Awarded Grants | Ascendium’s Education Philanthropy - Grants Page 2 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.

Support for Project QUEST and Per Scholas Evaluations

Economic Mobility Corporation|$375,000|1/2023 - 12/2028
This grant supports Economic Mobility Corporation in partnering with two well-established nonprofit sectoral training providers – Per Scholas and Project QUEST – to evaluate program impacts on low-income learners’ education and labor market outcomes and to identify key program factors associated with positive outcomes.

Expanding Registered Apprenticeships and the Role of Community Colleges

Association of Community College Trustees |$2,015,040|12/2024 - 11/2028
This grant supports the Association of Community College Trustees in developing new Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs at community colleges in occupational sectors that have not traditionally used apprenticeship as a training pathway. Twenty community colleges will engage in designing and implementing new RA programs, demonstrating the potential for community colleges to serve as RA intermediaries in addition to instructional providers.

RCT Evaluation of VIDA

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.

Scaling Up Proven Postsecondary Education & Workforce Training Programs: The Maryland Evidence Fund

Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy Inc|$1,000,000|8/2024 - 7/2028
This grant supports the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy in expanding evidence-based postsecondary education and workforce training programs in Maryland. By leveraging matched philanthropic and public funding, the Coalition will support state and local agencies in expanding proven programs and incorporating requirements for rigorous evidence into future government funding criteria.

Scaling Evidence-Based Holistic Student Supports

One Million Degrees|$750,000|4/2025 - 6/2028
This grant supports One Million Degrees (OMD) in implementing its model of holistic learner supports at five community colleges. OMD will also partner with Complete College America to build the colleges’ capacity to scale and sustain the OMD model.

NISS Support for Georgia Colleges

Georgia State University Foundation Inc|$2,000,000|9/2024 - 6/2028
This grant supports Georgia State University's National Institute for Student Success (NISS) in working with a cohort of institutions to implement a comprehensive set of reforms. Six institutions, comprising both two and four-year colleges and universities, will complete extensive diagnostics, identify high-impact practices, and receive coaching and implementation support from NISS.

From Training to Employment: A Multi-Inquiry Study of Noncredit Workforce Training Programs

The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Irvine campus|$1,605,800|5/2024 - 6/2028
This grant supports the University of California at Irvine in partnering with the Virginia Community College System to assess impacts of noncredit workforce training programs on learners’ labor market outcomes and to examine effectiveness of an innovative state-wide policy designed to incentivize student enrollment in and completion of noncredit programs in high-demand fields.

Building Pathways to Rural and Tribal Employment

American Indian College Fund|$2,500,000|12/2023 - 6/2028
This grant supports the American Indian College Fund in supporting tribal colleges and universities to implement intentional career development programming that will prepare learners from low-income backgrounds for, and connect them with, good jobs in their regions.

Oregon Statewide PEP Degree Program

Portland State University Foundation|$2,314,924|8/2023 - 6/2028
This grant supports Portland State University Foundation in developing transfer pathways for incarcerated learners in Oregon in partnership with two community colleges. In addition to offering a clear path to a bachelor’s degree, Portland State University and its partners will provide learners with wrap-around supports during incarceration and post-release.

Ohio Strong Start in Science (OhioSSS)

Ohio Department of Higher Education|$3,000,000|3/2024 - 2/2028
This grant supports the Ohio Department of Higher Education in designing and implementing a corequisite model for entry-level science courses at 17 colleges and universities. Redesign efforts will focus on courses with disproportionately high failure rates for learners from low-income backgrounds, women, and learners of color who are underrepresented in high-demand STEM career fields.