Hello, and welcome!
You're receiving the inaugural edition of The Rise Report – a weekly dispatch from FutureRise covering postsecondary education and workforce development in Colorado. If you are committed to connecting Coloradans to good jobs through education and training grounded in evidence, this community is for you.
I'm Alison Griffin, Principal Consultant to FutureRise. I've spent 25 years in this work: writing federal education and workforce legislation on Capitol Hill, leading national engagement in philanthropic communities, covering trends in postsecondary education and workforce policy for Forbes, and serving as a university trustee and advisor to leaders in postsecondary education and workforce development across Colorado.
I care deeply about Colorado, and I believe we're positioned to lead the nation in building a postsecondary talent system that actually delivers for learners, employers, and communities.
What is FutureRise? We're a collaborative fund that brings philanthropists, employers, practitioners, and public leaders together to invest in what works, prove what's possible, and scale durable solutions. Every dollar is designed to work twice: once to expand opportunity for learners, and once to drive lasting systems change.
Read more about FutureRise here.
This is a rare moment. Education and workforce systems are being restructured – in Colorado and nationally. Targeted philanthropic capital can move faster than public systems alone: de-risking reform, demonstrating high-quality implementation, and shaping what scales. FutureRise was built for this moment.
But just as important as capital: we connect the people who are doing the work. In a state as sprawling and diverse as Colorado, we are excited to be part of the connective tissue – linking the people and ideas that can drive real change.
The Rise Report is one way we will build connections and keep Coloradans apprised of what’s on the horizon: a weekly dispatch to keep you connected to Colorado’s postsecondary transformation – short, timely, and focused on what matters.
Look for us in your inbox every Wednesday. And, if you received this inaugural edition from a colleague or friend, you can subscribe here.
I’m glad you’re here,
Alison
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Boundless Opportunity Scholarship® 2026
FutureRise is now accepting applications for Boundless Opportunity Scholarship funding. We're committing up to $2 million in grants to Colorado learning providers who are moving non-traditional students into credentials that lead to economic mobility.
What we're funding: Grants of $25,000 to $250,000 (one-year terms) to support scholarships for non-traditional students: adults 22+, GED recipients, veterans, active military, former foster care and juvenile justice youth who are pursuing short-term credentials in in-demand fields.
What we're looking for: We will evaluate proposals on three criteria:
Demonstrated success (50%): Strong track records in completion and employment. We prioritize programs achieving 80%+ retention, 80%+ completion, 80%+ employment within six months, and starting salaries of at least $45,000.
Financial match and sustainability (30%): Ability to match our investment at least 1:1. Employer contributions are weighted more heavily.
Systems change and policy innovation (20%): Evidence that your work contributes to meaningful learning about how Colorado's postsecondary and workforce systems can operate more effectively and at scale.
Priority sectors: Advanced Manufacturing | Aerospace & Defense | Bioscience | Construction & Skilled Trades | Education & Early Education | Energy & Natural Resources | Financial Services | First Responders | Healthcare & Behavioral Health | Quantum Computing | Technology & Cybersecurity
Timeline:
February 19: Intent to Apply email due
March 27: Applications due (5:00 PM MT)
April 13–23: Finalist conversations
June 5: Award notifications
July 1: Grant period begins
Who's eligible: Accredited postsecondary institutions, registered apprenticeship programs, licensed CTE providers, and workforce training organizations operating in Colorado. Applicants must be public or private nonprofit entities in good standing.
How to apply: Get all the details and complete the application here. No separate narrative documents are required; all information is submitted through the application form.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Learn more at futurerise.org.
WHAT WE'RE FOLLOWING
JB Holston's first month at CDHE. JB Holston officially stepped into the role of Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) on January 9, succeeding Dr. Angie Paccione after her seven-year tenure. In early interviews, Holston has signaled his priorities: meeting with lawmakers and higher education leaders, promoting Colorado's postsecondary strengths, and advancing the transition work he helped design as a senior advisor to Governor Polis’ Postsecondary Talent Report. He's described wanting to make the transition "extremely easy for the next governor to accept and accelerate." Welcome, JB!
Unified department bill on deck. Speaker McCluskie and a bipartisan group of legislators have signaled they will introduce legislation this session to create a unified Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development – the central recommendation of Governor Polis’ Postsecondary Talent Report. The bill would begin the process of merging functions currently spread across the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Colorado Workforce Development Council, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and other state agencies into a single entity designed to serve learners, job seekers, and employers. We'll track the forthcoming activity around the report, its recommendations and its potential impact on the state’s education and training providers and learners.
Federal accountability framework finalized. On January 9, the U.S. Department of Education's Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee reached consensus on a new accountability framework that will, for the first time, hold all postsecondary programs – regardless of sector – to earnings-based standards. Programs whose graduates don't out-earn working adults with only a high school diploma could lose eligibility for federal student loans. The proposed rules were published January 30. Combined with the Workforce Pell regulations finalized in December, these rules create a new landscape for Colorado institutions through access to federal Pell dollars for short-term credentials that meet the new metrics, and greater accountability through an earnings test across all programs.
Colorado had both a seat at the negotiating table and had policy expertise in the room. Kristin Hultquist, past chair of the MSU-Dever Board of Trustees and founding principal of HCM Strategists and Heather DeLange, Director of the Office of Private Postsecondary Education at CDHE both served on the negotiating committee. A webinar with both colleagues was held in December and they explained what the new federal Workforce Pell rules may mean for Colorado. You can watch the recording here.
Economic and workforce development top state agendas. A new survey from the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) association indicates that economic and workforce development are the top priority for higher education leaders in 2026, leading to increasingly targeted investments toward bridging skills divides and supporting workforce readiness.
FROM THE FIELD
The Rise Report will also collect and share updates from our colleagues across Colorado. Think of this as your one-stop-shop for conference updates, new research + reports, job postings, and career moves.
The Attainment Network will host the 2026 Career-Connected L/Earning Conference on October 29-30 at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs. The Attainment Network has partnered with Peak Education, Business & Education Alliance and the Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) to bring together leaders and practitioners working at the intersection of education, workforce, and economic mobility. Learn more and register here for a reduced rate of $350 through July 31.
The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) is hiring a new Director of Development and Operations. CEEMI is a nonprofit focused on scaling effective workforce and postsecondary programs, so every Coloradan can access training that leads to a good-paying job. The job is based in Colorado and the role is responsible for development & fundraising, operations & contracting, and project & stakeholder management. Read more about the opportunity and apply here.
The Common Sense Institute released new research finding that Colorado could save approximately $25 million annually by modernizing its higher education structure without cutting programs or raising tuition. Read their report here.
Kelly McManus has been appointed executive vice president of education with Arnold Ventures. She will lead the organization’s integrated education portfolio after serving as Arnold Ventures’ vice president of higher education. Congratulations, Kelly!
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE RISE REPORT
Each week, you'll hear from us as we cover policy developments, promising practices, and perspectives from the field. We will often times go deeper on a learner story, a provider experimenting with a new approach, or a leader whose courage is changing outcomes for Coloradans.
FutureRise is building something, and we want you to take part. This isn't a finished product; it's an invitation to co-create what Colorado's talent system could become.
Reply and tell me:
What stands out to you as a promising practice in your region of the state?
What's working? Where do we need to reimagine or rethink a solution?
Who else should be in this conversation?
The Rise Report will keep you connected to what's happening.
But the real invitation is bigger: help us grow the connective tissue that Colorado needs.