Funding search · higher education access · Washington DC
Who funds higher education access work in Washington DC
15 funders have a record of paying for higher education access work by Washington DC recipients: 62 grants totaling $15.4M, most recently in 2024 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are Clark Charitable Foundation ($883,123), The Kresge Foundation ($1.8M) and Harman Family Foundation ($180,000).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to Washington DC recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
Largest: $194,334 to DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM — george mason university scholarship program
Largest: $235,000 to INSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY — to provide general operating support to a national higher education research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to college access and success.
Largest: $30,000 to CAPITAL PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION — college access program
Largest: $50,000 to NASPA - CENTER FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT SUCCESS — college success - first-generation student success: a landscape analysis and study
Deloitte FoundationStamford, CTCharity · may take applications
4 matching grants · $225,000 · through 2024Largest: $75,000 to DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM — marketplace grant
Robin Hood FoundationNew York, NYCharity · may take applications
3 matching grants · $751,000 · through 2024Largest: $301,000 to THE INSTITUTE FOR COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS INC — poverty relief
Largest: $126,667 to BROOKINGS INSTITUTION — to support research that analyzes the current landscape of college access and completion interventions.
Largest: $31,000 to DC COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM — unrestricted funds
Largest: $150,000 to THE INSTITUTE FOR COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS — college access and success
Largest: $3.4M to THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC — to promote college access & success for high achieving low and middle - income students
Largest: $2.0M to DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM — community engagement grantmaking
Leonard & Beryl Buck FoundationSaint Louis, MOCharity · may take applications
2 matching grants · $30,000 · through 2023Largest: $15,000 to NATIONAL COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK INC — technical assistance to college access and success providers
This is one topic and one state. PaperOrbit reads your actual paper and searches on everything in it — then explains why each funder fits.
Start with one paperBroader: higher education access funders nationally · all Washington DC-based grantmakers