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EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY DIVISION OF ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP

Resource Library

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.

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PrisonEducation Ascendium MarketPrimer thumbnail

Market Primer: Educating the Incarcerated

October 2020
Postsecondary education in prison programs are expanding, partly due to the promise of full restoration of Second Chance Pell. What guidance is in place to help new providers offer quality educational offerings, and what obstacles stand in the way of successful program? (Report produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education and sponsored by Ascendium.)
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Lessons from Second Chance Pell A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students

Lessons from Second Chance Pell: A Toolkit for Helping Incarcerated Students Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

October 2020
This toolkit from the Vera Institute of Justice, supported by Ascendium, includes a full report on federal financial aid eligibility requirements that often stymie incarcerated college students, the documents required to obtain need-based aid and strategies to help students in prison overcome these difficulties. The toolkit includes a full report and video instructions (.mov, .mp4 and .avi) for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Supporting Success The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

Supporting Success: The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework

September 2020
This much-anticipated framework was released by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), with support from Ascendium. The framework details key performance indicators (KPIs) of high-quality postsecondary education in prison programs.
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Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for expanding networks and sharing data and best practices around high-quality postsecondary education in prison, and the desired outcomes of that support.
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About Ascendium Education Philanthropy

May 2020
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.
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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.
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Equity and Excellence in Practice: A Guide For Higher Education in Prison

November 2019
Lumina Foundation supported the Prison University Project and The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison to document key characteristics of high-quality prison higher education programs for stakeholders.
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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.
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2018 Ascendium Grantee Perception Report

2018 Grantee and Applicant Perception Report

June 2018
We’ve found that one of the best ways to identify areas for improvement is to ask those who know us best—namely, the grant partners we invest in.
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2017 Ascendium AnnualReport

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.
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2016 Ascendium Annual Philanthropy Report

2016 Education Philanthropy Report: Shared Success

January 2017
We believe that improving completion rates requires focus on both students and institutions—with success being their shared goal.
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2015 Ascendium Annual Philanthropy Report

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.
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