News and views in higher education attainment from Lumina Foundation

Featured Story

Racial Justice and Equity

Changes in how Lumina makes grants and awards contracts will highlight the need for racial justice and equity

Lumina Foundation has a long-standing commitment to achieving racial equity—the point when an individual’s race or ethnicity no longer predicts educational outcomes. Creating a learning system in which Black, Hispanic, and Native American people are a priority was crucial to our launch 20 years ago.

Paola Santana, Amanda DeLaRosaJan. 14, 2021

Black and white photo of marchers on campus with signs that read

Racial Justice and Equity

Lumina awards an initial round of nearly $3.2 million in grants to 11 organizations working to achieve racial justice

INDIANAPOLIS—Lumina Foundation has released the first grants from a $15 million Racial Justice and Equity Fund to national and Indianapolis-based organizations that focus on eradicating systemic racism in fields that align with or complement the foundation’s work.

Jan. 13, 2021

Rioter in crowd shouting into a megaphone.

Racial Justice and Equity

Education and active citizenship in the age of rising authoritarianism

The days between now and Jan. 20 will feel like some of the longest and shortest of our lives. We live with uncertainty, fear and a palpable amount of dread—about what President Trump may do, about the actions of those who have been radicalized by his ideas and words, and about the feckless elected leaders…

Jamie Merisotis Jan. 12, 2021

Featured Podcast

Racial Justice and Equity

Time for change in this critical moment for higher ed racial equity, cost of college

Dakota PawlickiJan. 12, 2021

Brad Kelsheimer

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Brad Kelsheimer

Brad Kelsheimer is vice president for finance and investments, and chief financial officer at Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. Kelsheimer oversees the foundation’s investment portfolio and all other financial operations.

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Federal Policy

Higher education’s $50 billion problem

At a time when society needs it more than ever, higher education in the United States is in crisis. Costs to students and their families continue to rise, states are questioning their level of investment, quality is eroding, racial attainment gaps are increasing, operating deficits at the institution level are accelerating, schools are closing,…

Brad Kelsheimer, Courtney BrownDec. 9, 2020

Affordability

From a former higher-ed finance leader with three daughters in college: Here’s why I’m optimistic

For all who care about higher ed, it’s hard to imagine a worse set of health and economic challenges than what we face today. But there’s also room for optimism about how we might emerge with an education system that serves everyone better. Here are the three rays of hope – call them opportunities, maybe…

Brad KelsheimerAug. 24, 2020

State Policy

Endowments, foundations face their own challenges

Endowments and foundations face some unique and unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most had prepared for some kind of market downturn following a record-long bull market, the closure of universities and the subsequent loss of revenue from room and board, tuition and other sources of revenue such as sporting events…

Brad KelsheimerJune 16, 2020

State Policy

University of Chicago is vulnerable in new COVID era

The University of Chicago has invested heavily in recent years to leap ahead of the pack, besting its elite local rival Northwestern University in national rankings, but its weaker financial profile is making it more vulnerable to fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

Brad KelsheimerJune 16, 2020

State Policy

College closures are a tough—but needed—step to serving students better

Colleges and universities, caught in a crossfire of rising costs and increasing impatience from families and funders, face an ongoing onslaught of tough choices in the next few years.

Brad KelsheimerOct. 28, 2019