RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
The Crimsonbridge Foundation fortifies its investment in education, leadership, and capacity building by developing data, research, and fact sheets that inform action, contribute to best practices, and address gaps in information. The publications featured on this page contain works produced internally, as well as works produced in collaboration with community partners. Below are our publications:
Fact Sheet 3: First-generation College Graduates After Four Years: Employment, Finances, and Additional Education
March 2024
Fact sheet 3 describes first-generation college graduates’ experiences with employment, finances, and additional education four years after they earned a bachelor’s degree. The fact sheet includes median earnings, employer type, and the percentage who enrolled in graduate school. Created by partner, Center for First-generation Student Success in collaboration with RTI International.
Fact Sheet 4: First-generation College Graduates After Four Years: Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: 2020 to 2021
March 2024
Fact sheet 4 describes first-generation college graduates’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2021. The fact sheet includes statistics about failing to meet essential expenses, deferment on private student loans, and taking on additional family or childcare, among other difficulties. Created by partner, Center for First-generation Student Success in collaboration with RTI International.
Fact Sheet 1: First-Generation College Students in 2020: Demographics, Characteristics, and Postsecondary Enrollment
January 2024
Fact sheet 1 shows the percentage of undergraduate students who were first-generation college students, their parents' median income, their race/ethnicity, and other selected characteristics. The fact sheet also displays the percentage of undergraduates who were first-generation college students by type of minority-serving institution and by college sector. Created by partner, Center for First-generation Student Success in collaboration with RTI International.
Fact Sheet 2: First-generation College Students' Experiences During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: January to June 2020
January, 2024
Fact sheet 2 describes the experiences of first-generation undergraduate students during the early COVID-19 pandemic, from January to June 2020. The statistics shown include the percentage of first-generation students who withdrew from their college, who had difficulty accessing or paying for food, and who received emergency financial assistance through their college. Created by partner, Center for First-generation Student Success in collaboration with RTI International.
Education Imperative Program Guide
October 2023
A hands-on resource guide for schools, dioceses, and funders in taking a whole-community approach to welcome and engage all students and families in Catholic schools. Informed by seven years of grantmaking and partnerships, the Education Imperative Program Guide provides actionable steps for schools and dioceses to make catalytic investments in Spanish and bilingual communications and staffing, parent engagement, cultural competency, and other successful equity and inclusion strategies.
The College Completion Gap:
April 2023
This Guide examines four challenges in college student success, shares high-impact opportunities for individual donors, foundations, donor-advised funds, and philanthropy in general to increase college retention and graduation nationally. Crimsonbridge shares examples of organizations and institutions of higher education that are advancing work in these four areas and shows how funders have supported programs, research, infrastructure and more in these areas. This Guide was released at the premier conference for education funders, Grantmakers for Education, in October 2022.
First-generation College Graduates’ Enrollment After Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
June 2021
This fact sheet, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, is the third in a series of four that summarizes the research findings on career preparation and post-degree outcomes for first-generation students. It shows first-generation college graduates’ enrollment in graduate school after earning a bachelor’s degree compared to continuing-generation college graduates. The fact sheet includes data on doctoral degrees, graduate or professional entrance exams, and participation in a research project.
First-generation College Graduates’ Employment and Finances
June 2021
This fact sheet, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, is the final in a series of four that summarizes the research findings on career preparation and post-degree outcomes for first-generation students. It explores first-gen and continuing-generation graduates' employment options and financial situation after completing a bachelor’s degree. The fact sheet includes data on the percentage of students that went into for-profit, nonprofit, and government work and those whose jobs required a bachelor’s degree.
First-generation College Graduates’ Participation in Extra and Co-curricular Activities as Undergraduates
June 2021
This fact sheet, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, is the second in a series of four that summarizes the research findings on career preparation and post-degree outcomes for first-generation students. It tracks first-generation college graduates’ participation in extra- and co-curricular activities as undergraduates compared to continuing-generation graduates, particularly in research, internships, study abroad, and formal leadership roles.
First-generation College Graduates’ Use of Career Planning Services
June 2021
This fact sheet, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, is the first in a series of four that summarizes the research findings on career preparation and post-degree outcomes for first-generation students. It breaks down first-generation college graduates’ use of career planning services in comparison to that of continuing-generation college graduates. The fact sheet includes a breakdown of first-generation college graduates in 2015-2016 by race, ethnicity, and age.
Latino College Completion U.S. National Fact Sheet
August 2020
This fact sheet, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, summarizes the findings of Excelencia in Education’s latest research Latino College Completion: United States. It outlines statistics on the Latino population in the United States and explores the enrollment and graduation trends of associate and bachelor degree granting institutions. The fact sheet includes recommendations for increasing Latino degree attainment to 6.2 million by 2030.
Open Wide the Doors to Christ: A Study of Catholic Social Innovation for Parish Vitality
June 2020
This study, produced with support from Crimsonbridge Foundation, identifies key characteristics of Catholic parish vitality in the United States and explores how innovative best practices can be applied to four key areas in parish life: Welcoming Parishes, Young Adults, Women and Women Religious in Leadership, and Hispanic Ministry.
Impact in Review
July 2019
We are driven by the conviction that advancing the nonprofit sector and working to improve education are critical for our youth to succeed, our communities across America to prosper, and for our country to thrive. In this new publication, see how we have worked within and across sectors to develop innovative solutions, invest in successful programs, and work with nonprofits to augment their impact. Learn about programs and initiatives launched, and the ways we have supported and collaborated with community partners far beyond grantmaking from 2015 through 2018.
Case Study: Cross-Sector Partnership to Develop Teachers and Unlock Student Potential through Brain Science
June 2019
This case study, told from the funder’s perspective, documents a philanthropist’s path in establishing and maintaining a successful long-term collaboration, offers examples of the unique roles funders can play, and shares insights on actions that donors and foundations can take to ensure partnership success.
Continuamos Juntos — Moving Forward Together:
May 2019
This study, conducted with support from the Crimsonbridge Foundation, evaluates Latino education programs at five Hispanic Serving Institutions (HISs) in California supporting undergraduate Latino students. It includes data gathered through interviews with students, faculty, staff, and administrators at each college. The study outlines five cross-cutting themes that emerged from the research as well as lessons learned on culturally responsive approaches to Latino Student Success.
Supporting Latino College Achievement Insights from the LATIDO Roundtable
April 2018
This policy brief, conducted with support from the Crimsonbridge Foundation, covers the results of a roundtable discussion between researchers, policymakers, and college faculty and administrators about what Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in California can do to promote Latino student achievement and be truly “Hispanic serving.” A few themes that emerged were: HSIs should work to align goals, commit to diversity, adopt holistic approaches, and collect more useful data. This is the first part of a broader study on California’s efforts to improve college outcomes from Latinos.
Lost in Translation? Tips for Effective Translation Work
February 2018
This resource features a critical part of the Foundation’s work: building organizational capacity by supporting organizations in translating Spanish language web content accurately and professionally; designing Spanish language microsites; and creating bilingual videos. This resource provides tips for reaching Spanish-speaking families through various communication strategies.
10 Strategies to Reach and Engage Hispanic Communities
October 2017
Many organizations have been successfully working with Latino communities for decades, while others are learning how best to connect and engage with new communities. Fortunately, there are numerous strategies with proven results. This resource offers ten tips for how organizations can improve and strengthen their communication strategies to effectively engage with Hispanic communities.
Communication Basics for Foundations
September 2016
Produced by the Crimsonbridge Foundation and the Miles Foundation and presented at the Exponent Philanthropy Annual Conference, this resource highlights steps to building a communication strategy driven by your foundation’s mission and vision. It specifically explores how communication plays a role in amplifying impact in philanthropy, key components of a communication strategy, and best practices and practical tips.