Third Sector Expands Work to Help Adult Learners Access Education and Training with $1M Grant from Sijbrandij Foundation

Third Sector is delighted to announce an expansion of our work advancing the adoption of Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) through a renewed $1 million grant from the Sijbrandij Foundation. This investment deepens the work of our Postsecondary Opportunity Practice Area, positioning LiLAs as a core strategy to support adult learners in accessing flexible, career-connected funding for education, upskilling, and credential attainment.

LiLAs are learner-centered savings vehicles that help individuals fund postsecondary education and workforce training, especially outside of traditional degree paths. In this next phase, Third Sector will continue to partner with states, community-based organizations, policymakers, and institutions of higher education to expand LiLA implementation and build the enabling conditions for long-term, sustainable adoption.

“This next phase is not just a continuation, it’s a smarter, stronger, and more strategic approach,” said Dr. Joy Coates, Managing Director of Postsecondary Opportunity at Third Sector. “We are building from what we’ve learned to drive real outcomes for adult learners, linking flexible funding, clear career pathways, and enabling policy conditions to expand economic opportunity.”

With support from the Sijbrandij Foundation, Third Sector will lead a multi-workstream effort that includes:

  • Technical assistance through LiLA Design Labs, supporting implementation in existing pilot states like Tennessee and Michigan.
  • Design and launch of new LiLA pilots in states representing diverse geographies and economies, using existing vehicles like 529 plans or Earn to Learn models.
  • Development of stackable credential initiatives, aligned with workforce and employer needs, to help learners access high-value pathways that lead to greater economic mobility.
  • Implementation-informed policy research and recommendations, with a focus on expanding access and flexibility through possible reforms such as integrating Student youSavings Account (SSA) technology with 529 plans.

This initiative will continue to strengthen Third Sector’s cross-sector partnerships and build momentum for learner-focused funding innovation.

Across its workstreams, the project aims to:

  • Support cross-sector collaboration
      • Build partnerships with EdTech and FinTech providers to expand access to upskilling funds
      • Convene trainers, employers, and public/private leaders to apply the SIMPLE framework
      • Share best practices that drive scale and sustainability
  • Drive financial empowerment
      • Expand access to funding options that unlock higher wages
      • Connect adult learners with wraparound supports needed to succeed
  • Accelerate pathways to success
    • Increase engagement with high-quality training programs
    • Align funding with industry-recognized, stackable credentials

Third Sector will also continue its collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, building on shared efforts to elevate the national relevance of LiLAs through coordinated program design and policy alignment.

Looking Ahead

This announcement reflects the Postsecondary Opportunity Practice Area’s commitment to transforming how education and workforce systems support adult learners. By advancing flexible, accessible, and outcomes-driven funding models, we are helping learners build skills, increase wages, and create lasting economic opportunity. Stay tuned for upcoming blogs and webinars this fall that will explore each project workstream in greater depth.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Erika Wynn, Marketing & Communications Manager at Third Sector at ewynn@thirdsectorcap.org.