Lumina Foundation for Education Inc
Lumina Foundation for Education Inc is an independent, private foundation headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 2000 through the conversion of the USA Group foundation following the sale of USA Group's operating assets, Lumina is the largest philanthropy in the United States focused solely on increasing access to learning beyond high school. The foundation maintains a staff of approximately 63 employees and has international presence in France and Romania.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5B
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$30.0M
-45.6% YoY
Grant Count
357
+6.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
-48.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lumina Foundation for Education Inc reported a distributable amount of $72.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To prepare people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy.
Strategic Goal: 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.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education access and attainment beyond high school
- Workforce development and alignment with labor-market needs
- Quality assurance in credentials and degrees
- Racial equity in educational outcomes
- Policy outreach and advocacy
- Research and evaluation on postsecondary education
The foundation works to create a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation's need for talent through a broad range of credentials including college degrees, certificates, and industry certifications.
Grantmaking
Lumina primarily engages in proactive grantmaking and does not accept unsolicited requests or letters of inquiry. Funding is generally directed toward system-level initiatives designed to achieve large-scale or nationwide impact. The foundation periodically issues open Requests for Proposals on specific topics.
Grant Range
$13,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include Indiana, District of Columbia, and California, with national focus on system-level initiatives across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $1,544,151,334 (2024)
Annual Revenue: $124,727,424
Total Expenses: $72,641,003 (2024)
Annual Giving: $40 million (2024)
Endowment: $1.5 billion
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation
EIN: 35-1813228
IRS Ruling Year: 1991
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,544,151,334 | $1,447,572,232 | $1,413,211,168 |
| Revenue | $85,433,733 | $54,331,663 | $103,090,471 |
| Expenses | $72,641,003 | $90,342,377 | $65,552,907 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $73,462,589 | $89,865,542 | $69,151,951 |
| Net Investment Income | $72,447,062 | $37,636,907 | $70,910,975 |
| Distributable Amount | $72,180,632 | $69,362,505 | $69,845,080 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blackbaud Giving Fund ($2,508,511), Association of Community College Trustees ($450,000), Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Black Men of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | To support the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis 40th Anniversary Gala | $5,000 |
| Advance Illinois Chicago, IL | To support Advance Illinois' efforts to educate the public about state-level policies that increase postsecondary attainment and improve outcomes. | $125,000 |
| Afghan American Community Center Inc Indianapolis, IN | To support the Eid & Nawruz event | $5,000 |
| AFL-CIO Working For America Institute Washington, DC | To develop and deploy a universally recognized advanced manufacturing certification program in partnership with community colleges in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. | $125,000 |
| Alabama Possible Birmingham, AL | to support the EmpowerED Conference convening of historically and predominately Black community colleges | $30,000 |
| Alabama Possible Birmingham, AL | To support the EmpowerED Conference convening of historically and predominately Black community colleges. | $15,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc Washington, DC | To support the Higher Ed Forward joint funder effort designed to advance student success, academic freedom, and democratic principles through designated pooled funding. | $250,000 |
| American Academy of Arts and Sciences Cambridge, MA | To support the Aspen Higher Education Forum with journalists' participation. | $250,000 |
| American Association Of Blacks in Higher Education Washington, DC | To support the 2024 AABHE Annual Conference. | $5,000 |
| American Association of Colleges and Universities Washington, DC | To support the rollout of Democracy Re/Designed and support IDHE's transition to AAC&U | $180,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board:
- Alisa Miller (Board Chair)
- Austan Goolsbee (Board Member)
- Christine Pambianchi (Board Member)
- David Wilson (Board Member)
- Joseph Boateng (Board Member)
- Justin Christian (Board Member)
- Matthew Breitfelder (Board Member)
- Matthew Goldberg (Board Member)
- Pardis Mahdavi (Board Member, elected 4/10/24)
Staff:
- Patrick Crane (State Policy Director)
- Wayne Taliaferro (Strategy Director)
- Debra Humphreys (Vice President)
- Susan D Johnson (Director, Grants Administration)
- David Cournoy
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Lumina Foundation announced 16 institutions selected to advance career-connected high-impact practices
Lumina Foundation announces 16 institutions selected to advance career-connectedFoundation provided grant support to SACSCOC to strengthen higher education workforce alignment
Lumina Foundation Grant will Help SACSCOC Strengthen Higher Education WorkforceFoundation convened a Quality Credentials Task Force comprising 22 leaders in education, policy, and workforce development to develop a conceptual model of credential quality
Lumina Foundation Grant will Help SACSCOC Strengthen Higher Education WorkforcePublished report "Unlocking the Nation's Potential: A Model to Advance Quality and Equity in Education Beyond High School" addressing inequities in credential attainment among students of color
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc fund?
**Mission:** To prepare people for informed citizenship and success in a global economy. **Strategic Goal:** 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. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education access and attainment beyond high school • Workforce development and alignment with labor-market needs • Quality assurance in credentials and degrees • Racial equity in educational outcomes • Policy outreach and…
How do I apply for a grant from Lumina Foundation for Education Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • 357 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period • Median grant size: $13,000 • Grant range: $500 to $2.5 million • Total giving: $30,030,680 (2024) **Grantmaking Approach:** Lumina primarily engages in proactive grantmaking and does not accept unsolicited requests or letters of inquiry. Funding is generally directed toward system-level initiatives designed to achieve large-scale or nationwide impact. The foundation periodically issues open Requests for Proposals on …
Where does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc make grants?
Primary funding areas include Indiana, District of Columbia, and California, with national focus on system-level initiatives across the United States.
What size grants does Lumina Foundation for Education Inc award?
In 2024, Lumina Foundation for Education Inc awarded 357 grants totaling $30.0M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lumina Foundation for Education Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lumina Foundation for Education Inc reported a distributable amount of $72.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lumina Foundation for Education Inc's EIN?
Lumina Foundation for Education Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1813228. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lumina Foundation for Education Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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