SHAPING OUR FUTURE
Our North Star
Learning after high school, whether through postsecondary education or workforce training, provides the surest path to a well-paying and rewarding career. But that path isn’t always clear for those who need it most.
We envision a world where more low-income learners succeed in postsecondary education and workforce training as a path to upward mobility, regardless of race, rurality, history of incarceration, or other factors.We call this vision our North Star. It guides our grantmaking and directs our focus on removing the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact learners from low-income backgrounds.
Our Strategies
Our grantmaking is driven by three core strategies that aim to transform postsecondary education and workforce systems to better serve learners from low-income backgrounds.
News and Insights
How Ascendium Supports Incarcerated Learners on Reentry Pathways
Most individuals who enter prison will eventually return to their communities, yet systemic barriers often prevent them from turning postsecondary education and workforce training into lasting career success. While reinstated Pell Grants create new opportunities, access alone isn’t enough. Investments in financial literacy, employability training, and employer engagement are essential to strengthening reentry pathways. Through these targeted efforts, Ascendium’s Support Learner Success strategy helps formerly incarcerated learners achieve stability and upward mobility.
