Ascend will invest more than $3 million to codify, accelerate, and scale 2Gen best practices. Our goal is to document and scale the work of leading 2Gen organizations through a one-year portfolio of action grants, convenings, rapid cycle learning , and storytelling strategy. This effort is designed to strengthen and codify best practices and outcomes for families with low incomes through innovative, evidence-informed 2Gen approaches with the capacity to influence county, state, and federal systems.

Background

In 2013, Ascend launched the Aspen Institute Ascend Fund, a $1 million innovation fund targeting actionable 2Gen approaches across the United States. Fifty-Eight organizations received grants or stipends to implement or strengthen 2Gen approaches in 24 states and the District of Columbia (DC). These organizations became the inaugural Ascend Network, which now includes more than 520 Partners across the US, and in DC, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Rwanda, and Guatemala.

 

Since that Fund, Ascend has launched the Parent-Powered Solutions Fund and the Family Prosperity Innovation Fund, utilizing flexible resources to significantly transform practices and policies to  support families with low incomes. The 2Gen Best Practices Accelerator Fund builds on the lessons of this decade-long work, and centers 2Gen best practices while prioritizing organizations that demonstrate strong capacity for action, results, and systems change.