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Ascendus
Ascendus reported $14.8 million in revenue and $13.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.57 went to program services, $14.13 to management and general costs and $6.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 57.8% of the total. Government grants made up 5.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $430,966 (CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 110% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.6% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.3% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 57.8% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.5% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 37.6% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $430,966 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.25% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 14.5 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAscendus has two primary programs, the largest of which is the provision of business loans and development services to entrepreneurs. We serve low-to moderate-income and underserved entrepreneurs who lack access to mainstream credit sources. With access to credit, our clients go on to build assets, grow household incomes and create jobs for themselves and others within their local communities. This program provides both term and line of credit options
In the second program, ascendus participates in partnership programs where loans are originated and portions are sold to the partner organization. This program provides both a liqudity and risk mitigation allowing ascendus to make more loans serving more clients than it would without these programs. Loan participations range from 75%-95% depending on the partner
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $371,626 | $0 | $59,340 | $430,966 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,000 | $0 | $23,500 | $270,500 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $187,520 | $0 | $21,210 | $208,730 |
| SVP, LENDING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,072 | $0 | $32,343 | $193,415 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,429 | $0 | $32,122 | $189,551 |
| SVP, OPERATIONS & INNOVATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,170 | $0 | $31,583 | $188,753 |
| VP, CREDIT RISK Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,101 | $0 | $37,404 | $188,505 |
| REG. VP, LENDING AND BUSINESS DEV. Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,130 | $0 | $26,858 | $170,988 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Ascendus (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $910K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b16 · 16 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 550
- Volunteers Part I, line 616
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Ascendus totaling $477K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Ascendus's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Ascendus, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Ascendus spent in 2025, $79.57 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Ascendus's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Ascendus reported that 79.6% of its $13.2 million in expenses went to program services, 14.1% to management and general and 6.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Ascendus pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Ascendus reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $430,966, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Ascendus get its money?
Of $14.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 57.8% came from contributions and grants (including 5.5% from government grants) and 37.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Ascendus a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 11-3317234 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202631829349300533 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202521359349309537 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442759349300459 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312859349302346 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349327298 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143169349305829 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202011979349300301 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 11-3317234: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.