Ascend Nonprofit Solutions
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions is a Type I Supporting Organization under IRS Code Section 509(a)(3), established to strengthen the nonprofit sector by providing essential infrastructure and operational support. Our mission is to lift nonprofits to greater heights by enabling them to focus more fully on their core missions.
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions at a glance
In short: Ascend Nonprofit Solutions gave $104K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $104,000
- +24.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,000
- -6.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,000
- Total assets
- $15,424,327
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (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 Nonprofit Solutions funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was BeLoved Asheville ($26K). Together the top 4 received $104K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 17 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ascend Nonprofit Solutions gives
- Giving fell 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2021) to $238K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $104K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BeLoved Asheville Asheville, NC | For one of our fiscal sponsorships- | $26,000 |
| Council For Childrens Rights Charlotte, NC | For one of our fiscal sponsorships- | $26,000 |
| CrossRoads Corp Charlotte, NC | For one of our fiscal sponsorships- | $26,000 |
| Wayfinders Charlotte, NC | For one of our fiscal sponsorships- | $26,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ascend Nonprofit Solutions?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,424,327 | $6,618,929 | $6,404,717 | $104,000 | 4 | $108,510 |
| 2024 | $15,454,486 | $6,616,809 | $6,171,971 | $83,500 | 3 | $79,841 |
| 2023 | $15,063,330 | $5,519,878 | $5,209,238 | $100,000 | 4 | $38,791 |
| 2022 | $12,371,163 | $4,970,335 | $4,730,981 | $237,790 | 4 | $-153,024 |
| 2021 | $12,385,794 | $4,832,284 | $3,887,181 | $24,040 | 2 | $31,642 |
About Ascend Nonprofit Solutions
Based on IRS filings
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Charlotte, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $15.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $104K. Net investment income was $109K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions is led by James Taylor, President & CEO on every filing since 2024; 7 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Taylor
President & CEO
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$152K (2024) → $192K (2025)
Sharon Davis
Chair Officer
Chief Hr Officer → Cho, 2023
Cho → Chair Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$100K (2022) → $120K (2025)
Robert Kelly
Chairman
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clark Maciag
CIO
Chief Information Officer → CIO, 2023
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$105K (2021) → $137K (2025)
Jim Bales
CFO
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$142K (2023) → $152K (2025)
Kelly Musante
Chief Engagemen
Engagement Officer → Chief Engagemen, 2024
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$84K (2023) → $117K (2025)
Elizabeth Holmgren
Vice President of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
45 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Samuel Stroup
Vice President of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
45 hrs/week
$114K (2025)
Diamond Staton-Williams
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Tate
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Caldwell
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Holland Thompson
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Spegal
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Watson
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cookie Williams
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
ELIZABETH McKEE
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lilliam Nunez-Rodriguez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Weisbruch
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hunter Fleshood
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Hejazi
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Donato
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Juliana
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Venton Bell Jr.
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Amy Johnson (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Emily Cantrell (2021–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Kelsey Mayo (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Kaumil Shah (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Pamela Wideman (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dean Cikins (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jackie Lee (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Hawkins (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Barry Metzger (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bernadette Williams Looper (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bill Currens (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Charles Hunt (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dee Bumgardner (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Joanette Freeman (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Shelley White (2021–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Steven Hintz (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Wendi Fleender (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Martha Borgese (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Rich McKinght (2023) — Immediate Past
- Former: James Bales (2021–2022) — CFO
- Former: Jim Talley (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Rich McKnight (2021–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Rodrick Banks (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Vaughn (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sharon Whittle (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tama Morris (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tom Coyne (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Callie Carlton (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kenn Shrader (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Niles K. Brown II (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sophia Matthews (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $192K, to James Taylor (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ascend Nonprofit Solutions
How much does Ascend Nonprofit Solutions give each year?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions gave $104K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $84K across 3 grants.
What is Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's typical grant size?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's median grant in 2025 was $26,000, and its average grant was $26,000, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Ascend Nonprofit Solutions give grants?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (3 grants).
Does Ascend Nonprofit Solutions give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For one of our fiscal sponsorships-" (4 grants).
How large is Ascend Nonprofit Solutions?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions reported $15.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.6M.
What is Ascend Nonprofit Solutions?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Charlotte, NC. It holds $15.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's EIN?
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2215129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Ascend Nonprofit Solutions funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Page & George Bradham Family Foundation
Denver, NC
The Page & George Bradham Family Foundation supports charities working in areas including homelessness, education, food assistance, mental health, health services, and conservation, with most funding going to North Carolina. Its 2025 grants ranged from $165 to $8,000, with a median of $2,250. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$435K
Grants
18
Total Given
$54K
Champions for Education Inc
Charlotte, NC
Champions for Education supported charities working to improve education quality, though its 2025 grants went to North Carolina recipients with varied missions. In 2025, grants ranged from $14,000 to $400,000, with a median of $250,000; its 2024 filing was marked as its final return, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
19
Total Given
$3.4M
Christ Episcopal Church Foundation Inc
Charlotte, NC
Educational, charitable, missionary, and other as part of the ministry of Christ Episcopal Church.
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
6
Total Given
$59K
Womens Impact Fund
Charlotte, NC
Womens Impact Fund supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services, providing unrestricted operating support to organizations located in Mecklenburg County or serving a majority of clients there. Recent grants ranged from $8,000 to $61,350, with a median of $31,350. It accepts unsolicited online applications from eligible organizations; the 2026–27 cycle is open through October 17, 2026.
Assets
$656K
Grants
11
Total Given
$319K
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc
Charlotte, NC
United Way of Greater Charlotte supports nonprofits and community initiatives focused on economic opportunity and locally identified needs, including housing, food security, education, health, and mental wellness. Its grants primarily serve Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union counties; in 2025, the median grant was $30,878, with awards ranging from $5,292 to $1,178,487. Application access varies by program: the 2026 Anson and Cabarrus county processes are invitation-only, while the 2026 Unite Charlotte cycle is open to eligible organizations serving Mecklenburg County.
Assets
$26.7M
Grants
210
Total Given
$11.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Ascend Nonprofit Solutions's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Ascend Nonprofit Solutions down — hundreds of funders to go?