President's Message

Esteemed colleagues,

As we continue our strategic evolution and growth, two foundation tenets remain constant: our resolve to work alongside philanthropic and higher education partners to advance equity across the postsecondary landscape and our deep gratitude to grantee partners whose commitment to students and transformational change fuels our optimism.

Last year was an important marker for us; we advanced our new strategic framework and awarded more than $56 million in grants and program-related investments, ECMC Foundation’s largest single-year investment, bringing our total funding to nearly $335 million since inception. We also welcomed new staff members and launched the Rural Impact Initiative. Moreover, 2023 was a period of reflection on the state of postsecondary education and in particular the historic, vexing inequities in degree completion across the nation. But history does not predetermine our future. We can, indeed, we must, urgently charter a bold path to create a future state in which all postsecondary students are equally likely to cross the finish line and earn their credential.

We are elated that the ECMC Foundation Board of Directors recently approved our North Star, with an audacious and clear goal: By 2040 equity gaps in postsecondary completion are eliminated, so that underserved learners have greater opportunity for social and economic mobility. Operating from the deep belief that higher education offers an unparalleled ladder from the jaws of poverty, we must ensure that every student has the resources they need to earn a college credential, secure a well-paying job and engage meaningfully in their community. With an urgency that is underscored by a brief 16-year period, we aspire to have a high-functioning postsecondary ecosystem that prioritizes the wellbeing of the whole student and offers clear pathways to success for all students.

Our strategic framework defines how we will direct funding to meet this audacious goal and articulates three strategic priorities: removing barriers to postsecondary completion; building the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems; and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem. All our grants and investments connect to these priorities, whether they fit within an initiative or are considered strategically responsive. Through our six initiatives, we dedicate further attention and resources to specific areas where our work can make a critical impact across the postsecondary ecosystem. Meanwhile, we continue to prioritize strategically responsive grantmaking and investing to ensure we have the flexibility to adapt to a changing landscape while funding evidence-based innovation beyond our established initiatives.

It has been my privilege to lead ECMC Foundation through this remarkable phase of transformation and growth. Thank you for joining us in this important work. We welcome everyone to join us in co-creating an equity-centric state of postsecondary education for generations to come.