Sharing knowledge is at the heart of our mission. Explore Ascendium’s growing library of publications that examine the complex challenges facing postsecondary learners, and how we’re helping our partners address them.
Beyond Articulation Agreements: Five Student-Centered Principles to Improve Transfer
November 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing millions of students to reconsider their educational plans, a development that’s likely to increase the number of students transferring among institutions in the years ahead. This Ascendium-sponsored report examines new approaches colleges can use with articulation agreements to improve transfer practice and policy.
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for streamlining diverse pathways into and through postsecondary education and learner transitions into the workforce, and the desired outcomes of that support.
This overview of Ascendium's education philanthropy details our strategic approach to philanthropy: how, where and what we fund, our four focus areas and our belief in the power of education for upward social mobility.
2019 Education Philanthropy Report: A Sharper Focus
April 2020
2019 was not only our first full year under the Ascendium name, we literally sharpened our focus to four areas: removing structural barriers, postsecondary education in prison, rural education and workforce training, and streamlining transitions.
A practical guide to setting a vision and key practices for talent development and economic mobility, balancing the needs of students and employers to advance the overall prosperity of their regions, from the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.
2018 Education Philanthropy Report: Clearing the Path
January 2019
Our 2018 report, Clearing the Path, highlights our belief in catalyzing lasting change that reduces barriers that arise throughout a student’s progression from enrollment through program completion to gainful employment.
2017 Education Philanthropy Report: Building on What Works
January 2018
We believe in leveraging existing knowledge to evaluate and support strategies that are most likely to have an impact. By building on what works, we can help more students complete their credential.
Studies show that well-timed outreach to prospective college freshmen the summer after high school can help support their entrance into college. This report asks the question: What does it take to set up and run a successful summer texting program?
Ascendium funded $2.1 million in Career Ready Internship grants to 16 Midwest community colleges to establish and administer paid internship programs to give low-income students real-world experience in their area of study.
2015 Education Philanthropy Report: Overcoming Barriers to Graduation
January 2016
Our 2015 Philanthropy Report highlights the three distinct and purposeful funding approaches we use, and details several grants we made over the past year.