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Local College Access Networks (LCANs) aim to increase college attainment using a framework known as Collective Impact. The Bureau of Iowa College Aid provides grant money to fund an LCAN Coordinator, travel, training, and other costs associated with creating the network and carrying out LCAN initiatives.
Each LCAN assesses the assets and needs of its community and works to fill the gaps in partnership with local colleges, school districts, area education agencies, business groups, elected officials, employers and community, and religious organizations. LCANs identify multiple community goals that focus on increasing college attainment.
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Iowa LCAN Spring Conference
The 2023 LCAN Spring Conference was a great success and we look forward to doing it again in March 2024. More information about dates and location coming soon!
Back to topIowa LCAN Bulletin
December 2023 Iowa LCAN Bulletin
September 2023 Iowa LCAN Bulletin
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Virtual Presentation Library
LCAN and Collective Impact in Iowa - Feb. 22, 2022
LCAN Coordinator Gathering Recordings - Oct. 14, 2021
A Framework for the Future: Raising College Attainment Through Collective Impact - Jan. 28, 2021
Iowa LCAN Year 1 Grant Application Workshop - Feb. 25, 2021 (Watch A Framework for the Future, first.
Back to topKey Partners
The Iowa Department of Education's Bureau of Iowa College Aid works with communities across the state to address workforce needs and increase educational attainment through the Local College Access Network (LCAN) grant series. Iowa College Aid provides consultation and funding to select Iowa networks, using the Collective Impact framework to increase college attainment at the local and statewide level.
- Community colleges
- Area private colleges
- PK-12 school districts
- Area education agencies
- Chambers of commerce
- Community action agencies
- Community foundations
- County or city elected officials
- Economic development agencies
- Traditionally underserved communities/populations
- Faith communities
- Major employers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Public libraries
- Service organizations
- Workforce development agencies
- Sector boards
Iowa LCANs
* statewide network
Year I
Ignite Pathways Regional Center
Year II
Math Pathways to Success
Year III
- Brother to Brother LCAN (Des Moines)
- Future Ready Perry LCAN
Year IV
There are no new grantees in Year IV, as new applications were not accepted in spring 2020.
Supplemental Support
- Black Hawk CAN
- Story County CAN
- Latinos CAN* (Des Moines)
- Mission Possible - La Luz
- OPT-In CAN* (Des Moines)
LCAN Grant Series
Iowa College Aid offers a four-year series of grants to Iowa communities to build Local College Access Networks using the Collective Impact framework. The LCAN grant series is intended as seed funding for locally driven collaborative measures. Iowa College Aid also welcomes applications from initiatives that are focused on serving a specific population within Iowa. Sustainability of LCANs and their initiatives should be considered beginning in the exploratory phase of the grant process and will be addressed throughout the grant series. View Grants-at-a-Glance 3.0 for a high-level view of what the grant funds; funding amounts and match requirements by year; grant deliverables for each year, and a summary of how each year progresses, building on the previous year.
For more information on Collective Impact or the LCAN Grant series, contact Anne Thomas or Megan Sibbel.
Back to topLCAN Grant Timeline
May 9: FY25 New LCAN Grant Workshop
May 22: LCAN grant applications due on IowaGrants for new and returning LCANs
May 23-31: Grant review
June 1-30: Award Notifications and Contracts
June 30: Final day for expenditures under FY24 grants
July 1: Start of FY25 grant contract period
July 31: Final day to submit claims for reimbursement under FY24 grants
August 31: First FY24 monthly claims for reimbursement due. FY24 closeout reports due
January 1: FY25 mid-year performance report due
Back to topResources
Collective Impact Theory and Research Resources
- “Collective Impact” – Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2011
- “Channeling Change – Making Collective Impact Work” – Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2012
- “Embracing Emergence: How Collective Impact Addresses Complexity” – Stanford Social Innovation Review, 2013
- “Collective Impact 3.0: An evolving framework for community change” – Mark Cabaj and Liz Weaver, 2016
- Centering Equity in Collective Impact
- Data in Collective Impact: Focusing on What Matters Using Data to Disrupt Systemic Inequality
Partner Resources
- Michigan College Access Network’s “Charting the Course: A community’s guide for increasing educational attainment through the lens of collective impact
” - Florida College Access Network’s resource page
Postsecondary Data
Iowa College Aid LCAN Data
- FAFSA Over Time by County
- FAFSA Filing Over Time by the Numbers
- High School FAFSA Rates
- County-Level Educational Attainment by Race
- LCAN Student Success Metrics
- Iowa Unemployment by County