Ascendium Education Group

Our Focus Areas

We know learners from low-income backgrounds have the same abilities as high-income learners. Ascendium is working to change postsecondary and workforce training systems so that low-income learners have the same opportunities for academic and career success. To that end, we award exploration, validation and scaling grants in four focus areas that foster upward social mobility.

THE CHANGE WE SEEK

We hope our work contributes to a future where more learners from low-income backgrounds reach their education and career goals, equity gaps are eliminated and all postsecondary learning is valued and validated.

To assess the progress of our strategy on the changes we seek, we monitor data points related to first-year persistence, degree and credential completion, time to completion and job placement.

Postsecondary education and workforce training are the surest paths to a satisfying, family-supporting career. Unfortunately, the very groups that could benefit the most from these opportunities have historically been underrepresented, and learners who do have access are less likely than their peers to complete their program and gain a valuable credential.

Some challenges cannot be overcome by personal grit alone. That’s why our philanthropy addresses the persistent barriers that stand in the way of success for learners from low-income backgrounds. All of our grantmaking is driven by the same essential goal: Helping more students from low-income backgrounds—especially first generation students, rural community members, veterans, students of color and incarcerated adults—reap the benefits of postsecondary access and increased social mobility.

News and Updates

July 22, 2021 Newsletter

Rural community colleges respond to health crisis, a look at non-traditional models for students transitioning from training to the workforce and more

Resources Help Rural Community Colleges in Aftermath of COVID-19 Health Crisis
An Interest in Innovation: New Grants Explore Non-Traditional Models
Keith Witham Named Ascendium’s New Deputy Director - Education Grantmaking

Our Vision for Learning and Impact, Ascendium Education Philanthropy on Social Media, New Rural Matters Podcasts and More

Learning and Impact at Ascendium
Starting this Month, Find Ascendium's Education Philanthropy News and Info on Social @AscendiumEP
New Podcasts Shine Light on Rural Voices, Partners

Expanded Programming from Operation Fresh Start Prepares Dane County Youth for Careers in Construction and Conservation

Operation Fresh Start is creating a new Conservation Graduate Crew pathway, providing pre-apprentice training for young adults just starting careers in conservation work. A $250,000 grant from Ascendium will support the new pathway, as well as the existing Construction Graduate Crew pathway.