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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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Advancing Postsecondary Competency-Based Education Pathways via Next-Generation Outcomes Research & Data

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American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences|$2,949,600|11/2024 - 2/2030
This grant supports American Institutes for Research in evaluating the impact of competency-based education programs – degree programs designed around self-paced demonstration of specific competencies or skills – on learners’ completion outcomes and labor market success.

Coalition-Led Career Pathway Initiative Framework for Apprenticeship Expansion in Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership Inc|$10,000,000|11/2024 - 10/2029
This grant supports the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership and Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP|BIG STEP) in expanding apprenticeship pathways and creating training and resources across a variety of sectors to benefit learners from low-income backgrounds and develop Wisconsin's future workforce.

RCT Evaluation of VIDA

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Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement|$800,000|11/2024 - 10/2028
This grant supports the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement in strengthening their sectoral training program and partnering with an external evaluator to assess its impact on low-income learners' education and employment outcomes.

Launching the Pittsburgh Regional Upskilling Alliance

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Strada Collaborative LLC|$1,125,000|11/2024 - 1/2028
This grant supports the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in creating the Pittsburgh Regional Upskilling Alliance Council to improve training opportunities and career outcomes for low-income learners in the Pittsburgh region.

Exploring Shortened Academic Terms in California Community Colleges

Support
Foundation for California Community Colleges|$2,413,500|11/2024 - 10/2027
This grant supports the Foundation for California Community Colleges in exploring the implementation of shortened academic terms at scale to improve learner persistence and completion outcomes.

Providing Work-Based Learning Opportunities through Serve-Learn-Earn Vermont

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Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Inc|$1,800,000|11/2024 - 10/2027
This grant supports Vermont Youth Conservation Corps in offering affordable work-based learning opportunities for diverse learners from low-income backgrounds through its Serve Learn Earn program.

Rural Appalachian Workforce Development and Postsecondary Pathways Project

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Coalfield Development Corporation|$2,000,000|11/2024 - 10/2027
This grant supports Coalfield Development Corporation in addressing generational poverty in Appalachia by providing pathways to socioeconomic well-being for learners and workers in distressed rural regions. With a focus on replicating Coalfield Development's successful micro-credential workforce development models, the organization will expand training, certification, and employment opportunities for low-income individuals across the region.

STEM Transfer Partnership 2.0: Extending Impact Through Enhanced Partnerships

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University of Washington|$1,707,665|11/2024 - 10/2027
This grant supports Community College Research Initiatives at the University of Washington in addressing the shortage of STEM transfer students from low-income backgrounds by enhancing inter-institutional transfer partnerships in Washington state.

Supporting Scaled Implementation of Student Success Reforms in Louisiana

Support
Louisiana Board of Regents|$3,815,000|11/2024 - 12/2026
This grant supports the Louisiana Board of Regents in providing technical assistance to all 28 of the state's public institutions to implement reforms that improve learner outcomes in persistence and completion.

Expanding Rural Guided Pathways

Support
New Venture Fund|$4,200,000|10/2024 - 12/2027
This grant supports the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement in expanding comprehensive “guided pathways” student success reforms at rural community colleges. The expansion will support the existing cohort of 16 colleges in strengthening their reform efforts and add a cohort of 16 additional rural colleges.