We make grants and investments that align with our North Star goal and fit within one of our three strategic priorities. We are particularly interested in proposals that focus on implementing systemic reforms to improve postsecondary persistence and completion outcomes for undergraduate students from underserved backgrounds.
If you believe you have an aligned project, please use the process outlined below to apply. If you are a for-profit company or a nonprofit with a dedicated revenue stream that is looking for information on our program-related investments, visit the Education Innovation Ventures page to learn more about eligibility.
Grants Eligibility
Eligibility for ECMC Foundation grant funding is determined by staff using the criteria outlined below. In some instances (e.g., Request for Proposal), criteria may be added for specific grant opportunities.
What types of organizations are eligible to receive funding?
- Nonprofit organizations registered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) or a 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Government entities
- Postsecondary institutions and systems or their affiliated and supporting foundations
What projects are we looking for?
- Reaches a broad and diverse student population (beyond a single institution), creating impact at scale
- Serves students furthest from opportunity
- Demonstrates connection to systemic change (as defined by FSG’s Water of Systems Change)
- Demonstrates clear sustainability or long-term impact opportunities
- Offers credentials from accredited institutions of higher education
- Operates in ways that are consistent with ECMC Foundation’s mission
What types of requests are ineligible for funding?
- Solicitations from individuals or requests for scholarships/financial aid
- Appeals to support endowment funds, political activities and lobbying, capital campaigns or fundraising activities
- Applications from entities or for projects outside the United States (We only make grants in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and to sovereign tribes)
What projects are generally not funded?
- Supports for K-12/youth development (including college access, summer bridge and general career preparation), postgraduate, adult basic education, or General Education Development (GED) credential/high school equivalency diploma
- Requests for ongoing programming or general operating support
- Plans to implement capital improvements or projects seeking funding for equipment or construction with no programmatic component
- Sponsorships for conferences and other events hosted by organizations not already affiliated with ECMC Foundation
- Job placement services, internship programs, and other workforce development initiatives without a direct connection to postsecondary persistence and completion
Grants Submission Process
Letters of Inquiry
ECMC Foundation accepts and reviews Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) via our online system on a rolling basis. All LOIs must demonstrate how the project-based concept fits within one of our three strategic priorities and advances the Foundation’s North Star goal. (For your convenience, you can preview the form template here.)
All LOIs must provide the following information:
- Name, title, email address, and phone number of the point of contact at the organization submitting the letter of inquiry
- Organization name, address, website, EIN number, organization type, budget, and organization summary
- Project budget, request amount, budget narrative, proposed project duration in months, and project lead
- Project summary, and intended goals and anticipated outcomes of the proposed project
Proposal
LOIs that most closely reflect ECMC Foundation's North Star goal, strategic priorities, and current funding priorities will be invited to submit a full grant proposal. A request for a proposal should not be interpreted as an indication of likely support.
ECMC Foundation staff may ask applicants to meet (virtually or in-person) or submit additional information in writing before advancing an LOI to the proposal phase.
Review Process
Please be aware that the full grant proposal process—from first contact to board approval—can take several months. We ask applicants to be mindful of the timeline when beginning the application process.
Submit an LOI to apply for a grant
For additional information on our LOI process and tips for a stronger submission, review this blog post.
Monitoring and Reporting
We require that each grantee identify and track unique measures of success, which are defined by the grantee and aligned to the goals of the grant. Annual assessments provide ECMC Foundation with information on a program’s progress toward its targets and goals. Learn more about our approach to learning and evaluation.
Open Access Policy for Research Grants
As the postsecondary field demands more data-driven decision-making and evidence-based policies, it is essential that the research that informs these efforts is reasonably accessible. Providing easier access to published research allows practitioners, policymakers and other researchers to more effectively and efficiently integrate data-informed studies into their work.
As a result, all research funded by ECMC Foundation must be open access. ECMC Foundation defines open access as providing the public with continuous free access to research upon project completion or upon completion of any portion of a larger project. By maintaining this policy, ECMC Foundation intends to put research into the hands of those who need access to it the most.
By making research open access, it reduces the number of duplicative studies, increases transparency, allows practitioners and policymakers to affordably access data and information, and inspires collaboration.