Skip to main content

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

accordion-plus icon accordion-minus icon

Education, Training, and Economic Opportunity

Connect
Georgetown University|$545,200|12/2024 - 11/2026
This grant supports the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University in producing research and an interactive data tool that postsecondary providers can use to align their credentials with local well-paying jobs. It also supports initial planning for research on short-term workforce training programs.

Supporting Reporting on Indigenous Communities, Identity, and Postsecondary Education

Field Development
Indij Public Media|$250,000|12/2024 - 11/2026
This grant supports Indij Public Media in expanding national reporting on postsecondary education and workforce training for Native learners and communities.

Accelerating Sustainable Change: Deepening the Chronicle's Student Success Coverage

Field Development
The Chronicle of Higher Education|$505,000|12/2024 - 11/2025
This grant supports The Chronicle of Higher Education in developing multimedia and interactive content for the Different Voices of Student Success Resource Center, which highlights insights about improving learner outcomes, social mobility, and the reskilling of workers.

Expanding the Coverage of Postsecondary Education and Workforce Training through the Rural News Network

Field Development
Institute for Nonprofit News|$75,000|12/2024 - 11/2025
This grant supports the Institute for Nonprofit News’ Rural News Network in collaborating with ten rural newsrooms to develop greater coverage of postsecondary education and workforce training issues in rural communities and highlight the experiences of rural learners.

All-In Milwaukee - Scale to 1,000 Scholars

Support
All-In Milwaukee Inc|$7,375,000|11/2024 - 6/2033
This grant supports All-In Milwaukee in growing its college completion program to serve more Milwaukee area learners from low-income backgrounds. It also features a comprehensive assessment of program effectiveness to inform similar programs across the country and potential in-state expansion.

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

Expand
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

Expand
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

Expand
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

Expand
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.