WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2025) — Education Design Lab (the Lab) is excited to announce Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded $1 million over the next two years to support the Lab’s efforts to design, implement, and scale new pathways that equip New Majority Learner-Earners in North Carolina and New York with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing skills-based economy.
“This grant reflects Carnegie’s belief that education should expand access — to a good job, a steady income, a better future,” said Saskia Levy Thompson, a program director for Education at Carnegie Corporation of New York. “We’re excited to support Education Design Lab’s efforts to help more people in New York and North Carolina complete postsecondary pathways that lead to meaningful careers and long-term economic mobility.”
Why it matters
“Micro-pathways give learners the tools to succeed — and communities the talent they need to thrive,” said Dr. Lisa Larson, CEO of Education Design Lab. “With this game-changing investment from Carnegie Corporation of New York, we’re accelerating our work to design more agile, inclusive pathways that open doors to economic opportunity.”
What’s next
North Carolina: The Lab is collaborating with AdvanceNC, a workforce development initiative covering 19 central North Carolina counties, with the goal of scaling efforts statewide. Community college, university, and workforce partners will use the Lab’s human-centered design framework to develop and scale a set of micro-pathways — flexible, stackable credentials that can be achieved in about one year — for careers in advanced manufacturing, a rapidly expanding sector which is expected to see 20,000 new job openings across the state by 2027.
“The North Carolina Community College System is thrilled that Education Design Lab is supporting the work of the AdvanceNC consortium. The collaboration between the colleges, universities, and workforce boards is exemplary, and we are closely following their progress,” said Jeff Cox, President of the North Carolina Community College System.
New York: This funding will also underpin the development of micro-pathways at three City University of New York (CUNY) community colleges at LaGuardia, Kingsborough, and Queensborough. These micro-pathways will be created to support the state of New York’s most high-demand industries and prepare workers for family-sustaining careers in fields such as Information Technology (IT).
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Lab in this important work,” said Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College. “At LaGuardia, we are committed to creating innovative, career-connected learning opportunities that meet the evolving needs of our students and communities. This collaboration will help us further empower our students with the skills and credentials they need to thrive in today’s workforce.”
About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace. Learn more: www.carnegie.org.
About Education Design Lab
Education Design Lab (the Lab) is a national nonprofit and intermediary with a mission to co-design an inclusive, skills-based learn+work system that facilitates upward economic mobility and closes opportunity gaps for the New Majority Learner-Earner. Our facilitated design process helps employer and education stakeholder groups co-design and launch scalable, skills-based, education-to-work pathways that align talent supply and demand. To date, the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine (CCGE) has engaged more than 100 colleges, which have designed 200+ micro-pathways to high-demand careers since 2020. Learn more: www.eddesignlab.org.
GO DEEPER: Carnegie Corporation New York joins the Lab’s current list of funders.
