National College Attainment Network
The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional association based in Washington, DC. It is a public charity incorporated in 1995 and reports nearly 600 member organizations.
National College Attainment Network at a glance
In short: National College Attainment Network gave $580K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $579,586
- -55.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,100
- -53.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,305,249
- -39.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (8% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to National College Attainment Network
- Contact
Mailing address: 800 17Th Street Nw 630, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 347-4848
Website: https://ncan.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who National College Attainment Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Goddard Riverside Community Ctr ($48K). Together the top 10 received $267K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($33,025), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 146 grants of 169 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NCAN is based in Washington, DC, and its reported 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (8%), California (7%), and Texas, Michigan, and Arizona (6% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How National College Attainment Network gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $210K (2022) to $2.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $580K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Goddard Riverside Community Ctr New York, NY | Supporting postsecondary pathways for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students | $48,450 |
| Michigan College Access Network Lansing, MI | Catalyzing postsecondary pathways support at scale, upporting postsecondary pathways for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students, & facilitating fafsa completion | $36,725 |
| College Now Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Supporting postsecondary pathways for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students | $30,000 |
| Education Forward Arizona Phoenix, AZ | Facilitating fafsa completion & catalyzing postsecondary pathways support at scale | $28,106 |
| College Success Foundation - District of Columbia Washington, DC | Facilitating Fafsa Completion | $27,331 |
| Alabama Possible Birmingham, AL | Catalyzing Postsecondary Pathways Support at Scale | $20,000 |
| Chicago Scholars Foundation Chicago, IL | Supporting Access to Financial Aid for Pell-Eligible Students | $19,606 |
| Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (Grasp) Richmond, VA | Supporting Access to Financial Aid for Pell-Eligible Students | $19,606 |
| College Possible Saint Paul, MN | Facilitating Fafsa Completion | $18,450 |
| Socalcan Los Angeles, CA | Supporting Access to Financial Aid for Pell-Eligible Students | $18,450 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,305,249 | $6,586,460 | $9,439,267 | $579,586 | 36 | $154,384 |
| 2024 | $12,112,928 | $11,887,213 | $8,644,877 | $1,304,235 | 38 | $114,522 |
| 2023 | $8,285,000 | $5,775,803 | $5,388,389 | $405,900 | 24 | $1,041 |
| 2022 | $7,514,431 | $3,639,522 | $3,636,767 | $210,000 | 7 | $518 |
| 2021 | $5,688,031 | $6,605,938 | $5,332,316 | $2,131,589 | 64 | $-15,052 |
| 2019 | $4,289,579 | $2,831,363 | $4,899,208 | $500,000 | 22 | $16,047 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NCAN’s mission is to support members and influence leaders, organizations, policies, and systems across the country to increase equity and excellence in postsecondary degree access and attainment. Its stated vision is for all students—especially first-generation students, students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, and students from low-income backgrounds—to have an equitable opportunity to achieve social and economic mobility through higher education.
NCAN describes three strategies: bolstering practitioner skills through professional development; advocating for more equitable policies; and championing systemic changes in K–12 and higher education. Its grants have supported work including FAFSA completion, financial-aid access for Pell-eligible students, postsecondary support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, and postsecondary transition supports for students with learning differences.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Michigan College Access Network says its goal is to increase the share of Michigan residents with postsecondary certificates or degrees to 60% by 2030. College Now Greater Cleveland describes its mission as increasing postsecondary attainment through college and career advising, financial-aid counseling, scholarships, and retention services. Education Forward Arizona says it advocates for and acts on education improvements to advance the quality of life for Arizonans. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions focus on college access and success for low-income students, scholarship and financial resources, and educational excellence in public schools.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NCAN reported 36 grants totaling $579,586. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $48,450, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $48,450 to Goddard Riverside Community Center for postsecondary pathways for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students; $36,725 to Michigan College Access Network for postsecondary pathways support, including support for justice-impacted students and FAFSA completion; and $30,000 to College Now Greater Cleveland for postsecondary pathways for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students.
Other reported awards included $28,106 to Education Forward Arizona for FAFSA completion and postsecondary pathways support; $27,331 to College Success Foundation – District of Columbia for FAFSA completion; and $20,000 to Alabama Possible for postsecondary pathways support. Awards of $19,606 went to Chicago Scholars Foundation and the Great Aspirations Scholarship Program for financial-aid access for Pell-eligible students. College Possible, SoCalCAN, and Bottom Line V each received $18,450 for FAFSA completion or financial-aid access for Pell-eligible students; Denver Scholarship Foundation received $18,106 for FAFSA completion.
NCAN has also announced member grant opportunities funded by the ECMC Foundation and Oak Foundation, including grants for student mental well-being and postsecondary transitions for students with learning differences. The application window described for those opportunities is closed. For the Oak Foundation initiative, NCAN stated that it would select eight member organizations through a competitive application process, with four selected in each grant cycle to receive $45,000 over two years. NCAN’s 2026 Justice Fellows announcement described a second round of grants for members to build capacity supporting students in postsecondary prison education programs and those re-entering their communities.
NCAN’s filing states that grantees must report annually on grant activity and finances, use funds for the purpose described in the grant proposal, and promptly return funds that remain unexpended or uncommitted at the end of the grant period.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Catalina Cifuentes as board president beginning in September 2024 and Steve Colon as board president through September 2024. Other listed board officers and members are Caroline Altman Smith, board vice president; Bernard McCune, board secretary; Braulio Colon, board treasurer; Adam Berg, board treasurer through September 2024; and board members Jarian Kerekes, Doug Shapiro, Ruth Watkins, and Keith Witham. NCAN identifies Kim Cook as its CEO and Zenia Henderson as chief program officer.
National College Attainment Network is led by Kimberly Cook, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 10 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kimberly Cook
President & CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2022
CEO → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$177K (2019) → $247K (2025)
Steve Colon
Board President
Vice President → President, 2024
President → Board President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catalina Cifuentes
Board President
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Board President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colette Hadley
Senior Director & Consulting Services
Director of Consulting Services → Senior Director & Consulting Services, 2023
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$134K (2019) → $167K (2025)
Elizabeth Keller
Senior Director & Senior Programming
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$133K (2023) → $125K (2025)
Catherine Brown
Senior Director, Policy & Advocacy
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$142K (2024) → $164K (2025)
John Debaun
Senior Director, Data & Strat. Initiatives
Senior Director Data & Strategic Initiatives → Senior Director, Data & Strat. Initiatives, 2025
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$136K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Elizabeth Morgan
Chief External Relations Officer
Director of External Relations → Chief External Relations Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$154K (2019) → $194K (2025)
Sara Melnick
Chief Finance Officer
Deputy Director → Director of Finance & Spec. Proj., 2022
Director of Finance & Spec. Proj. → Chief Finance Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$125K (2019) → $194K (2025)
Zenia Henderson
Chief Program Officer
Director of Member & Partner Engagement → Director of Member & Partner Engage., 2022
Director of Member & Partner Engage. → Chief Program Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
37.5 hrs/week
$112K (2021) → $175K (2025)
Tong Lee
Senior Mngr, Retention & Database Management
On filings since 2024
37.5 hrs/week
$102K (2024) → $114K (2025)
Joy King
Chf. Talent, Strat. & Ops. Officer
New on the 2025 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$193K (2025)
Adam Berg
Board Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Board Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candy Marshall
Board Member
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Sears
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sujuan W. Boutte
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Altman Smith
Board Vice President
Board Member → Board Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jarian Kerekes
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernard McCune
Board Secretary
Board Member & Start → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Braulio Colon
Board Treasurer
Board Member & Start → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Board Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Shapiro
Board Member
Board Member & Start → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Watkins
Board Member
Board Member & Start → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Witham
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Lee
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Delucca
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chandra Scott
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Fraire
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Watson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Traci Rue White
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Tina Fernandez (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Nathaniel Easley (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Luna (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Amy Kerwin (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kim Cook (2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Nancy Washington (2023) — Chief of Staff & Termed
- Former: E. Morralee Keller (2019–2022) — Director of Technical Assistance
- Former: Carrie Warick-Smith (2022) — Director of Policy & Advocacy
- Former: Ricardo Torres (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Rick Torres (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Gloria Nemerowicz (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Herbert Tillery (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lori McFarling (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Marlene Ibsen (2019) — President
- Former: Nate Easley PhD (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Pranav Kothari (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen M. Smith (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $247K, to Kimberly Cook (President/CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National College Attainment Network
How much does National College Attainment Network give each year?
National College Attainment Network gave $580K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 38 grants.
What is National College Attainment Network's typical grant size?
National College Attainment Network's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,100, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does National College Attainment Network give grants?
National College Attainment Network's top state is New York, with 8% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (7%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), Denver, CO (2 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does National College Attainment Network give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on National College Attainment Network's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Catalyzing Postsecondary Pathways Support at Scale" (10 grants) and "Facilitating Fafsa Completion" (6 grants).
Who are National College Attainment Network's largest grantees?
National College Attainment Network's largest 2025 grantees include Goddard Riverside Community Ctr ($48,450), Michigan College Access Network ($36,725) and College Now Greater Cleveland ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($33,025), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National College Attainment Network?
National College Attainment Network reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.6M.
What does National College Attainment Network fund?
NCAN’s mission is to support members and influence leaders, organizations, policies, and systems across the country to increase equity and excellence in postsecondary degree access and attainment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National College Attainment Network?
National College Attainment Network has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ncan.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is National College Attainment Network's EIN?
National College Attainment Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1793562. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work National College Attainment Network funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in National College Attainment Network's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National College Attainment Network funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-college-attainment-network-morg_4ac767757f7246d5a8f233600aec7bde
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311793562_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National College Attainment Network funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-college-attainment-network-morg_4ac767757f7246d5a8f233600aec7bde},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from National College Attainment Network's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
National College Attainment Network down — hundreds of funders to go?