By Brooke Bechen
Ascendium Education Group

Ascendium Education Group has a strong tradition of philanthropy focused on reducing or eliminating barriers for underrepresented postsecondary education learners so they can achieve their academic and career goals. 

While their philanthropy has a national focus, Ascendium also recognizes there is work to be done in the city where most of its employees live and work. Rather than stopping with a public statement about the need for change to address racial injustice, Ascendium decided to support change by donating $200,000 to nonprofit organizations to help further the work already underway in the Madison community. 

In early June, Ascendium’s leaders asked its more than 250 employees to nominate Madison-based nonprofits that are providing an identifiable and meaningful response to address racial injustice. Employees responded by nominating 15 organizations, and the four with the most nominations received $50,000 each.

The awardees are: 

• The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, which works to eliminate health disparities and other barriers impacting the lives of Black women and girls through education, outreach, advocacy, support circles and partnerships; 
• Freedom Inc., an organization that works with low- to no-income communities of color to achieve social justice through coupling direct services with leadership development and community organizing; 
• Urban Triage, which aims to empower Black families and children by developing and managing life-changing programming and mobilizing community resources to distribute them to those most in need; and 
• YWCA of Madison, which works to advance race and gender equity to create a more inclusive community by helping people with job training and transportation and supporting women and families in housing and shelter. 

While the missions of these organizations differ, all four provide direct service to the community and lead broader community awareness and education efforts on racial and social justice.

“We wanted to contribute to change by supporting those organizations in our community that are already doing great work,” said Richard D. George, Ascendium’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.