Ascendium Education Group

The Promise of a Better Future

We focus on giving learners from low-income backgrounds more opportunities to succeed by working with partners to improve learning and training systems.

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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 achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training.

Postsecondary education and workforce training are the surest paths to a good job. 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 degree, certificate, or credential of value.

We believe our systems are to blame for these outcomes, not learners. That’s why our philanthropy targets the root causes of the barriers learners encounter as they pursue education or training after high school. All of our grantmaking is driven by our mission: to ensure that more learners from low-income backgrounds — especially first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color, and veterans — can reap the benefits of postsecondary education and workforce training to achieve upward mobility.

News and updates

September 21, 2023 Newsletter

Tackling Economic Inequity, Validation Grant Guidance Released, and Part 2 of Q&A with UIA’s Bridget Burns

How a Coalition of Nonprofit, Private Colleges Is Tackling Economic Inequity
Validation Grant Guidance Released for Partners Evaluating Effectiveness of Innovations and Reforms
Q&A: UIA’s Bridget Burns on Helping Struggling Students Get Back on Track (Part 2)

August 24, 2023 Newsletter

Q&A with UIA’s Bridget Burns, Improving Learner Outcomes with Updated CUNY Transfer Explorer, and More

Q&A: UIA’s Bridget Burns on Helping Struggling Students Get Back on Track (Part 1)
Updated Tool Saves Time and Money to Improve Learner Outcomes
Helping Learners See a Clearer Path: Awareness Continues to Build Around Guided Pathways Framework

July 20, 2023 Newsletter

Evolving Our Team to Better Meet the Needs of Learners, We’re Hiring, and More

Changes in Education Philanthropy Support Evolving Needs of Learners from Low-Income Backgrounds
New Initiatives Aim to Cut Early Student Dropouts by Increasing Connection
Why Supporting Financial Aid Administrators Is Key to Unlocking Opportunities for Incarcerated Learners