News

$69 Million+ in New Grants Highlighted by Investments in Job Pathways, Partnerships and More

Ascendium’s philanthropy is off to a fast start in 2023 with the recent approval of 34 grants totaling over $69 million. Included in these grants is support for initiatives to connect learners from low-income backgrounds with good jobs, strengthen conditions for partnerships to emerge between colleges and employers, invest in high-quality postsecondary education in prison systems and more.

Trends We’re Watching in 2023, Promising IT Career Training Pathways for Learners and More

• Postsecondary Education Trends We’re Watching in 2023
• Investing in IT Career Training Pathways Shows Promise for Adult Learners
• Partnership with The Chronicle of Higher Education Elevates Learner Voices

Postsecondary Education Trends We’re Watching in 2023

With 2022 in the rear view, Ascendium has kicked off the new year with optimism and excitement. We’ll continue to work closely with our grant partners and will be watching several postsecondary education trends in 2023. Future grant opportunities may be informed by the trends we see, especially if they connect to our goal of fostering upward mobility for learners from low-income backgrounds.

Investing in IT Career Training Pathways Shows Promise for Adult Learners

The growth in nondegree workforce training options present new pathways for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve living wage careers. With so many options available, it's important to consider which models are most likely to result in upward mobility for those learners. IT training pathways that include learner supports and industry partnerships are models that have so far shown success. As a result, Ascendium has strategically invested almost $20 million in scaling these programs.

A Farewell Message from Amy Kerwin

• A Personal Message from Amy Kerwin
• Reflections on Visiting Sing Sing, Plus Resources That Center Incarcerated Learners
• Fund for Workforce Equity Organizations Selected

Partnerships Help Offer Rural Learners In-Demand Career Credentials, Promising Caring Campus Results and More

• Local and Online Postsecondary Education Providers Partner to Offer In-Demand Career Credentials in Rural Areas
• Caring Campus Makes Student Success Everyone’s Business, With Promising Results

Local and Online Postsecondary Education Providers Partner to Offer In-Demand Career Credentials in Rural Areas

Rural postsecondary institutions often lack the resources to offer bachelor’s degree programs in locally in-demand fields that lead to well-paying jobs. One solution is to supplement local postsecondary courses and training with online offerings that can be completed from any location. Ascendium’s recent awards to the Wakiya Foundation and to Reach University support postsecondary education credentials resulting from partnerships between local and online postsecondary providers. These partnerships lead to options for learners from low-income backgrounds to pursue family-sustaining careers where they live.

New Investments Total $17 Million+ for Dev Ed Reform, Rural Workforce Training, Skills Training Programs and More

• Investments in Dev Ed Reform, Rural Workforce Training Among $17 Million+ in Recently Approved Grants
• Merit America Skills Training Programs Generate Upward Socioeconomic Mobility

Merit America Skills Training Programs Generate Upward Socioeconomic Mobility

Postsecondary education and workforce training is not one-size-fits-all. Nearly two-thirds of American workers don’t have a degree, work full time and need a route to better jobs.  Diverse education and training pathways help meet the needs of these historically underserved students. Merit America, a national nonprofit that prepares individuals without four-year degrees for family-sustaining careers in tech, offers a promising way forward. Ascendium will support Merit America in scaling its skills training and career placement programs in IT support, data analytics and Java web development.

Investments in Dev Ed Reform, Rural Workforce Training Among $17 Million+ in Recently Approved Grants

Ascendium recently approved nine new grants totaling over $17 million. These grants support a range of initiatives designed to help learners from low-income backgrounds, including developmental education reform, expanding pathways to upwardly mobile careers in information technology and the scaling of proven strategies to improve transfer outcomes.