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Ascendium Education Philanthropy is a division of Ascendium Education Group.

Awarded Grants

The grants we award advance our core strategies to Expand Opportunity, Support Learner Success, and Connect and Align Systems. They also promote field support and development efforts across strategies.

Strategies

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Strengthen and Scale Multiple Measures Assessment Implementation

Support
MDRC|$2,300,000|12/2020 - 12/2024
This grant supports MDRC, in partnership with the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, in expanding the adoption of multiple measures assessment systems for student placement in math and English.

Assessing the Pandemic's Impact on Postsecondary Education in Prison

Field Development
RAND Corporation|$303,592|12/2020 - 4/2024
This grant supports The RAND Corporation in assessing the near- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on postsecondary education in prison. Promising practices and responses to the pandemic that are being employed by corrections departments, colleges and universities, and postsecondary practitioners will be identified and disseminated to the field and key stakeholders.

Maintain Momentum: Supporting Postsecondary Education Membership Organizations and Networks

Field Development
University Innovation Alliance|$436,250|11/2020 - 6/2023
This grant supports the University Innovation Alliance and its members in continuing to advance student success reforms despite COVID‐19‐related impacts.

Increasing Access to Educational Materials in Prisons: Facilitating the Approvals Process

Support
Ithaka Harbors Inc|$1,350,000|10/2020 - 9/2026
This grant supports Ithaka Harbors in developing and making accessible a robust digital educational resource for incarcerated learners, as well as undertaking a major research initiative that will inform institutional change across the postsecondary education in prison field. The goal of the project is to leverage technology to increase learner success, while improving instruction and curricula.

Maintain Momentum: Supporting Postsecondary Education Membership Organizations and Networks

Field Development
American Association of Colleges and Universities|$1,848,800|8/2020 - 6/2023
This grant supports the Association of American Colleges and Universities and its members in continuing to advance student success reforms despite COVID‐19‐related impacts.

Maintain Momentum: Supporting Postsecondary Education Membership Organizations and Networks

Field Development
Achieving the Dream Inc|$2,091,920|7/2020 - 6/2024
This grant supports Achieving the Dream and its members in continuing to advance student success reforms despite COVID‐19‐related impacts.

Optimizing Delivery Systems for Higher Education in Prison Evaluation

Connect
Second Chance Educational Alliance Inc|$330,000|1/2020 - 8/2024
This grant supports the Second Chance Educational Alliance in evaluating the initiative and synthesizing lessons learned across participating sites.