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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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Improving Workforce Outcomes for Rural Community College Students

Improving Workforce Outcomes for Rural Community College Students

October 2020
This Social Finance report, supported by funding from Ascendium, is intended to serve as a “how-to guide” for rural community college leaders in building or refining workforce partnerships. For workforce program directors, the checklists in the Getting Started and Rural Considerations sections are designed to be printed and used as a work plan. For presidents and provosts, the executive summary and stories of peer institutions serve as examples for transformation.
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Rural Matters Rural Higher Education Challenges Opportunities

Rural Matters: Rural Higher Education: Challenges & Opportunities (Podcast Series)

October 2020
This four-part podcast series from Rural Matters, sponsored by Ascendium, features leaders in the rural postsecondary education space discussing challenges and opportunities in rural higher education and workforce training.
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Support Rural Postsecondary Education and Workforce Training

May 2020
This overview of one of Ascendium’s funding focus area explores Ascendium’s investment priorities for expanding networks and sharing data around postsecondary education and workforce needs in rural areas, 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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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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2015 Ascendium Survey Results

2015 Applicant and Grantee Perception Report

April 2015
This report summarizes surveys of both grant applicant and grantee opinions of Great Lakes (now Ascendium Education Group), benchmarking the organization’s performance against a database of responses from more than 40,000 grantees of nearly 300. Compiled by the nonprofit Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP).
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