Lumena Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $205,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 60 days from deadline
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000+ (up to multi-year commitments)
• Geographic Focus: United States
• Total Awards: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.lumenafoundation.org
• Application Portal: https://online.foundationsource.com/ws/index.jsp?site=lumena
• Location: Wilmington, DE
• EIN: 82-3472924

Overview

Lumena Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established as a 501(c)(3) organisation focused exclusively on advancing women's rights and well-being. The foundation operates as a "venture fund for nonprofits without the capitalism," providing trust-based, multi-year unrestricted grants to women-focused organisations across the United States. Lumena invests in organisations and individuals committed to securing the rights, autonomy, and choices of all women, including cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming individuals. The foundation envisions a future where all women in America have equal, inalienable, and permanent rights to live with complete autonomy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Moon Fund

• Amount: $10,000 - $50,000 per year
• Duration: Minimum 1-year commitment
• Type: Unrestricted grant
• Application: Open application process with annual deadlines
• Timeline: Applications typically open February 15, close March 31

Sun Fund

• Amount: $50,000+ per year
• Duration: 3-year commitment
• Type: Unrestricted grant
• Application: By invitation only
• Timeline: Rolling applications for invited organisations

Star Fund

• Amount: $10,000 - $50,000 per year
• Duration: 1 year for new scholarship programmes; up to 3 years for established programmes
• Type: Scholarship support
• Eligibility: Only for nonprofits with existing or planned internal scholarship programmes
• Application: Available to organisations applying for Moon or invited to apply for Sun

Priority Areas

Lumena supports one or more of the five dimensions of well-being for women:

1. Health - Including reproductive rights, abortion access, and gender-affirming healthcare
2. Education - Educational opportunities and leadership development for women and girls
3. Economic Empowerment - Programmes advancing women's financial independence and opportunity
4. Personal Safety - Initiatives protecting women from violence and ensuring safe environments
5. Legal Rights - Advocacy and programmes securing women's legal autonomy and rights

Special Focus Areas:

• Reproductive rights and abortion access
• Gender-affirming healthcare
• Leadership development for women and girls
• Programmes serving marginalised genders (trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming individuals)

What They Don't Fund

• Groups that seek to deny rights of women, girls, trans, or intersex people
• Groups led by or dependent on political parties
• Groups led by or dependent on religious institutions
• For-profit businesses
• Organisations headquartered outside the United States
• Organisations serving constituents outside the United States
• General organisations not focused on women or women-focused projects

Governance and Leadership

Michaela Finley, Co-Founder & Co-Director, articulates the foundation's philosophy: "Lumena Foundation searches for sources of light. Think of us as a venture fund without capitalism. We seek, find, and invest in inspired organisations and individuals committed to securing the rights, autonomy, and choices of all women."

The foundation describes its ideal partners as "the dreamers and the doers—leaders with a rebellious spirit who are committed to doing the hard thing but most importantly, the right thing."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Moon and Star Funds:

1. Visit the application portal at https://online.foundationsource.com/ws/index.jsp?site=lumena
2. Complete the eligibility quiz to determine if your organisation qualifies
3. Submit applications during the open application period (typically February 15 - March 31)
4. Organisations can apply to both Moon and Star funds simultaneously
5. Duplicate questions can be copy-pasted between applications to streamline the process

Sun Fund:

• Invitation-only process
• Organisations are selected by foundation leadership based on strategic priorities
• Invited organisations submit rolling applications

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) organisation
• Headquarters must be based in the United States
• Target constituents must be in the United States
• Must be either a women-focused nonprofit OR seeking funding for a women-focused project
• Must support at least one of the five dimensions of well-being for women

Decision Timeline

• Moon and Star Funds: Applicants can expect to hear from Lumena within 60 days of the application deadline
• Sun Fund: Applicants can expect to hear within 60 days of submitting their full rolling application

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application numbers or acceptance rates. The foundation maintains a selective but impactful grantmaking approach.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organisations are encouraged to inquire directly with the foundation about reapplication opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach, successful applications likely demonstrate:

Mission Alignment

• Clear focus on advancing women's rights to self-determination
• Commitment to one or more of the five dimensions of well-being for women
• Explicit inclusion of marginalised genders (trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming individuals)
• Work on reproductive rights, abortion access, or gender-affirming healthcare

Organisational Characteristics Lumena Values

• "Rebellious spirit" and willingness to do "the hard thing but most importantly, the right thing"
• Leadership by those with lived experience
• Courage in addressing controversial or challenging issues
• Organisations at any stage—from "upstarts to experienced difference-makers"

Trust-Based Philanthropy Alignment

• Ability to use unrestricted funds effectively
• Clear vision for multi-year impact
• Transparency about organisational needs and challenges
• Willingness to build long-term partnership with funder

For Star Fund Applicants

• Existing or concrete plans for internal scholarship programmes
• For established programmes (operational 1+ years), demonstrate track record and need for multi-year support
• Connection between scholarship programme and broader organisational mission

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Embrace the rebellious spirit: Lumena explicitly seeks organisations willing to take on challenging, controversial work in women's rights—don't downplay your advocacy edge
• Unrestricted funding is the goal: Frame your proposal around organisational capacity and vision, not specific projects, since Lumena provides unrestricted grants
• Inclusive language matters: Explicitly address how your work serves all women, including trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming individuals
• Think multi-year impact: Even for the 1-year Moon Fund, articulate how unrestricted support will build long-term organisational capacity
• Time your application carefully: With a narrow window (typically mid-February to end of March) and 60-day decision timeline, plan ahead
• Consider the Star Fund strategically: If you have an existing scholarship programme, applying for Star funding alongside Moon or Sun can provide additional unrestricted support
• Build toward Sun Fund invitation: Successful Moon Fund grantees may position themselves for invitation to the larger, multi-year Sun Fund

References

• Lumena Foundation Official Website: https://www.lumenafoundation.org (Accessed December 24, 2024)
• Lumena Foundation Application Portal: https://online.foundationsource.com/ws/index.jsp?site=lumena (Accessed December 24, 2024)
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Lumena Foundation: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/823472924-lumena-foundation/ (Accessed December 24, 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Lumena Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823472924 (Accessed December 24, 2024)
• Instrumentl - Lumena Foundation Moon Grant: https://www.instrumentl.com/grants/lumena-foundation-moon-grant (Accessed December 24, 2024)