Supports postsecondary student success through grants, investments, and initiatives focused on career and technical education (CTE), basic needs, rural learners, parenting students, and education innovation.
Ecmc Foundation has been backing postsecondary student success through large institutional grants and education innovation investments, with a clear emphasis on career and technical education, basic needs, rural learners, and parenting students. Among its largest recent awards are $3,449,045 to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association for general support and $3,041,177 to the University of Southern California for general support, pointing to a funding style that supports intermediaries and campuses as well as direct student-success work. The foundation’s recent grant list also shows repeated support for organizations working on systems change in higher education. Educational Credit Management Corporation received multiple multimillion-dollar grants, including $2,150,000 in 2023 and $2,000,000 in both 2024 and 2025, for college-success and project-success work. Other major awards went to Georgia State University Foundation, Southern Education Foundation, The Aspen Institute, Jobs for the Future, and Association of Community College Trustees, reflecting a mix of policy, practice, and institutional partnerships around completion, retention, and workforce outcomes. Across its portfolio, Ecmc Foundation appears to fund both national conveners and organizations serving specific student populations, including student parents and learners facing basic-needs barriers. Its active programs also include venture-style education innovation activity alongside targeted grant initiatives.
In higher education systems work, Ecmc Foundation gave $3,449,045 to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association for general support and $1,960,000 to The Aspen Institute for career readiness and college success. Those awards sit alongside support for groups working on policy, institutional transformation, and cross-sector coordination. The foundation also funds student populations with specific barriers to completion. It awarded $1,757,091 to Achieving the Dream for single mother student success, men of color, and program support, and $1,400,000 to New America for single mother student success. For basic needs, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education received $1,551,356, and Ithaka Harbors Inc received $1,310,550 for basic needs and cross-sector collaboration. Career readiness and workforce alignment are another clear thread. North Carolina State University received $1,402,799 for career readiness, City Year received $2,000,000 for pandemic recovery and career readiness, and La-techorg received $1,050,000 for work based learning.
$60.1M
$2B
$82.6M
$76.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $306K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$306K
JACOB FRAIRE
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Typical grants cluster at a median of $25,000, with a lower quartile of $10,000 and an upper quartile of $305,982, showing a spread from smaller awards to very large institutional grants. Recent grants include repeated support for some organizations across multiple years, such as Educational Credit Management Corporation receiving major awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and also uses venture-style activity through Education Innovation Ventures. Its active initiatives include both targeted programs and strategically responsive grants, and one initiative—Parenting Student Success Initiative—accepts unsolicited proposals.
Ecmc Foundation gives nationally, and every grant in the provided recent list went to a U.S. recipient. The highest concentration of grants goes to Virginia, while 22% of grants are to recipients in Minnesota. Recent recipients also include organizations in Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; and Sacramento, CA, showing a mix of national intermediaries and large higher-education institutions.
Its grants center on postsecondary student success, especially career and technical education, basic needs, rural learners, parenting students, and education innovation. Recent awards also show support for career readiness, college success, work-based learning, and systems change in higher education.
The middle of the distribution is $25,000, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $305,982. That spread suggests the foundation gives both modest project grants and much larger institutional awards.
Yes. Educational Credit Management Corporation appears more than once across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with awards of $2,150,000, $2,000,000, and $2,000,000. That pattern shows repeat support rather than one-off funding only.
One active initiative, the Parenting Student Success Initiative, accepts unsolicited proposals. Other listed initiatives, including CTE Leadership Collaborative, Basic Needs, Rural Impact, and Strategically Responsive Grants, are marked as not accepting unsolicited applications.
The foundation gives nationally, with the highest grant count in Virginia. Minnesota receives 22% of grants, and recent recipients also appear in Washington, DC; Atlanta; Los Angeles; New York; and Sacramento.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Ecmc Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content; initiative is part of ECMC Foundation’s grantmaking portfolio and tied to the Foundation’s strategic priorities.
Deadline: No deadline specified; the Foundation states LOIs are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content.
Deadline: Not specified in the provided content.
Who can apply: Projects must align with one or more of ECMC Foundation's strategic priorities: remove barriers to postsecondary completion; build the capacity of institutions, systems and organizations; transform the postsecondary ecosystem. The Foundation supports organizations and institutions working in postsecondary education and workforce readiness; it does not support general training programs, boot camps, or job placement services without a direct connection to postsecondary persistence and degree completion.
Deadline: No deadline; LOIs are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who can apply: Projects should align with initiative strategies: growing data capacity, scaling effective practices, and informing policy reform related to postsecondary basic needs insecurity.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; initiative uses an open LOI portal and periodic RFPs.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATE HIGHER EDUCATION EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION | BOULDER, CO | $3,449,045 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,041,177 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $2,001,043 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,000,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUCCESS |
| SOUTHERN EDUCATION FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WESTED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,940,077 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR PARTNERSHIPS IN EQUITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | PARKESBURG, PA | $1,840,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| JOBS FOR THE FUTURE | BOSTON, MA | $1,575,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,452,155 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC AND LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES (APLU) | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,363,504 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,250,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROWING INLAND ACHIEVEMENT INC | REDLANDS, CA | $1,035,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| COLUMBUS LEARNING CENTER MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | COLUMBUS, IN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC AGENDA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATORS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC GROUP INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TWIN CITIES IMPACT |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $975,054 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMPLETE COLLEGE AMERICA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $974,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER TO ADVANCE CTE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $929,030 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $849,610 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE BACCALAUREATE ASSOCIATION | LAKE MARY, FL | $760,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VETERANS EDUCATION SUCCESS | CHEVY CHASE, MD | $750,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BRIGHTWORKS | ARDEN HILLS, MN | $750,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | KNOXVILLE, TN | $750,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION INITIATIVE | AUSTIN, TX | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION DESIGN LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $747,911 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE GEORGIA INC | MACON, GA | $741,954 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE UNIVERSITY INNOVATION ALLIANCE | TEMPE, AZ | $668,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BELLWETHER | BOSTON, MA | $660,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIGHER LEARNING ADVOCATES | WASHINGTON, DC | $650,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS NFP | CHICAGO, IL | $600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY INC | ATLANTA, GA | $600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BELIEVE IN STUDENTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $560,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE JED FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $554,826 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR CITIZENS & SCHOLARS | PRINCETON, NJ | $535,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT, GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $516,450 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION (HLC) | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION | LONG BEACH, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALL-IN MILWAUKEE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROPEL AMERICA | BOSTON, MA | $499,994 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY | HAYS, KS | $461,840 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CENTER ON RURAL INNOVATION | HARTLAND, VT | $457,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOONE, NC | $456,208 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMPOWER SCHOOLS | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $454,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| APIA SCHOLARS | WASHINGTON, DC | $453,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (NCHEMS) | BOULDER, CO | $451,454 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
STATE HIGHER EDUCATION EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
$3,449,045GENERAL SUPPORT
EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
$2,000,000PROJECT SUCCESS
SOUTHERN EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$2,000,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
WESTED
$1,940,077GENERAL SUPPORT
PROGRAM SUPPORT
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES
$1,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLUMBUS LEARNING CENTER MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PUBLIC AGENDA INC
$1,000,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC GROUP INC
$1,000,000TWIN CITIES IMPACT
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$975,054GENERAL SUPPORT
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
$800,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BACCALAUREATE ASSOCIATION
$760,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
VETERANS EDUCATION SUCCESS
$750,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BRIGHTWORKS
$750,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
$750,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE GEORGIA INC
$741,954PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE UNIVERSITY INNOVATION ALLIANCE
$668,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BELIEVE IN STUDENTS
$560,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION (HLC)
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY
$461,840PROGRAM SUPPORT
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$456,208GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (NCHEMS)
$451,454GENERAL SUPPORT
