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EducationQuest Foundation (formerly Foundation for Educational Funding)

Annual Giving
$1.6M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
13mo

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EducationQuest Foundation (formerly Foundation for Educational Funding)

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 31-1777710
  • Annual Grant Distribution: Approximately $1.6 million across all programs
  • Geographic Focus: Nebraska only
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $20,000 (College Access Grants); up to $1,350 (8th Grade Campus Visit Grants); $1.57 million distributed to 30 colleges (Scholarship Program)
  • Application Cycle: Every 2 years (College Access Grants - next cycle opens 2026)
  • Programs Funded: High school college access programs, middle school campus visits, need-based student scholarships

Contact Details

Main Office (Lincoln)

Additional Locations: Omaha, Kearney, and Scottsbluff

Overview

Founded in 1986 and originally incorporated as Foundation for Educational Funding, the organization changed its name to EducationQuest Foundation on June 1, 2002. The organization was established in 1998 and funds its free programs and services through a permanent endowment created from the sale of a student loan portfolio. With a mission to improve access to higher education in Nebraska, EducationQuest Foundation provides free college planning services, need-based scholarship programs, and competitive grants to Nebraska schools. The foundation operates four offices across Nebraska and has distributed over $30.4 million in scholarships since 1999 and $7.08 million in College Access Grants since 2006. Led by President & CEO Liz S. Koop, the foundation serves as Nebraska's primary resource for college access programming and financial aid assistance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

College Access Grants

  • Amount: $2,500 - $20,000 annually (based on school enrollment)
  • Duration: Four-year commitment
  • Total per cycle: Approximately $840,000 distributed to 27 schools (2024 cycle)
  • Frequency: Awarded every two years through competitive application
  • Next cycle: Applications open in 2026

8th Grade Campus Visit Grants

  • Amount: Up to $1,350 per school
  • Frequency: Awarded annually
  • Total distributed: More than $485,000 to 254 schools since 2011
  • Purpose: Transportation, substitute teacher costs, and meals for college campus visits

EducationQuest Scholarship Program

  • Amount: $1.57 million distributed annually to 30 Nebraska colleges
  • Total impact: Over 28,100 scholarships worth $30.4 million since 1999
  • Purpose: Need-based scholarships for undergraduate students at nonprofit Nebraska colleges

Priority Areas

College Access Enhancement

  • Programs that increase college-going rates among underserved students
  • Activities targeting students in grades 9-12 who are less likely to attend college without intervention
  • Middle school college awareness initiatives
  • Financial aid education and FAFSA assistance

Target Population

  • Schools must select a minimum target audience of students who are less likely to go to college without participating in a college access program
  • Focus on increasing postsecondary enrollment rates among underrepresented populations

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Restrictions

  • Out-of-state schools and organizations
  • Only Nebraska public and private schools eligible

Institutional Type Restrictions

  • For-profit educational institutions
  • Schools not approved or accredited to issue a high school diploma

Reapplication Restrictions

  • Previous College Access Grant recipients must wait two years from the last year of funding before reapplying
  • Example: Schools selected in 2020 may reapply in 2026

Scholarship Eligibility Exclusions

  • EducationQuest Foundation employees and Board of Directors, and their immediate relatives
  • Employees or Board of Directors of EducationQuest-affiliated companies, and their immediate relatives

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Liz S. Koop - President & CEO

  • Leads the organization's strategic direction and operations

Senior Leadership Team:

  • Daphne Hall - Senior Vice President, College Access Programs
  • Jodi Benjamin - Chief Financial Officer
  • Eric Drumheller - Vice President, Grants & Scholarships
  • Regan Anson - Vice President, Communications

Board of Directors

Craig Ames (Chair) - Retired President & Chief Operating Officer, Bryan Medical Center

Additional Board Members:

  • Wendy Boyer - Executive Director, Peter Kiewit Foundation
  • Dr. Miguel Carranza - Retired Professor of Sociology & Ethnic Studies Emeritus, UNL
  • Debbie Cooper - Client Business Executive, CO-OP Financial Services
  • Michael Green - President & Chief Investment Officer, EverGreen Capital Management
  • Kelly Leeper - Vice President, Family Office Services, Bridges Trust

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

College Access Grants

  • Application Method: Online competitive application through EducationQuest portal
  • Frequency: Every two years
  • Current Status: Not currently accepting applications
  • Next Cycle: Applications open Fall 2025 for 2026 awards
  • Contact: Grants@EducationQuest.org for application materials and questions

8th Grade Campus Visit Grants

  • Application Method: Annual application process
  • Timing: Applications typically due in late summer/early fall
  • Awards Announced: October for the current academic year
  • Contact: Grants@EducationQuest.org for application information

Decision Timeline

College Access Grants

  • Application Period: Fall 2025 (for next cycle)
  • Decision Announcement: Typically August of award year
  • Funding Period: Four consecutive years beginning with announcement
  • Example: 2024 awards announced in August 2024, funding 2024-2028

8th Grade Campus Visit Grants

  • Awards Announced: October of academic year
  • Funding Use: Current academic year

Success Rates

College Access Grants

  • 2024 Cycle: 27 schools awarded out of applicant pool (specific number not disclosed)
  • 2022 Cycle: 24 schools awarded out of applicant pool (specific number not disclosed)
  • Historical: 206 grants awarded to 111 different high schools since 2006

Program Scale

  • Since 2006: 119 schools have received College Access Grants
  • Since 2011: 725 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants awarded to 254 schools

Reapplication Policy

College Access Grants

  • Previous recipients may reapply two years from the last year of funding
  • Example: Schools funded in 2020 (with funding through 2024) may reapply in 2026
  • No prohibition on reapplication for schools not previously funded

8th Grade Campus Visit Grants

  • Schools may apply annually
  • No restrictions on repeat applications

Application Success Factors

Target Population Demonstration

  • Applications must clearly identify a minimum target audience of students in grades 9-12 who are less likely to attend college without program intervention
  • Strong applications demonstrate understanding of barriers facing their specific student population

Program Design and Sustainability

  • EducationQuest provides four-year funding commitments, indicating they value programs with long-term vision
  • Applications should demonstrate how activities will be sustained and scaled over the four-year period

Enrollment-Based Funding

  • Annual awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 based on school enrollment
  • Schools should request appropriate funding aligned with their enrollment size and program scope

Application Quality and Preparation

  • As noted in their scholarship advice (which likely applies to grant applications): "High quality applications cannot be completed last-minute, so start working on applications at least two weeks before the deadline date"
  • "Never submit an application without having someone else proofread it first"
  • Answer all questions directly and follow instructions carefully, including word-count limits

Clear Articulation of College Access Activities

  • Applications should detail specific activities that will increase college-going rates
  • Programs should align with EducationQuest's free resources (college planning services, scholarship database, FAFSA assistance, workshops)

Competitive Nature

  • With approximately 15 schools selected every two years (recent cycles show 24-27 schools), applications must demonstrate strong need and innovative approaches
  • Since 111 different schools have received funding since 2006, the foundation seeks to distribute grants across Nebraska

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Plan for the two-year cycle: Applications for College Access Grants open Fall 2025 for 2026 awards. Begin planning and gathering data now to submit a strong application when the cycle opens.

  • Emphasize your target population: Clearly define which students in grades 9-12 are less likely to attend college and how your proposed activities will specifically address barriers they face.

  • Four-year commitment matters: This is not a one-year grant. Design a program that shows growth, sustainability, and increasing impact over four years.

  • Align with EducationQuest resources: The foundation offers free services (college planning, ScholarshipQuest database, FAFSA assistance, workshops). Strong applications likely integrate these existing resources into proposed activities.

  • Nebraska-focused only: This foundation exclusively serves Nebraska schools and students. Out-of-state institutions are not eligible.

  • Pre-application contact encouraged: Email Grants@EducationQuest.org with questions before applying. Request electronic versions of grant materials to understand requirements fully.

  • Consider both programs: If you're a middle school, apply for the 8th Grade Campus Visit Grant (annual, up to $1,350). If you're a high school, focus on the College Access Grant (biennial, $2,500-$20,000 annually for four years).

References

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