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Nonprofiteer
← ASCENDIUM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by ASCENDIUM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$186,045,000
Total expenses
$196,689,891
Contributions and grants received
$0
Grants paid
$147,060,749
Program service revenue
$177,658,157
Investment income
$6,512,528
Other revenue
$1,874,315
Total assets, end of year
$213,349,472
Total liabilities, end of year
$13,604,719
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$199,744,753
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$185,724,909
Management and general expenses
$10,964,982
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$185,724,909

Program services were 94.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 2a · Program service revenue: COLLECTIONS & REHABILITATIONS

    total $4,155,040 · related or exempt $4,155,040

  • 2b · Program service revenue: DEFAULT AVERSION FEES

    total $14,542,831 · related or exempt $14,542,831

  • 2c · Program service revenue: ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE & TRANSITION FEES

    total $157,692,086 · related or exempt $157,692,086

  • 2d · Program service revenue: COHORT CATALYST FEES

    total $727,244 · related or exempt $727,244

  • 2e · Program service revenue: COLLEGE COST METER FEES

    total $175,389 · related or exempt $175,389

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $365,567 · related or exempt $365,567 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $6,512,528 · excluded $6,512,528

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: AES/FL CONTRACT

    total $1,823,336 · related or exempt $1,823,336

  • 11b · Other revenue: GUAR MISC. INCOME

    total $39,185 · related or exempt $39,185

  • 11c · Other revenue: SHARE OF LOAN SVC FEES-ELRAP

    total $11,794 · unrelated business $11,794

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,874,315

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $145,430,749 · program services $145,430,749

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $1,630,000 · program services $1,630,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,713,428 · program services $796,540 · management and general $916,888

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $11,293,625 · program services $10,752,936 · management and general $540,689

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $921,817 · program services $877,685 · management and general $44,132

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,333,475 · program services $2,221,759 · management and general $111,716

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $777,172 · program services $739,965 · management and general $37,207

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $41,619 · program services $19,653 · management and general $21,966

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $217,711 · program services $138,555 · management and general $79,156

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $1,262 · management and general $1,262

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,715,395 · program services $1,715,395 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $333,692 · program services $333,692

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,363,386 · program services $1,343,832 · management and general $19,554

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $5,907,518 · program services $1,980,854 · management and general $3,926,664

  • 17 · Travel

    total $186,140 · program services $144,079 · management and general $42,061

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $38,605 · program services $38,605 · management and general $0

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $7,370 · program services $7,370

  • 24a · Other expenses: CORP SUPPORT FUNC ALLOCATION

    total $17,306,302 · program services $12,102,909 · management and general $5,203,393

  • 24b · Other expenses: THIRD PARTY SERVICE EXPENSE

    total $5,000,000 · program services $5,000,000

  • 24c · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $373,191 · program services $372,332 · management and general $859

  • 24d · Other expenses: DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS

    total $68,955 · program services $50,252 · management and general $18,703

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $28,479 · program services $27,747 · management and general $732 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year -$70,344 · end of year $279,586

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $137,763,674 · end of year $138,462,623

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $42,312,503 · end of year $32,080,422

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $862,034 · end of year $867,585

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $0

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $0

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $41,725,436 · end of year $41,659,256

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $3,771,157 · end of year $3,574,400

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $376,621 · end of year $460,029

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $8,049,184 · end of year $9,570,290

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $210,396,341 · end of year $199,744,753

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

ASCENDIUM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS, INC. OPERATES TO PROVIDE FOR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT AND COST EFFECTIVE ENABLEMENT OF ACCESS TO AND PERSISTENCE IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FULL-RANGE GUARANTY AGENCY SERVICES AND GRANT SUPPORT TO FUNDING SOURCES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, IN PURSUIT OF AND PARTICIPATION IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED. THIS MISSION STATEMENT HAS BEEN REVIEWED, ACKNOWLEDGED AND INFORMALLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SUPPORTS INCREASED ACCESS TO AND SUCCESS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AS A NATIONAL GRANTMAKER, A FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN GUARANTY AGENCY AND A PROVIDER OF STUDENT SUCCESS SERVICES.

  • ASCENDIUM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS, INC. OPERATES TO PROVIDE COST EFFECTIVE ENABLEMENT OF ACCESS TO AND SUCCESS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION BY PROVIDING FULL-RANGE GUARANTY AGENCY SERVICES TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHERS IN PURSUIT OF AND PARTICIPATION IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED.

    Expenses $173,979,513 · Grants $4,696,293 · Revenue $179,520,678

  • ASCENDIUM'S EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY FOCUSES ON INCREASING OPPORTUNITY FOR UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR LEARNERS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING. GRANTMAKING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES SUPPORT INNOVATION, EVALUATION AND EVIDENCE-BUILDING, AND SCALING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE PROVEN TO HELP MORE LEARNERS ACHIEVE STRONG CAREER OUTCOMES. ASCENDIUM ALSO MAINTAINS PHILANTHROPIC INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON THE SUCCESS OF LEARNERS WHO EXPERIENCE GREATER BARRIERS TO UPWARD MOBILITY, INCLUDING RURAL LEARNERS AND THOSE EXPERIENCING INCARCERATION.

    Expenses $10,616,766 · Grants $131,476,450

  • IMPACT INVESTING IS ONE OF THE KEY WAYS WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION TO CHAMPION OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. OUR INVESTMENTS ADVANCE CHANGE TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING SYSTEMS THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS SO MORE LEARNERS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS THROUGH EDUCATION RELATED VENTURE EQUITY AND DEBT INVESTMENTS.

    Expenses $927,220 · Grants $81,000

  • ASCENDIUM EDUCATION SOLUTIONS, INC. PROVIDES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES - WHERE ITS EMPLOYEES LIVE AND WORK, PRIMARILY CONCENTRATED IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES EDUCATION-FOCUSED COMMUNITY GIVING, AN EMPLOYEE GIVING PROGRAM, AND FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR EDUCATION FOCUS. COMMUNITY GIVING EFFORTS FOCUS ON SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. THE ASCENDIUM CARES PROGRAM FEATURES AN ANNUAL EMPLOYEE CHARITY FUNDRAISING DRIVE, A VOLUNTEER TIME-OFF PROGRAM, AND FINANCIAL MATCHING FOR TIME AND FUNDS DONATED TO ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE FREE TRAINING AND MEETING SPACE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS.

    Expenses $201,410 · Grants $9,217,006

  • ASCENDIUM'S TOOLS OF THE TRADE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO APPRENTICES FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THEIR TRAINING, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, TUITION AND MORE. THIS IS THE TENTH YEAR OF OUR TOOLS OF THE TRADE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE 2013 THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER $5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO ELIGIBLE CONSTRUCTION ABD INDUSTRIAL TRADE APPRENTICES ENROLLED AT A WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM (WCTS) COLLEGE.

    Grants $1,590,000

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Cynthia Walsh - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $46,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Darren King - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $41,500
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $41,500
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • David J Hanson - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $46,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Emerson Brumback - 1

    DIRECTOR - VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $46,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Leslie Lenzo - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $46,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Maria Gonzalez-Knavel - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $46,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Richard A Weiss - 1

    DIRECTOR - SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $46,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $46,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Richard D George - 23

    CHAIRMAN/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $884,194
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $809,115
    Other
    $75,079
    Hours/week
    17 + 33 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $394,351 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $410,858 related
    Other
    $0 + $3,906 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $33,919 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $41,160 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $884,194 related

  • Scott Klug - 1

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $55,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $55,000
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • Benjamin C Lee - 3

    VP - GUARANTY SUPPORT SVCS

    Total calculated
    $212,241
    From this org
    $162,140
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,101
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $138,874
    Bonus
    $22,929
    Other
    $337
    Deferred
    $13,044
    Nontaxable benefits
    $37,057
    Filer's total
    $212,241

  • Beth A Erickson - 3

    VP - REPAYMENT SOLUTIONS

    Total calculated
    $357,805
    From this org
    $332,700
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,105
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,528
    Bonus
    $176,057
    Other
    $4,115
    Deferred
    $7,312
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,793
    Filer's total
    $357,805

  • Hope E Merry - 3

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $525,125
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $462,554
    Other
    $62,571
    Hours/week
    23 + 27 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $255,569 related
    Bonus
    $0 + $206,212 related
    Other
    $0 + $773 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $20,597 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $41,974 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $525,125 related

  • Jeffery E Crosby - 3

    PRESIDENT & CEO - AES

    Total calculated
    $623,947
    From this org
    $572,573
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $51,374
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $294,384
    Bonus
    $276,050
    Other
    $2,139
    Deferred
    $20,676
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,698
    Filer's total
    $623,947

  • Barbara A Wilhelm - 3

    DIR - CLAIMS REVIEW

    Total calculated
    $202,020
    From this org
    $168,721
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,299
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,888
    Bonus
    $11,249
    Other
    $3,584
    Deferred
    $15,090
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,209
    Filer's total
    $202,020

  • Carmen N Rieg - 3

    DIRECTOR - RECOVERY ADMIN

    Total calculated
    $202,832
    From this org
    $156,316
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,516
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $137,552
    Bonus
    $18,000
    Other
    $764
    Deferred
    $11,781
    Nontaxable benefits
    $34,735
    Filer's total
    $202,832

  • Jeffrey S Dick - 3

    SYSTEMS ANALYST

    Total calculated
    $216,831
    From this org
    $185,045
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,786
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $170,269
    Bonus
    $13,486
    Other
    $1,290
    Deferred
    $13,359
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,427
    Filer's total
    $216,831

  • Kristi K Myers - 3

    SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ANLST

    Total calculated
    $164,259
    From this org
    $147,230
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,029
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,618
    Bonus
    $10,338
    Other
    $1,274
    Deferred
    $12,073
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,956
    Filer's total
    $164,259

  • Roger A Eldridge - 3

    NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $184,374
    From this org
    $155,118
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,256
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,795
    Bonus
    $8,379
    Other
    $1,944
    Deferred
    $12,312
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,944
    Filer's total
    $184,374

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 1A FIRST-CLASS OR CHARTER TRAVEL
PURSUANT TO THE ORGANIZATION'S WRITTEN TRAVEL AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY, FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL MAY BE REIMBURSED IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES. DURING THE TAX YEAR, THIS BENEFIT WAS PROVIDED TO A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL REIMBURSED EXPENSES WERE SUBJECT TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPENSE SUBSTANTIATION AND REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES. THE REIMBURSEMENTS WERE NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

  • JOBS FOR THE FUTURE INC

    $6,854,650

    GRANT, FAIR CHANCE TO ADVANCE: TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS AND BUILDING PATHWAYS FROM CORRECTIONS TO QUALITY JOBS

  • TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

    $5,850,576

    GRANT, AN APPLIED RESEARCH AGENDA TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY COLLEGE REFORM AND LEARNER ADVANCEMENT GRANT, EXPANDING AND SHARING THE EVIDENCE BASE OF KEY STUDENT SUCCESS REFORMS GRANT, EVALUATION OF SCALING SHORTENED ACADEMIC TERMS INITIATIVE GRANT, NATIONAL REPORTING BY HECHINGER REPORT ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

  • MERIT AMERICA

    $5,660,000

    GRANT, ACCELERATING WORKFORCE TRAINING PATHWAYS VIA MERIT AMERICA'S OPPORTUNITY FUND CONTRIBUTION, ASCENDIUM RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT

  • MDRC

    $5,545,531

    GRANT, ACCELERATING IMPACT: ADVANCING EVIDENCE FOR POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY GRANT, BUILDING & APPLYING STRONG EVIDENCE ABOUT POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS & ECONOMIC MOBILITY CONTRIBUTION, ASCENDIUM RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT

  • AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

    $5,279,342

    GRANT, IDENTIFYING AND SCALING PROGRAMMATIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN PRISON PROGRAMS GRANT, RURAL RESEARCH SUPPORT PARTNER

  • WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

    $5,000,000

    GRANT, SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME LEARNERS AT WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT COLLEGES

  • ACHIEVING THE DREAM INC

    $3,701,781

    GRANT, SCALING SHORTENED ACADEMIC TERMS INITIATIVE GRANT, PROJECT SUCCESS 2024-2025 GRANT, FROM OPENING DOORS TO USHERING IN- STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT FOR ADULT LEARNER SUCCESS GRANT, PROJECT SUCCESS FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT GRANT, BEYOND THE COLLEGE WALLS: PRINCIPLES AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE NEXT COMMUNITY COLLEGE DECADE

  • UNIVERSITIES OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM

    $3,400,000

    GRANT, SUPPORTING THE WISCONSIN TUITION PROMISE 2025

  • THE ASPEN INSTITUTE

    $3,391,300

    GRANT, ASPEN PRIZE, HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD REFORM, AND INCREASING FOCUS ON COLLEGE LEADERSHIP GRANT, THE TRANSFER INTENSIVE 2.0 GRANT, ADVANCING COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS' POST-GRADUATION SUCCESS

  • BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS INC

    $3,000,000

    CONTRIBUTION, BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS IMPACT INVESTMENT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • NORTHSTAR EDUCATION SERVICES LLC

    C CORPORATION · SERVICE · WI · share of income -$3,604,817 · share of assets $1,328,535 · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by GROUP

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
17 September 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202642609349301869

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