Clearing a Path to Upward Mobility
Regardless of background, all learners should have a path to upward mobility — and the promise of a better future — available to them. Investing in postsecondary education or workforce training should enable learners from low-income backgrounds to gain a foothold on that path. However, many of the systems through which that education and training are delivered weren’t designed to serve the learners who need them most. They also create too many barriers to learner success.
Our philanthropy aims to transform those systems so more learners from low-income backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed. Through strategic grantmaking, we work with partners to explore, validate, and scale models of postsecondary education and workforce training that work for today’s learners — learners who need to know that their investment of time and money will pay off.
Across our grantmaking, we work to build the insights and evidence that will help the most effective models reach more learners. That means partnering with our grantees to develop and share knowledge and amplify the most promising solutions.
Our History
A mission-driven nonprofit, Ascendium Education Group was founded in 1967 as Wisconsin’s federal student loan guarantor. Through the years, our name has changed, our functions have evolved, and our reach has expanded to the entire U.S. Today, we’re a leading postsecondary education and workforce training philanthropy, the nation’s largest federal student loan guarantor, a student and employee success solutions provider, and an education impact investor.
The net proceeds from our services and investments fund our grantmaking. We award over $100 million in grants annually. While our functions are diverse, they all contribute to our mission to champion opportunity for everyone.
Our Team
Our team’s unique backgrounds, work histories, and educational experiences allow us to bring a wide range of perspectives to determining how best to help learners from low-income backgrounds.
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