Brand-Building at Community Colleges
In an age of information overload, how do you tell the story of who your college is to students and your community? How do you take charge of your own narrative and showcase all that your college has to offer?
Featured Resources
Some highlights of Lumina's work
We're sharing tools and takeaways from our efforts to create a better-educated nation.
The Great Admissions Redesign
Lumina Foundation is seeking to work with states, higher education systems, and groups of colleges and universities ready to transform how potential students apply, enroll, and access their institutions.
A Stronger Nation
We're tracking America's progress toward the nation's 60% attainment goal.
Community College Challenge
The Million Dollar Community College Challenge team is shining a spotlight on the great work of community colleges around the country.
REACH Collaborative
We're supporting community colleges in six states to create short-term credential-to-degree pathways for adults who are Black, Latino, Hispanic, and Native American.
Changing the Narrative on Student Borrowers of Color
A collection of essays from student loan experts sets the record straight on borrowing among students of color.
Community Grants
Our community grants portfolio supports local organizations in our hometown of Indianapolis and around central Indiana.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Hear stories about how HBCU's help students thrive.
Tuition Reimbursement
Meet a few of the workers and employers participating in tuition reimbursement programs.
Lumina Impact Ventures
Lumina Impact Ventures is the Foundation's impact investing arm partnering with mission-aligned social enterprises.
Local Talent Handbook
A guide for local leaders to build talent pool in their communities.
I Want That Job!
A series from WorkingNation on promising career paths for early career workers
History of Federal Student Aid
A film series documenting the policy and the political origins of federal financial aid programs
Beyond Financial Aid
How colleges can strengthen students’ financial stability, leading to higher completion rates
State Strategy Labs
Lumina supports state leaders’ efforts to increase education levels by offering nonpartisan research, data, peer advice, and technical support.
Degree Qualification Profile
A learning-centered framework for what college graduates should know and be able to do to earn the associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Lumina @ 25
May 5, 2025
The national higher education policy landscape and state-level attainment have changed significantly since 2008, with Lumina playing a leading role. Through Strategy Labs and its strategic partnerships, Lumina has fostered a legacy of state-level support that has been instrumental in advancing goals for educational attainment and workforce alignment. This sustained focus on building state capacity,…
The Leadership Model of Philanthropy
March 10, 2025
As our global society grows more complex and the need for greater economic and social opportunity more pronounced, the role of philanthropy becomes ever more important — and more nuanced. The days are long past when the field of philanthropy could pin its hopes solely on grantmaking and other means of providing direct service or…
Lumina Foundation Strategic Plan 2025 to 2040
March 4, 2025
By 2040, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. labor force will have college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
Communicating about Lumina Foundation
Dec. 2, 2024
Lumina Foundation believes communication has the power to amplify its work by building awareness and deepening understanding of our strategies. The foundation’s communications team wants to aid our partners in sharing lessons from projects.
Collaborating to Serve Adult Learners of Color
Oct. 9, 2024
This brief explores how partnerships and collaboration, on and off university campuses, can motivate cultural, structural, and programmatic change to better serve adult learners of color. It draws insights from a study of the Partnerships for Adult Learner Success (PALS) initiative and includes staff members’ and students’ perspectives and experiences at the eight urban-serving universities…
Great Admissions Redesign—2024 Convening Summary
Sept. 25, 2024
Helping more Americans earn bachelor’s degrees that position them for further learning and successful careers is essential to a thriving society. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting testing policies and historic legal rulings have significantly disrupted college admissions and enrollment over the past several years. While Americans overwhelmingly understand and value the importance of a college…
How State Policymakers Can Respond to the Supreme Court’s Rulings on Race-Conscious Admissions
July 26, 2023
The Supreme Court's decisions on Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC represent a serious step backward in the fight for racial equity and diversity in America that will harm all students and have serious repercussions.
Infographic: Americans See the Value of College
July 14, 2023
Over two-thirds (78%) of Americans say completing additional education after high school helps an individual’s well-being.
Capitalizing on Postsecondary Education to Develop In-State Talent
Jan. 18, 2023
A framework to help state leaders craft and execute a 90-day plan for launching a talent agenda in their state that will attract business investment and higher-wage jobs.
Lumina’s state policy agenda
Aug. 31, 2021
Lumina’s state policy agenda recommends ways in which states can identify, attract, and spend resources so that many more Americans can earn post-high school credentials with workplace value. The Agenda seeks to build a fairer, more racially just postsecondary system and is Lumina’s response to state leaders who ask how they can reach their state…
Changing the Narrative on Student Borrowers of Color
Feb. 24, 2021
Stark differences by race and ethnicity exist in student borrowing trends are well known, but real progress depends on setting up a different conversation. This collection explores the complexities of student debt; focuses on systems change and not blaming individuals; puts experts of color at the center; and emphasizes important differences among Black, Hispanic, and…
Infographic: The Story of Lumina’s Work
Dec. 11, 2020
This visualization highlights the strategies and tactics Lumina relies on to build a fair and just education and training system for today's student that also meets society’s needs.
Slides: The Story of Lumina’s Work
Dec. 11, 2020
These slides highlight the strategies and tactics Lumina relies on to build a fair and just education and training system for today's student that also meets society's needs.
Demographic Survey of Lumina Staff and Board
Oct. 12, 2020
Yearly survey of Lumina's staff and board members shows data on age, ethnic identity, gender, religious affiliation, and residency.
The Case for Talent Investment
Oct. 2, 2020
For the United States to compete in a global economy, more people need to receive quality education and training after high school that gives them relevant, in-demand skills.
Lumina’s Strategic Plan
Sept. 15, 2020
Society’s need for talent and the drive to expand the proportion of Americans with quality education and training after high school to meet this need have never been more urgent. The confluence of a pandemic, severe unemployment and racial injustice has exposed the daunting challenges ahead. Yet overcoming such challenges is what has made our…
Should States Make the FAFSA Mandatory?
July 29, 2020
Three states have now enacted “Mandatory FAFSA” policies, which require 12th graders to either apply for federal student aid or expressly opt out before they graduate. With another 13 states considering enacting their own policy, it is one of the fastest-moving movements in college access policy, but its outcomes and nuances are not yet well…
The Connected Learn-and-Work Ecosystem
Jan. 8, 2020
A guide to key initiatives for the Connected Learn and Work Ecosystem by stage of progress, timeline, and relation to other related work.
Quality Assurance slidedeck | PPT
Sept. 9, 2019
Presentation from the Unlocking the Nation’s Potential report release, presented by Debra Humphreys in Sept. 2019.
Lumina State Quality RFP
July 1, 2019
To assist states interested in assuring quality across systems and in increasing equitable access to quality pathways and credentials, we are excited to launch the Lumina State Quality Assurance Grant Fund to provide assistance in developing or implementing new approaches to quality assurance and improvement.