Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund

The Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund is a philanthropic funding initiative managed by Panorama Global and supported by a collaborative of major education-focused foundations, including Ascendium Education Group, College Futures Foundation, ECMC Foundation, Gates Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr Fund, Lumina Foundation, the Raikes Foundation, and Strada Education Foundation. This fund is designed to support organizations that are rethinking traditional approaches to postsecondary education in the United States. The initiative reflects a growing recognition among funders that conventional higher education systems often fail to meet the needs of diverse learners, particularly those facing systemic barriers to access and completion. The primary purpose of the fund is to identify and invest in innovative postsecondary education models that transform how education is designed, delivered, financed, and assessed. The fund prioritizes models that demonstrate the potential to improve access, affordability, and learner outcomes. While innovation can take many forms, all supported models must be grounded in a student-centered approach, with a particular emphasis on serving learners who historically encounter the greatest barriers to opportunity. The fund also aims to generate insights from funded projects to inform broader philanthropic and policy strategies in higher education. Funding will be awarded to approximately seven to ten organizations, with individual grants ranging from 750000 to 1000000 dollars. The grant period is expected to run from February 2027 through July 2028, covering approximately eighteen months. Award amounts will be determined by a review committee based on the proposed activities, organizational capacity, and overall funding availability. Selected grantees will be required to collaborate with the fund to establish shared metrics and reporting frameworks and participate in ongoing learning activities, including progress reporting and knowledge-sharing sessions. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizational types, such as nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, fiscally sponsored groups, and international organizations, provided that their proposed models serve learners in the United States. To qualify, applicants must offer or plan to offer credentials of value, such as associate or bachelor degrees, industry recognized certificates, or competency-based credentials tied to workforce outcomes. Additionally, the proposed model must have active enrollment of learners by March 31 2027. Models focused primarily on post baccalaureate certificates are not eligible. The application process requires submission through an online portal by 1159 pm Eastern Time on September 14 2026. Applications open on July 31 2026, and all submissions will be reviewed after the deadline. Applicants must provide detailed information about their organization, proposed model, target learners, barriers addressed, financial structure, and expected outcomes. Required materials include organizational documentation such as proof of legal status and a current budget, along with optional supporting data on learner outcomes or program evaluation. Applications will be evaluated based on their alignment with one or more of four key innovation themes: reimagining instructional design and student support, advancing affordability and sustainability, strengthening career and workforce alignment, and removing barriers for underserved learners. The fund is particularly interested in scalable models that can influence the broader field of postsecondary education. Finalists will be notified in mid to late November 2026, and award announcements are expected in January 2027. Selected grantees will begin their grant activities in early 2027 and engage in structured collaboration and reporting throughout the funding period. For questions about the request for proposals or application process, applicants may contact the program team via email at ipmf@panoramaglobal.org. The fund does not list a direct phone contact but encourages prospective applicants to review the full request for proposals and application materials available through its official channels. Overall, the Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund represents a significant investment in reshaping higher education to better serve diverse learners and improve long term outcomes across the United States.

Focus on clearly demonstrating how the model removes barriers for underserved learners and improves measurable outcomes; align proposal with at least one of the four innovation themes; emphasize scalability and sustainability; provide strong evidence of learner impact