Ascend Academy

Ascend Academy is our learning lab for change agents—designed to equip leaders, creatives, and mission-driven organizations with the tools to define, deepen, and drive their impact. Through hands-on courses and curated learning experiences, participants gain clarity, strategy, and community to elevate their work and expand their reach.



Powered by Ascend Solutions, a social impact firm specializing in storytelling and strategy for mission-driven organizations, these courses are built on real, proven methods. Our strategies have helped nonprofits raise over $1,300,000, scale their impact and strengthen their systems. This isn’t theory—it’s a roadmap to results.

KNOWledge to Income: Turning Your Expertise into Sustainable Revenue

February 24, 10:00-11:00AM EST (Virtual)

Facilitator: Dr. Taylor Spencer


Many mission-driven leaders, creatives, and changemakers hold powerful knowledge rooted in lived experience, education, and practice — yet struggle to translate that expertise into sustainable income. This session helps participants move from underutilized knowledge to intentional, aligned revenue streams.


KNOWledge to Income guides participants through the process of identifying what they already know, packaging it into meaningful offerings, and connecting with the right audience in ways that feel authentic and sustainable. Rather than chasing trends or compromising purpose, this workshop centers clarity, alignment, and confidence in building income around your expertise.

You’ll learn how to:

  1. Move beyond undervaluing your expertise by identifying the skills, insights, and lived experiences that can become viable income streams.
  2. Learn how to package your knowledge into offerings such as workshops, consulting, speaking, courses, or creative products.
  3. Understand how to identify and reach the audience most aligned with your expertise and purpose.
  4. Learn how to price and position your offerings in a way that reflects value while remaining accessible and mission-aligned.
  5. Leave with a practical framework and next steps to begin turning your knowledge into sustainable, purpose-driven income.


The cost is $100 per person.

Building Careers That Scale Your Mission: Strategic Talent Development for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

March 12, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST  (Virtual)

Facilitator: Cameryn Mitchell


Strong missions require strong people — and this session is designed to help nonprofit and social enterprise leaders build teams that grow alongside their impact. Rather than treating talent development as an afterthought, this workshop centers people as a core strategy for sustainable growth.


Building Careers That Scale Your Mission explores how leaders can attract, develop, and retain mission-aligned talent while navigating limited resources, capacity constraints, and burnout risks.


Participants will learn how to intentionally design career pathways that support both individual growth and organizational goals, creating teams that are engaged, resilient, and equipped to meet long-term demands.

You'll learn how to:

  1. Build intentional career pathways that align employee growth with your organization’s mission and long-term goals.
  2. Attract and retain mission-aligned talent, even with limited budgets and resources.
  3. Identify and address burnout and capacity gaps before they undermine staff well-being and organizational effectiveness.
  4. Create team structures and development practices that support sustainability, engagement, and performance.
  5. Walk away with clear, actionable strategies to strengthen your workforce and support long-term organizational growth.


The cost is $85 per person.