Supports increased access to and success in post-secondary Education as a national grantmaker, a federal student loan guaranty agency and a provider of student sucess services

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.2M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $175.1M a year · 47% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.2M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $61.1M
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$12.2M
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$267.0M
-10% vs prior year
Spent
$169.3M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$210.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$267.0M
FY2024▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$427.3M
FY2021$467.3M
FY2022$388.9M
FY2023$298.2M
FY2024$267.0M
Expenses
$169.3M
FY2024▲ +42%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$313.2M
FY2021$204.8M
FY2022$166.6M
FY2023$119.5M
FY2024$169.3M
Net assets
$210.4M
FY2024▼ -35%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$104.2M
FY2021$66.7M
FY2022$243.8M
FY2023$322.6M
FY2024$210.4M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1997.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $155.5M Management & general 8% · $13.8M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $2.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO - Aes
$567,962Pt VII · Sec A
VP - Repayment Solutions
$326,486Pt VII · Sec A
VP - Pol & Reg Compliance
$326,146Pt VII · Sec A
Systems Analyst
$180,667Pt VII · Sec A
Director - Claims Review
$165,570Pt VII · Sec A
Attigo SR Mktg Strategist
$162,474Pt VII · Sec A
Director - Recovery Admin
$152,780Pt VII · Sec A
National Sales Director
$149,464Pt VII · Sec A

Jeffery E Crosby - 3’s $568K as President & CEO - Aes is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 674 $100M+ education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jeffery E Crosby - 3$567,962$557,987$547,044——
Jeff Crosby 3———$521,604$496,743
Beth a Erickson - 3$326,486$316,742———
Jacqueline J Fairbairn - 3$326,146$314,735$302,969——
Beth a Erickson——$305,679——
Beth Erickson 3———$300,765$284,373
Jacqueline Fairbairn 3———$298,454$278,698
Amy Kobishop 3———$284,526$275,086

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Ascendium Education Solutions INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Funds national grants, guarantees student loans, and supports local community programs to increase access and success in post-secondary education.

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3 programs · $155.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Ascendium education solutions, inc. Operates to provide cost effective enablement of access to and success in post-secondary education by providing full-range guaranty agency services to educational institutions and others in pursuit of and participation in post-secondary education in accordance with the federal higher education act of…

$154.9Mprogram expense
02

Impact investing is one of the key ways we accomplish our mission to champion opportunity for everyone. Our investments advance change to postsecondary education and workforce training systems through new technologies and solutions so more learners can achieve their academic and career goals through education related venture equity and…

$512Kprogram expense
03

Ascendium education solutions, inc. Provides philanthropic support for local communities - where its employees live and work, primarily concentrated in madison, wisconsin. This support includes education-focused community giving, an employee giving program, and financial and personnel support for community services that align with our…

$45Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2022
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$61.1M
Grants paid · 1,017 grants · $509.0M · 2020–2024
Merit AmericaDC · FY2024$7,560,000
MdrcNY · FY2024$7,363,369
Louisiana Board of RegentsFY2024$3,325,000
Blue Meridian Partners INCNY · FY2024$3,000,000
Achieving the Dream INCMD · FY2024$2,846,040
New Venture FundDC · FY2024$2,682,500
Social Finance INCMA · FY2024$2,503,500
State of OhioFY2024$2,392,500
Vera Institute of Justice INCNY · FY2024$2,372,898
The Aspen Institute INCDC · FY2024$2,364,100
Jobs for the Future INCMA · FY2024$2,294,402
Ithaka Harbors INCNY · FY2024$2,031,450
Per Scholas INCNY · FY2024$2,000,000
See all 1,017 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$267.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$253.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.7M
Money outPt IX
$169.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$155.5M
Managementcol C$13.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$210.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$137.7M
Total assetsLn 16$222.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$12.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A16
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Fees for servicesLn 2g$253.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$10.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.7M
Total revenueLn 12$267.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1−$70K
SavingsLn 2$137.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$137.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$41.7M
Total assetsLn 16$222.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$12.2M
Net assetsLn 32$210.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5197
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$215.1M$137.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$351.5M$222.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$28.9M$12.2M
Net assetsLn 32$322.6M$210.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$117.6M$117.6M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.6M$1.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.8M$944K$854K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10.7M$10.1M$566K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$907K$859K$48K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.1M$2.0M$113K
Payroll taxesLn 10$736K$697K$39K
Legal feesLn 11b$537K$537K
Accounting feesLn 11c$69K$69K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1K$1K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.8M$1.8M$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$398K$398K
Office expensesLn 13$968K$968K
Information technologyLn 14$4.1M$4.1M
TravelLn 17$186K$152K$34K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$32K$32K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$8K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$25.7M$14.2M$11.5M
All other expensesLn 24e$48K$48K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$169.3M$155.5M$13.8M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $267.0M$169.3M$97.7M$210.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $298.2M$119.5M$178.7M$322.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $388.9M$166.6M$222.4M$243.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $467.3M$204.8M$262.5M$66.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $427.3M$313.2M$114.0M$104.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $266,994,248 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$0
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $284,947,927$253,446,464
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,122,893$10,801,794
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,121,826$2,745,990
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $298,192,646$266,994,248
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $73,002,419$119,269,181
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $15,716,246$16,227,321
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $30,785,852$33,801,998
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $119,504,517$169,298,500
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $178,688,129$97,695,748
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $266,994,248 across 6 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $288,962 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$0
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $253,157,502$253,157,502
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $10,801,794$10,801,794
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,738,827 · Unrelated business $7,163$2,745,990
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $256,185,291 · Unrelated business $7,163 · Excluded from tax $10,801,794$266,994,248
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $169,298,500 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $117,632,931$117,632,931
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,636,250$1,636,250
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $944,117 · Management $853,873$1,797,990
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $10,087,801 · Management $565,782$10,653,583
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $859,019 · Management $48,179$907,198
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,018,994 · Management $113,236$2,132,230
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $697,216 · Management $39,104$736,320
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $537,487$537,487
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $68,633$68,633
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $1,203$1,203
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,783,230 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,783,230
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $398,438$398,438
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $967,701$967,701
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,109,317$4,109,317
IX-17 TravelPrograms $152,328 · Management $34,155$186,483
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $32,204$32,204
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,627$7,627
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,159,792 · Management $11,502,308$25,662,100
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $47,575 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$47,575
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $155,535,743 · Management $13,762,757 · Fundraising $0$169,298,500
Part X · Balance sheet $222,593,303 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year −$64,035−$70,344
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $215,143,566$137,763,674
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $90,913,281$42,312,503
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $335,701$862,034
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $45,135,551$41,725,436
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $351,464,064$222,593,303
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,209,274$3,771,157
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,979,635$376,621
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $20,712,821$8,049,184
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $28,901,730$12,196,962
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $322,562,334$210,396,341
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $322,562,334$210,396,341
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $351,464,064$222,593,303
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $210,396,341 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$266,994,248
XI-2 Total expenses$169,298,500
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$97,695,748
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$322,562,334
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$138,259
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$210,000,000
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$210,396,341

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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