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 Team
The Ascend Fund is powered by Panorama Global, a platform for social change dedicated to solving pressing problems through audacious thinking and bold action.
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
ADVANCE NATIVE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
ANPL aims to increase the representation of Indigenous people, especially Indigenous women, in elected office at all levels and create pathways to leadership for emerging Native candidates across the country.
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES
APAICS is dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office.
HIGHER HEIGHTS LEADERSHIP FUND
Higher Heights Leadership Fund is investing in a long-term strategy to expand and support Black women's leadership pipeline at all levels and strengthen their civic participation beyond just Election Day.
IGNITE
Ignite is a national movement of women who are ready and eager to become the next generation of political leaders.
LATINASREPRESENT
LatinasRepresent is an initiative to increase Latina participation throughout the civic engagement continuum, inspire more Latinas to seek public service opportunities, and create a more reflective democracy.
Victory Institute works to increase the number of LGBTQ people in public office and to provide programming, services, and other support to help ensure their success.
LGBTQ VICTORY INSTITUTE
RUNNING START
Running Start gives young women and girls the confidence, capabilities, and connections they need to run for public office.
She Should Run motivates women from all walks of life to explore the possibility of public office by identifying and tackling the barriers to elected leadership.
SHE SHOULD RUN
VOTE MAMA FOUNDATION
The Vote Mama Foundation enables mothers to find their political voice, making it easier for them to run and win.
WOMEN'S PUBLIC LEADERSHIP NETWORK
Women's Public Leadership Network provides center- and right-leaning women with the knowledge and resources to make seeking public office and engaging in the political process more accessible.
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
EQUALITY MICHIGAN
Equality Michigan is a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer political advocacy organization.
SHE HOLDS THE KEY
She Holds the Key works to remove barriers and provide support for center and center-right leaning women seeking elected office and appointments in 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.
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MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN
Mississippi University for Women’s NEW Leadership Mississippi educates college women about the important role that politics plays in their lives and encourages them to become effective leaders in the political arena.
WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI
The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi is a public foundation that works to eliminate the social and economic barriers faced by women and girls throughout the state.
ACLU OF MISSISSIPPI
The Mississippi affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union dedicates their time and resources to promoting and defending the civil liberties of citizens across the state through legislation, litigation, and advocacy.
WASHINGTON
ONEAMERICA
OneAmerica is the largest immigrant and refugee advocacy organization in Washington State, organizing with and advocating for diverse communities including Latinx, African, and Asian.
PUGET SOUND SAGE
Puget Sound Sage charts a path to a living economy in the South Salish Sea and Duwamish River Valley regions by developing community power to influence, lead and govern.
NATIVE ACTION NETWORK
Native Action Network is a Native-led nonprofit organized to promote Native women’s full representation, participation, and leadership in local, state, tribal, and national affairs.
FIX DEMOCRACY FIRST EDUCATION FUND
Fix Democracy First Education Fund focuses on voter education, voter registration, outreach, and expanding civic participation across Washington state and beyond.
COMUNIDAD LATINA DE VASHON
Comunidad Latina de Vashon was founded by Latina women to cultivate youth and adult community leaders to use their strengths to change systemic injustices on Vashon Island
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 |
|---|---|---|
Kellie Adesina | Bayer | Director, Federal Government Affairs |
Chanell Autrey | Target | Director of Government Affairs |
Harmony Barbera | PG&E | Manager, Federal Affairs |
Mannone Butler | NBA Social Justice Coalition | Head of Programs & Partnerships |
Adrienne DiCasparro | TED | Director, The Audacious Project |
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 | Argo AI | 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 |
Nia Ray | Cigna | State Government Affairs Director |
Keenan Reed | Alpine Group Partners | Vice President |
Julie Riccio | PwC | Regulatory Affairs & Public Policy Director |
Marisa Rodriguez-McGill | Lyft | Senior Public Policy Manager |
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 |
Heidi Tringe | MMR | Partner |
Laura Wood Peterson | Laura Wood Peterson Consulting | Founder |