaign, a public-awareness effort designed to encourage low-income students in grades eight to 10 and their families to take the necessary steps to get to college.

Q2: How much money will the Foundation grant annually?
As one of the nation's 50 largest private foundations, with assets at $1.4 billion, the Foundation's payout is approximately $50 million per year.

Q3: How does the Foundation solicit grant applications?
We will seek potential grantees whose projects and expertise can help us carry out our mission, and we also consider high-quality, relevant proposals that are submitted to us. Our mission focuses on promoting access, attainment and adult learning at the national level. Get more information about our application procedures.

Q4: What is the average grant amount from the Foundation?
The median size of a typical grant is approximately $150,000; the average size is about $400,000.

Q5: Where can I send my grant proposal?
Your first step in seeking a grant is to write us a preliminary, three to five page inquiry letter. The letter should describe your organization, its mission and the project you have in mind. It should also tell us how much support you will need from us. Inquiries should be directed in writing to Program Office "New Inquiry," Lumina Foundation for Education, P.O. Box 1806, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1806. If we believe your inquiry may fit with our funding priorities, we will request additional information about the project. At that time, we will provide you with a grant application packet. Get more information about our application procedures.

Q6: Does the Foundation give scholarships to individual students or institutional scholarship funds?
The Foundation's grant making does not focus on the singular needs of individuals or individual postsecondary institutions. Rather, we fund research or programs that can assist a broad spectrum of students and institutions, either because of the program's scope or innovation.

Q7: Does the Foundation provide any grants to Indiana civic or community organizations?
We focus on broad efforts nationwide to help many institutions improve their success with historically underserved students. As an Indiana-based foundation, Lumina Foundation sets aside 10 percent of its grant money each year to fund projects that are specific to its home state and especially to Indianapolis. However, even among our Indiana grants, our focus is overwhelmingly on education beyond high school.

Q8: How was Lumina Foundation created?
The USA Group Foundation changed from a modest corporate giving program under the auspices of USA Group into a significant private foundation on July 31, 2000, when USA Group sold its assets in guarantee servicing, student loan servicing and secondary market operations. The proceeds of that sale endowed the USA Group Foundation — now called Lumina Foundation for Education — and it became an independent, private foundation.