Ascendium's Education Philanthropy
@AscendiumEP

#AscendiumEP is committed to helping learners from low-income backgrounds achieve their academic and career goals.

 Madison, WI
AscendiumPhilanthropy.org/
Joined April 2021
937 Photos and videos
Welcome Cedric Johnson to #AscendiumEP as our new Senior Program Officer for Local Partnerships! He’ll lead our charitable giving and community partnerships in Madison and Milwaukee, building relationships with organizations that support learners from low-income backgrounds. bit.ly/47j07i4 #MeetTheTeam
"Welcome to the Team" banner with a photo of Cedric Johnson, Senior Program Officer for Local Partnerships, standing smiling in an office environment.

ALT "Welcome to the Team" banner with a photo of Cedric Johnson, Senior Program Officer for Local Partnerships, standing smiling in an office environment.
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📢 Applications are reopening for the Building Ready for Work Colleges and Students Learning Lab! The application has been streamlined, and selected colleges will receive a $10,000 stipend to support their participation. The Ready for Work Lab will bring together six community colleges in a two-year community of practice focused on adapting and implementing proven sectoral program strategies that strengthen student employment outcomes. Participating colleges will receive: ✅ Personalized coaching from workforce development experts ✅ Support strengthening employer partnerships ✅ Tools for measuring workforce-readiness skills ✅ Guidance on tracking student employment and labor market outcomes ✅ Opportunities to learn alongside peer colleges and national advisors 📌 Application deadline: November 6, 2026 📌 Selected colleges notified: By December 11, 2026 📌 College onboarding: January 2027 📌 In-person group meeting: February 2027 Learn more and apply at bit.ly/4d736xI.
A graphic with a megaphone icon and the text "Applications Are Reopening" on a vibrant yellow background.

ALT A graphic with a megaphone icon and the text "Applications Are Reopening" on a vibrant yellow background.
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Strong #Transfer pathways require strong partnerships. The @thisisUIC is receiving national recognition for its efforts to make degree pathways more seamless for transfer students. Its work with @ChiCityColleges and @ChiPubSchools is helping align credits, advising, and support across institutions so learners can stay on track toward a bachelor’s degree. #AscendiumEP is pleased to support their Chicago Roadmap 2.0 work. bit.ly/4yqS2Dw #ConnectSystems #AlignSystems
Three individuals are posing for a photo at an event. They are standing in front of a backdrop featuring the text "Association for Undergraduate Education Research Universities." One person is holding an award plaque.

ALT Three individuals are posing for a photo at an event. They are standing in front of a backdrop featuring the text "Association for Undergraduate Education Research Universities." One person is holding an award plaque.
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Expanding #PostsecondaryEd in prison takes more than opening the classroom door. Colleges need the infrastructure, partnerships, and support to build high-quality programs that can last. In this episode of @futureupodcast, hear how a new statewide consortium in #Minnesota is helping colleges navigate the complexities of postsecondary education in prison — and why incarcerated learners should have access to the full college experience. bit.ly/4y1QS1M #AscendiumEP #HigherEdinPrison #ExpandOpportunity #MediaPartnership
A green soccer field diagram with white lines and various strategic markings, including arrows and circles, indicating player movements and positions.

ALT A green soccer field diagram with white lines and various strategic markings, including arrows and circles, indicating player movements and positions.
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At #SREE2026, join Jessa Valentine of #AscendiumEP for two sessions: 🔘12:30-2 p.m.: New evidence on shortened academic terms across California, Tennessee, and Virginia. 🔘2:15-3:15 p.m.: A discussion on philanthropy’s role in education research, including how researchers can better understand funder priorities. bit.ly/46CeYnC
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What does it take to help more learners connect their education to meaningful career opportunities? @SHEEOed is bringing together 20 states and territories to strengthen and scale work-based learning and education-to-career coaching. Through this national coalition, state leaders will develop strategies to help more learners gain career-connected experiences and navigate the transition from #PostsecondaryEd to the workforce. With support from #AscendiumEP and other funding partners, the initiative will help states turn promising approaches into sustainable, scalable solutions. Click to read more. bit.ly/4xOJfM0 #SupportLearnerSuccess #WorkBasedLearning
Two individuals are sitting at a table, engaged in conversation. One is holding a piece of paper and a pen. They both appear to be smiling. A large plant with colorful leaves is in the background.

ALT Two individuals are sitting at a table, engaged in conversation. One is holding a piece of paper and a pen. They both appear to be smiling. A large plant with colorful leaves is in the background.
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If you’ll be at #SREE2026, we invite you to join #AscendiumEP Senior Learning and Impact Officers during office hours on Sept. 24 from 2-3 p.m. to share research you’re working on and how it might align with Ascendium’s research priorities. Learn more about our approach to #LearningAndImpact: bit.ly/3JVQtdk @sreesociety
Promotional flyer for the SREE 2026 Conference. It features information about a session titled "Connect with Ascendium: Senior Learning & Impact Officers," scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2–3 p.m. Below are headshots of three individuals labeled as the team: Drew Curtis, Maggie Fay, and D’Wayne Bell. The Ascendium logo is at the bottom of the flyer.

ALT Promotional flyer for the SREE 2026 Conference. It features information about a session titled "Connect with Ascendium: Senior Learning & Impact Officers," scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2–3 p.m. Below are headshots of three individuals labeled as the team: Drew Curtis, Maggie Fay, and D’Wayne Bell. The Ascendium logo is at the bottom of the flyer.
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Learner milestones like graduations serve as an inspiration for Senior Program Officer Margaret diZerega. “Those moments really stand out because they’re about hope and possibility and people charting their path forward.” Watch the latest installment of #WhatsYourWhy to hear more from Margaret, and learn about the work she does with the #ExpandOpportunity team: bit.ly/3Ur3Bfp #AscendiumEP #HigherEdInPrison
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What does it take to build better postsecondary pathways? Across states and communities, data is helping connect systems, inform decisions, and reduce barriers as learners move through education and into careers. See what that looks like in practice. bit.ly/3UDA16F #AscendiumEP #Connect #AlignSystems #PostsecondaryEd #WorkforceTraining
A map of the eastern United States highlights Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Maine in a darker shade. To the right, a circular infographic features five segments with icons: people, a bar chart, a dollar sign, and a handshake symbol, and a lightbulb.

ALT A map of the eastern United States highlights Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Maine in a darker shade. To the right, a circular infographic features five segments with icons: people, a bar chart, a dollar sign, and a handshake symbol, and a lightbulb.
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“Higher education and the workforce are not easy systems to navigate.” For #AscendiumEP Senior Program Officer Liliana Diaz Solodukhin, collaborating with partners to create clearer pathways to opportunity for learners motivates how she approaches her work. Hear more in the latest #WhatsYourWhy, and learn about Liliana’s work with the #Connect and #AlignSystems focus area: bit.ly/3SVyYyi
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What if the lessons learned from one industry could help create better career pathways across an entire state? With support from #AscendiumEP, @COSucceeds is expanding the Project SCALE model beyond construction into up to three additional industries. The goal isn’t simply to create more training programs. It’s to establish industry-led talent collaboratives that bring employers and education partners together around shared workforce needs. By strengthening the systems that connect learning and work, Colorado Succeeds is helping build a model that can continue creating opportunity as Colorado's economy evolves. bit.ly/3UhAScJ #WorkforceTraining
A sign in the foreground reads, "Welcome Project Scale Construction Career Hiring Event." In the background, a group of people gather near a desk. The top of the image features a banner saying, "Grant Partner Spotlight Colorado Succeeds."

ALT A sign in the foreground reads, "Welcome Project Scale Construction Career Hiring Event." In the background, a group of people gather near a desk. The top of the image features a banner saying, "Grant Partner Spotlight Colorado Succeeds."
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Ascendium's Education Philanthropy retweeted
Ascendium Education Group
@AscendiumEd
Sep 3
In recognition of #LaborDay, #AscendiumEd will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7.
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During a study on student success coaching, students were asked what they valued most about their coaches. One answer stuck out to Senior Learning and Impact Officer Drew Curtis: “They remember my name. They remember all of our names.” Hear how the moment shaped Drew’s approach to his work on the #LearningAndImpact team. bit.ly/3JVQtdk #WhatsYourWhy #AscendiumEP
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Are you working to make postsecondary education more accessible, affordable, career-connected, or responsive to learners’ needs? The Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund is seeking organizations advancing new approaches to #PostsecondaryEd. Up to 10 organizations will receive grants ranging from $750,000 to $1 million. Read more about the Fund and apply before the deadline on Sept. 14, 2026. bit.ly/4wZFfXB #AscendiumEP #ExpandOpportunity
A chalk drawing of lightbulbs hangs against a black background. Six white lightbulbs surround one central gold lightbulb, which has a dollar sign inside and is emitting light rays.

ALT A chalk drawing of lightbulbs hangs against a black background. Six white lightbulbs surround one central gold lightbulb, which has a dollar sign inside and is emitting light rays.
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What does it look like when education and workforce partners come together around shared industry needs? The numbers tell part of the story. Through Project SCALE, @COSucceeds is helping strengthen the connections between education, workforce training, and the needs of Colorado employers. bit.ly/3UhAScJ #AscendiumEP #WorkforceTraining
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Ascendium's Education Philanthropy retweeted
Ascendium Education Group
@AscendiumEd
Aug 24
@AscendiumEP is hiring a Senior Learning and Impact Officer to work within our Expand Opportunity strategy! Bring your research and evaluation expertise in workforce development, apprenticeships, sectoral training, or related areas to help strengthen our grantmaking. Click the link to learn more and apply today. bit.ly/4ggSWwn #AscendiumEd #AscendiumEP #PostsecondaryEd #WorkforceTraining #Philanthropy #ExpandOpportunity #LearningAndImpact
A promotional graphic featuring Ascendium's logo, a gold ribbon stating 'Top Work Places 2021-2026,' and the text 'Join a Top Workplace!' Below, it announces a job opening for a 'Senior Learning and Impact Officer.' A megaphone illustration is also included.

ALT A promotional graphic featuring Ascendium's logo, a gold ribbon stating 'Top Work Places 2021-2026,' and the text 'Join a Top Workplace!' Below, it announces a job opening for a 'Senior Learning and Impact Officer.' A megaphone illustration is also included.
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For Adalia G., a career pathway became a path to a career. After enrolling in the inaugural Construction Trades program at EPIC Campus in 2023, Adalia earned college credit, completed a four-month internship, and gained industry certifications and hands-on experience. When representatives from A Perfect Plumber visited campus for a training project, Adalia’s professionalism and work ethic stood out. Today, she’s a plumbing apprentice and a mentor to students beginning their own journeys into the skilled trades. Clearer pathways can help learners turn classroom experiences into opportunities for a career. bit.ly/3UhAScJ #AscendiumEP #WorkforceTraining #ColoradoSucceeds @COSucceeds
A graphic highlighting a quote from Adalia G., a second-year plumbing apprentice. Adalia shares their experience at EPIC, emphasizing improved customer communication by suggesting alternatives and the positive impact of a smile. The top banner reads "Grant Partner Spotlight: Colorado Succeeds." Logos for Colorado Succeeds and Project Scale are at the bottom.

ALT A graphic highlighting a quote from Adalia G., a second-year plumbing apprentice. Adalia shares their experience at EPIC, emphasizing improved customer communication by suggesting alternatives and the positive impact of a smile. The top banner reads "Grant Partner Spotlight: Colorado Succeeds." Logos for Colorado Succeeds and Project Scale are at the bottom.
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Registered apprenticeships are opening new pathways to high-quality careers — expanding opportunity well beyond the skilled trades. @insidehighered reporters reflect on a recent five-part series about registered apprenticeships in this episode of The Key podcast. Click the link to tune in and explore the full series. bit.ly/4xhileO #AscendiumEP #Apprenticeships #ExpandOpportunity
Orange background with a graphic of a brain-shaped key. Text reads: "The Key with Inside Higher Ed" and "Conversations with Higher Ed Newsmakers.

ALT Orange background with a graphic of a brain-shaped key. Text reads: "The Key with Inside Higher Ed" and "Conversations with Higher Ed Newsmakers.
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What could postsecondary education look like if it were taught differently? Financed differently? More accessible? New approaches have the potential to expand opportunity for learners, especially those who've faced the greatest barriers to education and career success. That's why Ascendium is sharing this opportunity from the Innovative Postsecondary Models (IPM) Fund. Backed by eight foundations, the Fund is awarding $750,000 to $1,000,000 grants to organizations reimagining how students access, experience, and benefit from postsecondary education in the U.S. If your organization is advancing innovative postsecondary models, learn more and apply by September 14, 2026: panoramaglobal.org/ipmf
Graphic outlining details of Panorama Global's Innovative Postsecondary Models fund.

ALT Graphic outlining details of Panorama Global's Innovative Postsecondary Models fund.

Graphic outlining details of Panorama Global's Innovative Postsecondary Models fund, including eligibility requirements.

ALT Graphic outlining details of Panorama Global's Innovative Postsecondary Models fund, including eligibility requirements.
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What happens when employers, educators, and workforce partners work together to build clearer routes into good careers? @COSucceeds is finding out through Project SCALE, an employer-led model that brings partners together to align training with real workforce needs. With support from #AscendiumEP, Colorado Succeeds is building on that work to explore how the model can expand to new industries, helping strengthen the connections between learning and work across #Colorado. bit.ly/3UhAScJ #WorkforceTraining
Two individuals wearing hard hats are working with a power tool on a construction site. A banner above features the text "Grant Partner Spotlight" and "Colorado Succeeds" and Ascendium's logo is in the lower-right of the graphic.

ALT Two individuals wearing hard hats are working with a power tool on a construction site. A banner above features the text "Grant Partner Spotlight" and "Colorado Succeeds" and Ascendium's logo is in the lower-right of the graphic.
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