$62.6M in expenses

Strategic grantmaking:guided by ecmc foundation's strategic framework, commitment to systemic change and north star goal, the foundation leverages two main grantmaking strategies-initiatives and strategically responsive-both of which contain several portfolios. Initiatives are focused on addressing students' basic needs, elevating career & technical education leadership, improving the impact of higher education among underserved populations, and strengthening transfer pathways and credit mobility. Each initiative has a theory of action and learning and evaluation framework and is guided by aligned activities, articulated timeframes and earmarked budgets. Through a diverse portfolio of grants supporting multiple populations, geographies and interventions, the strategically responsive strategy enables ecmc foundation to listen to the needs and opportunities identified by applicants, grantees, peer funders and subject matter experts; learn about emerging trends; and leverage foundation resources to advance the postsecondary field. In 2024, ecmc foundation awarded 71 strategically responsive grants and 65 initiative grants.

$5.1M in expenses

Employee engagement:ecmc foundation facilitates two main opportunities-a generating outcomes (go!) program and a discretionary grant program-for staff and leadership across ecmc group to feel connected to ecmc foundation's philanthropic mission. The go! Program is a corporate initiative to fund efforts in the communities where ecmc group, INC. Employees live and work. In 2024, ecmc foundation awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each to 111 organizations for a total of over $1 million. The discretionary grant program provides the board of directors, ecmc group executive and senior leaders, and foundation staff the opportunity to direct a gift to an educational organization of their choice.

$1.2M in expenses

Education innovation ventures:education innovation ventures (eiv) makes below-market-rate investments into nonprofit and for-profit ventures that seek to generate both social impact and financial returns. Complementing ecmc foundation's strategic grantmaking, the eiv program uses a full spectrum of program-related investments, including debt and equity instruments, to provide catalytic risk capital to early-stage ventures working to increase postsecondary educational outcomes and economic mobility among learners and jobseekers from systemically disadvantaged backgrounds. Financial returns are reinvested into additional program-related investments, allowing ecmc foundation to recycle investment dollars to fund further impact initiatives. In 2024, eiv invested over $4.1 million across 9 investments working to remove financial barriers for students, and awarded 3 grants.