Who We Are
The Ascend Fund is a collaborative fund dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics. We pool philanthropic capital and make mission-driven investments in nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that break down barriers preventing women from running for office and winning.
Our national partners
We celebrate strategists. Seek disruptors. Cultivate connections.
By partnering with organizations bolstering change where it matters, we're making strides with lasting power.
ANCHOR ORGANIZATIONS
Our two anchor organizations received three-year, $500,000 annual grants and work closely together to elect a truly representative democracy.
about:
New American Leaders empowers first and second generation Americans to run, win, and lead.
New American Leaders is the only national, nonpartisan organization focused on bringing New Americans into the political process. They accomplish these goals by:
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Training and inspiring immigrant leaders to run for office.
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Building coalitions among New American elected leaders.
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Researching solutions to create a more diverse corps of leaders.
New American Leaders believes that when our elected officials mirror the makeup of our nation, we achieve stronger communities, a more responsive government, and a robust democracy.
by the numbers:
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Over 1,110 trained
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127 NAL alums elected
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82 appointed
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65 served as campaign leaders
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61% average win rate of alums between 2016-2019
about:
Vote Run Lead trains barrier-breaking women to unleash their political power, run for office, and transform American democracy.
Vote Run Lead believes there's an urgent need for an intersectional wave of women to lead within our democracy. So they're championing women ready to fight for democracy by tackling system reforms with bold ideas.
Vote Run Lead's award-winning Run As You Are curriculum guides women through a process of radical self-inquiry, wherein their backgrounds, experiences, and values become their authentic platform. Trainees emerge as grounded, effective, collaborative leaders for their communities and, with hundreds of thousands of elected offices in the US, there is a place for every woman to take the lead.
by the numbers:
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400% growth since 2015
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60% of participants are women of color
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20% of participants hail from rural America
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Largest single day of training reached 3,000 women in 20 cities and online
Our state partners
Our state partners work collaboratively to increase the number of women serving in state legislatures. Activities include coalition building, barrier reduction, candidate recruitment and training, and message development on the importance of women leaders.
michigan
MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI BLACK WOMEN'S ROUNDTABLE
The Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable is an intergenerational, civic engagement statewide network of black women and girls that focus on increasing voter participation, civic engagement and champions equitable public policy on behalf of Black women and girls in Mississippi. MS BWR is an affiliate of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation/Black Women’s Roundtable.
WASHINGTON
OUR ADVISORS
Our work is guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of formerly elected women from both sides of the political aisle. These leaders share their personal experience and knowledge in order to increase opportunities for other women in politics.
Leadership Circle
The Leadership Circle is a network of women leaders in business, government, and philanthropy who are committed to The Ascend Fund’s goal of electing more women at every level of government.
Name | Company | Title |
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Kellie Adesina | The Kraft Heinz Company | Director, Federal Government Affairs |
Chanell Autrey | Target | Director of Government Affairs |
Harmony Barbera | PG&E | Manager, Federal Affairs |
Jamey Battle | Capalino | Analyst |
Mannone Butler | NBA Social Justice Coalition | Head of Programs & Partnerships |
Adrienne DiCasparro | TED | Director, The Audacious Project |
Sarah Dolan Schneider | S-3 Group | Vice President |
Julia Gonzales | Amplify | VP, Government Relations |
Jamie Hackleman | JP Morgan Chase | Senior Philanthropy Advisor |
Jessica Hogle | Tennessee Valley Authority | Vice President, Federal Affairs |
Angela Hooks | Dropbox | Public Policy Manager |
Nicole Jefferson | Amazon | Senior Manager, U.S. State Public Policy |
Winnie Karanja | Represented Collective | Founder and CEO |
Traci Kraus | Cummins | Director, Government Relations |
Holly Kuzmich | George W. Bush Presidential Center | Senior Vice President |
Monica Laufer | Public Policy and Government Relations, Eastern US LEAD | |
Anne Morley | Democracy Fund | Program Associate |
Haley Morris | Cruise | Director Of Public Affairs |
Amanda Nguyen | Fragrance Creators Association | Vice President, Government Affairs & Legal |
Anne Perkins | Adobe | Director, Government Relations |
Nia Ray | Cigna | State Government Affairs Director |
Keenan Reed | Alpine Group Partners | Vice President |
Julie Riccio | PwC | Regulatory Affairs & Public Policy Director |
Lisa Roman | Bumble | Vice President, Public Policy |
Breanna Schafer | Target | Senior Director, Government Relations |
Kori Schake | American Enterprise Institute | Director of Foreign and Defense Policy |
Kaitlin Sighinolfi | International Paper | Director Government Relations, International Affairs |
Heidi Tringe | MMR | Partner |
Laura Wood Peterson | Laura Wood Peterson Consulting | Founder |