Our Purpose
Learning after high school — whether through a college degree or workforce training program — provides the surest path to a well-paying job and stable, fulfilling career. We want learners from low-income backgrounds to have a range of paths open to them so that economic circumstances don’t hinder upward mobility. To that end, we partner with postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations to ensure learners from low-income backgrounds have the opportunity for success in whatever path they choose.
Our Priorities
We award grants in four specific areas. Through this approach, we explore innovative ideas, validate promising practices, and scale successful solutions.
News and Insights
Video Q&A: Ascendium’s Molly Lasagna and Ashley Parker on the Growing Focus of High-Quality Postsecondary Education in Prison
As we reflect on a year since Pell Grant reinstatement, it’s crucial to keep exploring ways to support learners both during and after incarceration. In a recent discussion, Senior Program Officer Molly Lasagna and Program Officer Ashley Parker addressed the expanding focus of postsecondary education in prison, including how to create the conditions necessary for incarcerated learners to fully benefit from educational opportunities.
