Ascend Learning Inc
To develop a scalable solution to the underachievement of economically disadvantaged children by providing a network of urban college preparatory charter schools, operating with widely available resources, and achieving academic levels equal or superior to suburban schools educating students from middle-class families.
Ascend Learning Inc at a glance
In short: Ascend Learning Inc gave $1.4M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.4M), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,448,362
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $1,448,362
- Median grant
- $1,448,362
- Total assets
- $17,723,163
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ascend Learning Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ascend Learning Inc ($1.4M).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 3 grants of 3 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $3.5M (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ascend Learning Inc Brooklyn, NY | Ascend provides charter schools with education, management, and facility development services. | $1,448,362 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,723,163 | $19,602,469 | $18,106,272 | $1,448,362 | 1 | $156,788 |
| 2024 | $16,996,772 | $19,015,759 | $18,877,760 | — | — | $174,085 |
| 2023 | $17,436,580 | $28,972,824 | $24,026,347 | $3,546,263 | 1 | $96,566 |
| 2022 | $13,335,348 | $19,940,513 | $16,494,029 | — | — | $3,990 |
| 2021 | $10,949,837 | $20,246,927 | $15,961,811 | $1,250,000 | 1 | $1,018 |
| 2020 | $7,123,113 | $18,531,115 | $17,458,936 | — | — | $554 |
| 2019 | $5,063,864 | $15,729,314 | $15,634,315 | — | — | $394 |
About Ascend Learning Inc
Based on IRS filings
Ascend Learning Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $17.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.4M. Net investment income was $157K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ascend Learning Inc is led by Recy Dunn, Chief Executive Officer - since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 11 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Recy Dunn
Chief Executive Officer -
Chief Executive Officer → Chief Executive Officer -, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$208K (2022) → $335K (2025)
Maryann Li
President
Chief Operating Officer → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$103K (2022) → $297K (2025)
Anastasia Michals
Senior Managing Director of Schools
Managing Director of Schools → Senior Managing Director of Schools, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$171K (2022) → $200K (2025)
Dana Evans-Muller
Managing Director of Safety & Facilities
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$159K (2023) → $178K (2025)
Zonya Hicks
Managing Director of People Operations
Managing Director of Schools → Managing Director of People Operations, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$180K (2023) → $187K (2025)
Darielle Petrucci
Managing Director of Schools
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$170K (2024) → $183K (2025)
Agaja Reddy
Managing Director of Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$172K (2025)
Kemi Akinsanya-Rose
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Daniels
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Parra
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sydney Thomas
Director -
Director → Director -, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Celeste Herrera
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Kete
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danique Day
Chief of Schools
Chief Schools Officer → Chief of Schools, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $244K (2025)
Katherine McGrath
General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$123K (2023) → $230K (2025)
Edison De La Cruz
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Gerard Adore
Former Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
$141K (2025)
Isabel Geathers
Co-Chair
Secretary → Secretary & Co. Chair, 2024
Secretary & Co. Chair → Co-Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter May
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Selina Ip
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (42)
- Former: Julia Bator (2019–2024) — Chair
- Former: Holly Curtis (2023–2024) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Katherine Stewart (2024) — Managing Director of Schools
- Former: Charlise Manuel (2019–2023) — Managing Director of Finance
- Former: Steven Wilson (2019–2023) — Former CEO
- Former: Aaron Obrochta (2022–2023) — Managing Director of Talen
- Former: Anjya Thomas (2023) — Chief Curriculum & Instructional Officer
- Former: Benty George (2023) — Managing Director of Technology
- Former: Raul Echeverz (2023) — Director, School Projects & Construction
- Former: Raymond Johnson (2023) — Managing Director of Network Operations
- Former: Wintanna Abai (2023) — Managing Director of Schools
- Former: Lisa Margosian (2020–2022) — Former Interim CEO
- Former: Anjya Thomas Chief Curriculum (2021–2022) — Instructional Officer
- Former: Janna Genzlinger Managing (2021–2022) — Director of Leadership Development
- Former: Sophie Kramer (2021–2022) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Catherine Jessup (2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Brandon Sorlie (2019–2021) — Chief Schools Officer
- Former: Elizabeth Goldfarb (2019–2021) — Chief Talent Officer
- Former: Emeka Ibekweh (2019–2021) — Managing Director of Technology
- Former: Rick Arroyo (2019–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Susan Pollock (2019–2021) — Interim Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Alex Berzofsky (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Carl-Anthony Watson (2020–2021) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Dellianna Burrows Managing (2020–2021) — Director of Schools
- Former: Erica Murphy Chief Curriculum (2020–2021) — Instructional Officer
- Former: Ian Rowe (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joe Ferguson (2020–2021) — Co-Chair
- Former: Marsha Gadsden (2020–2021) — Managing Director of Schools
- Former: Nadine Sylvester (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Andrew Epstein Chief (2021) — Financial Officer
- Former: Andrew Epstein (2019–2020) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Jonathan Rosenberg (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Margaret Anadu (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Marty Linsky (2019–2020) — Board President & Chair
- Former: Matthew Clark (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Thomas (2020) — Director of Student Services
- Former: Kelly Garnes Pages Chief (2020) — Operating Officer
- Former: Kemi Akinsanya (2020) — Director
- Former: Aaron Daly-Frith (2019) — Network Director of Ops
- Former: Dellianna Burrows (2019) — Managing Directors of Schools
- Former: Janna Genzlinger (2019) — Managing Director of Leadership Development
- Former: Kelly Garnes Pages (2019) — Chief Operating Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $335K, to Recy Dunn (Chief Executive Officer - Thru 5/2025). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ascend Learning Inc
How much does Ascend Learning Inc give each year?
Ascend Learning Inc gave $1.4M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Ascend Learning Inc?
Ascend Learning Inc reported $17.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.6M.
What is Ascend Learning Inc?
Ascend Learning Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. It holds $17.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Ascend Learning Inc operate?
Ascend Learning Inc has awarded grants in New York.
What is Ascend Learning Inc's EIN?
Ascend Learning Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1200239. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Ascend Learning Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ascend Learning Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Ascend Learning Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?