News

Maintain Momentum, WV Climb, Racial Justice Grants

• $10 Million Pandemic Grant Initiative Maintains Momentum for Student Success
• Collaboration is Key for West Virginia’s Climb
• Ascendium Awards $200,000 to Madison-Area Nonprofits Working for Racial Justice

Ascendium Announces $10 Million Pandemic Grant Initiative: Maintain Momentum for Student Success

Ascendium is launching a $10 million initiative to keep student success reforms moving in the COVID-19 era.

Supporting Innovation in Education Webinar Recap: Removing Structural Barriers to Postsecondary Success

The recap of a recorded webinar featuring Amy Kerwin, Ascendium Vice President – Education Philanthropy, is available for reading. Topics covered include college affordability, equity in higher education and how to break down systemic barriers to postsecondary success. The webinar is also available for viewing.

West Virginia’s Climb

Read more about a unique initiative Ascendium is supporting that puts partnership and collaboration at its center.

Commentary: Accelerating Developmental Education Reforms During the Pandemic

Christopher M. Mullin, director of the Strong Start to Finish initiative, explains how, even in difficult times, Strong Start to Finish continues to advance developmental education and support students. A significant new investment from Ascendium, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Kresge Foundation will aid in the work.

West Virginia Awarded $750,000 from Ascendium to Increase Degree Completion, Leverage Philanthropic Collaborations for Student Success

West Virginia’s Climb aims to arm 60 percent of West Virginia’s workforce with a postsecondary credential by 2030. With grants from a collaborative of funders, including Ascendium, to aid them in their goal, a group of stakeholders will work together to execute key components of the project, including statewide open educational resources and professional development for faculty advisors.

Ascendium Awards $200,000 to Madison Area Nonprofits Working for Racial Justice

Four Madison-area nonprofit organizations working to advance racial justice will receive $50,000 each from Ascendium Education Group.

Strong Start to Finish, Vera Institute for Justice, New Grants, Virtual Events

• Strong Start to Finish: Unique Pooled Funding Approach Supports Continued Developmental Education Efforts
• Vera Institute of Justice: Unlocking the Promise of Pell for Students in Prison
• Aspen Institute Puts Rural Grant to Work

Rural LISC Announces $1.3 Million Investment from Ascendium Education Philanthropy to Connect Rural Workers to Education, Training and Jobs

The Rural Works initiative includes a cohort of 10 seasoned workforce development organizations that connect unemployed and underemployed workers to training, education and industry credentials in counties across several U.S. states. An Ascendium grant aims to expand that initiative and further support a well-trained workforce in those areas.

As COVID-19 Forces Rapid Move Online, Ascendium Supports Free Online Methods Training for Math Faculty

Faculty representing nearly 50 two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions will participate in a virtual learning series thanks in part to a grant from Ascendium. The series, led by the Dana Center, will focus on entry-level college mathematics courses, including classes taught with co-requisite support.