Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund

Sponsor: Panorama Global
Internal Deadline: 08/14/2026
Sponsor Deadline: 09/14/2026
Program Website

Program Overview

The Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund is a new $7 million donor collaborative managed by Panorama Global and supported by Ascendium Education Group, College Futures Foundation, ECMC Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Lumina Foundation, the Raikes Foundation, and Strada Education Foundation.

The fund seeks innovative, student-centered postsecondary education models that rethink how education is designed, delivered, financed, assessed, or connected to employment. Competitive models should demonstrate—or have the potential to demonstrate—meaningful improvements in how learners access, experience, and benefit from postsecondary education.

Proposed models must align strongly with at least one of the following areas:

• Reimagining instructional design, delivery, assessment, and student support


• Advancing affordability and financial sustainability


• Strengthening career and workforce alignment


• Removing barriers for underserved learners

Applicants are not expected to address all four areas.

Program Priorities

The fund is particularly interested in models that:

• Are designed around the needs of learners who face significant barriers to postsecondary access and success


• Meaningfully depart from traditional approaches to postsecondary education


• Improve persistence, completion, affordability, employment, or other learner outcomes


• Connect skills and credentials to employer demand and economic mobility


• Have the potential to scale, influence the field, or inform broader systems change


• Are sufficiently developed and operationally ready to enroll learners by March 31, 2027

Eligibility Requirements

The proposed model must:

• Award—or be designed to award—an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or another credential of value that demonstrably advances learner economic mobility. Eligible credentials may include industry-recognized certificates, stackable credentials, competency-based credentials, or credentials connected to employer demand, professional licensure, or measurable labor-market outcomes.


• Serve learners in the United States.


• Have learners actively enrolled in programs leading to eligible credentials by March 31, 2027.


• Be able to participate in the fund’s shared learning, evaluation, and reporting activities.

Models primarily producing post-baccalaureate certificates are not eligible.

USC Application Limit: The sponsor has not published an institutional application limit. However, USC is coordinating interest internally to identify the strongest and most institutionally competitive proposal.

Submission Process

Interested USC applicants should reach out to USCCFR@sc.edu no later than August 14, 2026 for more information.