# Lumina Foundation

> Lumina Foundation is a VC fund backing Education and Higher Education. See 94 investments, check sizes, portfolio and contact details. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Indianapolis, United States
- Total investments: 94
- Last investment: Jul 2026
- Lead investor: 79%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lumina-foundation
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/luminafound
- Website: https://www.luminafoundation.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luminafoundation

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with degrees, certificates and other high-quality credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina’s outcomes-based approaLumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with degrees,certificates and other high-quality credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina’s outcomes-based approach focuses on helping to design and build an equitable, accessible, responsive and accountable higher education system while fostering a national sense of urgency for action to achieve Goal 2025.ch focuses on helping to design and build an equitable, accessible, responsive and accountable higher education system while fostering a national sense of urgency for action to achieve Goal 2025.

## Contacts

5 contacts available for Lumina Foundation. Shizune tracks 3 team members at Lumina Foundation. Sign up free to unlock them: https://app.shizune.co/sign-up/investor-profiles/find-team-emails/luminafoundation?utm_source=investor_profile

## Round sizes

| Stage | Round size |
| --- | --- |
| Seed | $500k–$4.6M |
| Grant | $50k–$575k |
| Series A | $4M–$27M |

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Education | 50 | 53% |
| Higher Education | 27 | 29% |
| Non Profit | 24 | 26% |
| Universities | 17 | 18% |
| Training | 10 | 11% |

53 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grant | 70 | 74% |
| Series A | 8 | 9% |
| Seed | 6 | 6% |
| Funding Round | 5 | 5% |
| Series B | 2 | 2% |

7 stages tracked in total.

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | 82 | 87% |
| Guam | 1 | 1% |

## Team

| Name | Title | Investments | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Amber Garrison Duncan | Strategy Director | 0 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/amber-garrison-duncan |
| Erin Archer | Chief Financial Officer | 0 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/erin-archer-3e91 |
| Mary Laphen Pope | strategy officer for community college participation | 6 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mary-laphen-pope |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EdVisorly | EdVisorly is a revolutionary platform, boosting community college to university student transfer success. EdVisorly empowers community college students with the tools to discover transfer friendly 4 year universities, directly engage with university transfer counselors and admissions teams, and build accurate course roadmaps for admissions to theirtarget bachelor's degree programs. | $13.3M | Series A | Jul 08, 2026 |  |
| Iowa State University | Iowa State University is the nation's most student-centered public research university. 100 majors. 800 clubs. 1 amazing adventure. Iowa State is an international, prestigious university with a friendly welcoming personality. More than 31,000 students choose from 100 majors, study with world-class scholars and hone their leadership skillsin more than 800 student organizations. Iowa State offers a great environment where students can enjoy reaching their potential and discovering their passions. It's a culturally diverse student body with students from all 50 states and more than 110 countries. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk State University is not a typical state school. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk State boasts the reasonable cost and extensive offerings of a large state university, as well as a number of prestigious honors and awards. Norfolk State University is an HBCU.Having received awards for its outstanding faculty and academics, NorfolkState University offers an exceptional education. In addition to its schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering and Social Work, NSU has an Honors College. This is intended for students of exceptional academic achievement wanting to engage in a rigorous study, and is appealing to graduate schools.Norfolk State has its own graduate school as well, which offers programs in a number of different disciplines. True to its state-school origins, NSU has a wide range of student services. Students who are disabled, academically challenged or from low-income families may receive counseling and support. There is also a counseling department that provides group or one-on-one personal and mental health counseling. The Career Services department offers career advising and coaching, professional career seminars, and access to job fairs, among other services. On-campus housing and meal plans are available to all students. Financial aid is available to eligible students in the form of loans, work-study and a number of scholarships or grants. One noteworthy grant is The Virginia Commonwealth Award. This is given to state residents and covers the cost of tuition. There is also a Teaching Award, a substantial grant or scholarship given to those who are pursuing a degree in teaching. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| Adams State University | As one of the state’s most innovative liberal arts colleges, Adams State College (ASC) Colorado in Alamosa offers students a unique academic experience in an exciting atmosphere. The school is a four-year institution for higher learning and has undergraduate and graduate degrees in a multitude of fields: History, Government and Philosophy, HumanPerformance and Physical Education, Mass Communications, Teacher Education, and more.ASC Colorado has a long list of helpful features for students, including:*Academic and social clubs and events *Activity center *Adventure programs (ice and rock climbing, mountain biking, SCUBA diving, etc.) *Campus ministry *Financial aid for qualifying applicants *Internships *Job placement services *Leadership opportunities *Smaller class sizes *Student services such as advising and tutoring *Study abroad programs for academic creditThe school has an online application process for admissions. And, it provides flexibility and options to students by giving them a choice of on-campus or distance (online) learning.Students can gain a host of experiences from school life at Adams State College in scenic Alamosa. Potential applicants who want a smaller, diverse institution in southern Colorado, with much to offer in the way of academics and recreational activities, should take a look. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Rutgers University–New Brunswick is a Higher Educational platform.Rutgers University–New Brunswick is the flagship home of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. We are a leading national research university committed to excellence in teaching, innovative research across a broad spectrum of subjects, and service that improves our local,national, and global communities. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| Bowie State University | Bowie State University, located in Bowie, Maryland, has both undergraduate and graduate programs for your educational needs. You can become an expert in subjects like Accounting, Communications, Computer Science, Fine and Performing Arts, Military Science, Management, Marketing, Educational Leaderships, Teaching, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work,and more.The BSU campus is filled with services fit for students of all kind. The Henry Wise Wellness Center, counseling services, dining services, judicial programs, and sports and fitness programs are just some of what you can expect from the campus.TRIO Achievers Program offers eligible students academic counseling, tutoring, and workshops, as well as cultural events. For all the other students, there are academic advisors and tutoring services.Career counselors are available by appointment. They can offer sound advice on job searching and allow access to campus recruitment, internships, the career lab, employment opportunities, workshops, and seminars.An important aspect of finding the right college is discovering the perfect financial aid packet. BSU offers, for eligible students, FAFSA-related loans and grants, scholarships for America’s future scientists and engineers, Maryland society for healthcare strategy and market development, institute of international education scholarship programs, Fulbright U.S. student program, and generation hope scholar program.Bowie State University is an accredited HBCU. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| University of Arizona | University of Arizona is a public research university that offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree courses.The university’s mission is to provide a comprehensive, high-quality education that engages its students in discovery through research and broad-based scholarship. It aims to empower its graduates to be leaders insolving complex societal problems.University of Arizona was founded in 1885 and is based in Tucson, Arizona. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Located in Kenosha County, the UW-Parkside campus is part of more than 1,000 acres of natural wooded areas, prairies and parks near the Lake Michigan shoreline between Milwaukee and Chicago. UW-Parkside offers 37 undergraduate majors and three master's programs, with a current enrollment of 4,500 students. UW-Parkside is committed tohigh-quality educational programs, scholarship, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and to its local, national and global communities. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas | University of Nevada in Las Vegas offers an abundance of academic programs, many of which have received accolades and high rankings from various publications. Over 200 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels are available at UNLV. Academics run the gamut and include everything from Business Administration to Screenwriting to graduatedegrees in Theatre, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Psychology and Engineering.Academic areas that have received particular attention or recognition include the programs in Architecture, Education, Hotel Administration, Dental Medicine and Law. UNLV’s doctorate in Creative Writing program has also been recognized by Atlantic Monthly as one of the best in the country. A research university, UNLV also houses a number of research centers and institutes where student and faculty research is conducted. Like most everything else at UNLV, student life is abundant. More than 200 student organizations, over 16 varsity teams and more than 30 sororities and fraternities all make their home on the UNLV campus. Freshman admissions is fairly selective and is based, in part, on a minimum GPA and standardized test scores. Graduate admission requirements vary from one department to another. Tuition at UNLV is reduced for residents of Nevada and nearby states. Deferment and payment plans and other financial aid awards are available to those who qualify. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | The University of Tennessee Southern is a four-year public institution, and part of the University of Tennessee System. | $100K | Grant | Mar 17, 2026 |  |

10 of 94 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Strada Education Network](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/strada-education-network) — VC Fund, 8 deals together
- [Rethink Education](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/rethink-education) — VC Fund, 6 deals together
- [Lumina Impact Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/lumina-impact-ventures) — VC Fund, 4 deals together
- [Impact America Fund](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/impact-america-fund) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [New Markets Venture Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/new-markets-venture-partners) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [University Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/university-ventures) — VC Fund, 3 deals together

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## FAQ

### What does Lumina Foundation invest in?

Lumina Foundation invests primarily in Education, Higher Education and Non Profit startups, most often at Grant and Series A stage. Most of the 94 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### What is Lumina Foundation's check size?

Lumina Foundation typically joins rounds of $500k–$4.6M at Seed, $50k–$575k at Grant and $4M–$27M at Series A. These ranges are 10th–90th percentile round sizes calculated from confirmed public funding rounds, so they are a realistic guide to the rounds Lumina Foundation participates in.

### How do I contact Lumina Foundation?

Public channels for Lumina Foundation include LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and the website linked on this profile. For a verified work email and phone number, create a free Shizune account — contact data is searched across 20+ sources and validated before delivery, so your outreach lands in the right inbox.

### Who are the partners at Lumina Foundation?

The team at Lumina Foundation includes Amber Garrison Duncan (Strategy Director), Erin Archer (Chief Financial Officer) and Mary Laphen Pope (strategy officer for community college participation). The Team section lists each member with their title, investment count and links.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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