Lumina Foundation for Education Announces Second-Quarter Grants

Indianapolis, July 27, 2009 — Lumina Foundation for Education awarded grants totaling more than $18.3 million in the second quarter of 2009. These grants went to 25 organizations in 10 states and the District of Columbia.

"Lumina's mission is directed toward a single, overarching big goal—to increase the percentage of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025," said Jamie Merisotis, Lumina's president and chief executive officer. To reach that goal, Lumina and the nation must strategically direct attention to three critical outcomes:

* Students are prepared academically, financially and socially for success in education beyond high school.
* Higher education completion rates are improved significantly.
* Higher education productivity is increased to expand capacity and serve more students.

As listed below, Lumina's grantmaking reflects the Foundation's commitment to these three primary areas.

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS
Academy for Educational Development (Washington, D.C.)—$2,600,000 to strengthen and sustain the KnowHow2GO ground campaign by providing technical assistance to state partners, involving additional collaborators and organizing an improved learning community for all partners.

Advertising Council, Inc. (New York, N.Y.)—$1,544,400 to support the KnowHow2GO campaign that encourages more low-income students and their families to take the necessary steps toward postsecondary education.

Corporation for Enterprise Development (Washington, D.C.) - $10,000 to support the 2009 National Conference on Children and Youth Savings and to showcase the current impact and potential scale of Children's Development Accounts — universal savings accounts for children and youth.

Encouragement Services, Inc. (Bloomington, Ind.)—$10,000 to create a plan to integrate Encouragement Services, Inc., into the Indiana KnowHow2GO work and the national college access library.

Martin University (Indianapolis, Ind.)—$75,000 for special services at Martin University.

Ohio College Access Network (Columbus, Ohio)—$80,500 to provide bridge funding for the Ohio College Access Network to continue as the coordinator for KnowHow2GO.