- Revenue 2025
- $186,045,000
- Expenses 2025
- $196,689,891
Program services were 94.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
As filed
- Subsection
- 03
- NTEE code
- B82Z
- Classification
- 2000
- Street
- 38 BUTTONWOOD CT
These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).
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.
Officers and directors · 2025
As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.
-
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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.
Filings
-
2025
- Revenue
- $186,045,000
- Expenses
- $196,689,891
- Contributions
- $0
- Grants paid
- $147,060,749
-
2024
- Revenue
- $266,994,248
- Expenses
- $169,298,500
- Contributions
- $0
- Grants paid
- $119,269,181
-
2023
- Revenue
- $298,192,646
- Expenses
- $119,504,517
- Contributions
- $0
- Grants paid
- $73,002,419
-
2022
- Revenue
- $388,928,491
- Expenses
- $166,575,071
- Contributions
- $61,144,777
- Grants paid
- $108,541,569
The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.
Other returns filed
-
2024 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2023 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2022 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2021 · 990
- Revenue
- $467,309,203
- Expenses
- $204,796,432
- Assets (EOY)
- $170,907,364
-
2021 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2020 · 990
- Revenue
- $427,280,088
- Expenses
- $313,241,055
- Assets (EOY)
- $288,144,309
-
2020 · 990-T
- Revenue
- not reported
- Expenses
- not reported
- Assets (EOY)
- not reported
-
2019 · 990
- Revenue
- $511,268,683
- Expenses
- $319,237,947
- Assets (EOY)
- $284,705,811
-
2018 · 990
- Revenue
- $222,804,138
- Expenses
- $132,565,215
- Assets (EOY)
- $663,920,334
-
2017 · 990
- Revenue
- $225,080,925
- Expenses
- $129,869,653
- Assets (EOY)
- $670,290,906
Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.
Grants made
-
$50,201,917
2022 support their philanthropic efforts pursuant to the December 6, 2016 transfer of ownership of United Student Aid Funds and Northwest Education Loan Association from USA Funds (now Strada) to Ascendium.
-
$7,560,000
2024 Grant, Scaling IT Support and Data Analytics Certificate Programming for Learners from Low-Income Grant, Accelerating Workforce Training Pathways via Merit America's Opportunity Fund
-
$7,363,369
2024 Grant, Strengthen and Scale Multiple Measures Assessment Implementation Grant, Examining Faculty Decision-Making in Course Equivalency and Transfer Grant, Learning Partner for Future Sectoral Training Evidence-Building Initiative Grant, Travel Grant - National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students Grant, Sectoral Training Evidence-Building Initiative Grant, Building & Applying Strong Evidence About Postsecondary Success & Economic Mobility
-
$6,854,650
2025 GRANT, FAIR CHANCE TO ADVANCE: TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS AND BUILDING PATHWAYS FROM CORRECTIONS TO QUALITY JOBS
-
TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$5,850,576
2025 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
-
$5,660,000
2025 GRANT, ACCELERATING WORKFORCE TRAINING PATHWAYS VIA MERIT AMERICA'S OPPORTUNITY FUND CONTRIBUTION, ASCENDIUM RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT
-
$5,545,531
2025 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
-
2025 GRANT, IDENTIFYING AND SCALING PROGRAMMATIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN PRISON PROGRAMS GRANT, RURAL RESEARCH SUPPORT PARTNER
-
2025 GRANT, SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME LEARNERS AT WISCONSIN INDEPENDENT COLLEGES
-
$5,000,000
2022 Grant, Scaling IT Support and Data Analytics Certificate Programming for Learners from Low-Income Backgrounds
The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.
Grants received
-
$61,144,777
2022 Fund Ascendium Education Solution, Inc. grant program
Related organizations
From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
Declared on its 2025 return
-
501(C)(3) · STDNT LN SVCS · WI
Declared as related by
-
On its 2025 return as a controlled entity
Taxable family
From Schedule R Parts I, III and IV: entities that legally are the filer, and taxable partnerships, corporations and trusts it is related to. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money.
Related corporations and trusts on its 2025 return
-
NORTHSTAR EDUCATION SERVICES LLC
C CORPORATION · SERVICE · WI · share of income -$3,604,817 · share of assets $1,328,535 · controlled entity
Other IRS files
Auto-Revocation List
Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.
Publication 78
Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.
These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.
What this page reflects
The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.