With over half of jobs now requiring a postsecondary credential, college completion has never been more important. Yet it remains elusive for too many students -- especially students from low-income backgrounds, students of color and first-generation students. For 50 years, Great Lakes has focused on helping traditionally underserved students who have the most to gain from a college education -- yet often have the least support in getting there -- make their way to and through college. Our 2015 report highlights the three distinct and purposeful funding approaches we use in pursuit of this goal and details several grants we made over the past year.

Ensuring that girls and women thrive is the essential work of Chrysalis. Our mission is to guarantee their safety, security, education, and economic empowerment. Our unique formula for success includes you. Your support has provided opportunities for thousands of girls and women over the past 26 years. Every dollar, every hour, and every item you give to Chrysalis assures that we continue to do the important work you entrust us to do - 100%. We see the dividends in confident, contributing, independent, and influential girls and women in Greater Des Moines. In this 2014 annual report, you'll find evidence of your investments in our work.

Great Lakes 2014 philanthropy report details a $28.6 million commitment in grant funding over the past year to close the college completion gap faced by students of color, low-income students and first-generation students. The report highlights a variety of grants made to colleges, universities, community-based organizations and research initiatives that demonstrate promising approaches to getting more students to and through college. Great Lakes aims to learn which ideas will help the most students achieve the greatest results.

Great Lakes 2013-2014 philanthropy report details record $21 million in commitments. This past year Great Lakes dramatically increased its funding to help more students from low-income households, students of color, and students who are the first in their families attend and complete college. For the 2013-2014 academic year our commitments total $21 million, and are in excess of $100 million since 2006. This report tells more about our approach to philanthropy and the work we do to move more students toward college completion.

At Great Lakes we work to make postsecondary degrees, credentials and certificates accessible to as many students as possible. Specifically, we focus our philanthropy on helping those who traditionally have the most to gain from college, but who often have the least support in getting there: students from low-income homes, students of color and first-generation students.

This Report highlights our belief that overcoming barriers to graduation requires engaging both students and colleges—with success being their shared goal. In it you'll find details on many of the 50 grants we launched in 2016, several key findings and our goals for the coming year.