ASCEND CASE STUDY

Ascend: Using authorship, convening, and facilitation to strengthen philanthropic investment in 2Gen

Ascend at the Aspen Institute has long been a leader in championing two-generation (2Gen) approaches that support both children and the adults in their lives. I partnered with Ascend to strengthen philanthropic engagement, build funder capacity, and advance learning around intergenerational family well-being. My work spanned research, authorship, convening, and facilitation—culminating in a set of resources and experiences designed to deepen funder understanding and spark greater investment in whole-family approaches.

The Project

The 2Gen Investment Case Report:

  • The 2Gen Investment Case Repoirt: As lead author of The 2Gen Investment Case: Making the Most of Capital in All Its Forms, I documented over $500 million in public and private investments in 2Gen approaches over the past decade, including $114 million invested through six federal pilots and initiatives, $273 million invested by six states, and nearly $200 million from philanthropy. The report elevated:

  • Insights from federal, state, and philanthropic investments in 2Gen approaches

  • Key lessons from funders and practitioners to scale impact

  • Grantmaking considerations and areas for future focus

  • Funders Learning and Action Community: I convened and facilitated a group of innovative funders interested in deepening their understanding of 2Gen strategies and exploring opportunities to apply these approaches in their own portfolios.

  • FunderXChange: I designed, implemented, and assisted in evaluating this two-day peer learning convening held in Washington, DC. The event brought together funders, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and parents to reflect on accomplishments in the 2Gen movement, share lessons, and identify opportunities for collaboration and new investment.

The Approach

  • Authored a flagship publication synthesizing insights on over $500 million in 2Gen investments.

  • Facilitated a funder Learning and Action Community to foster shared learning and inform philanthropic strategy.

  • Designed a peer convening that balanced funder-led dialogue, community voice, and evidence.

  • Captured funder feedback and assessed the convenings’ effectiveness to inform future steps in the field.

The Results

Together, these efforts advanced Ascend’s mission to build evidence and expand investment in two-generation strategies. The 2Gen Investment Case provided the philanthropic field with a powerful tool to understand past investments and chart the way forward. The Learning and Action Community created a space for funders to explore practical applications of 2Gen strategies. The FunderXChange convening strengthened the ecosystem of funders committed to intergenerational well-being by connecting them with research, practitioner experience, and parent voices.

By combining authorship, research, facilitation, and strategic advising, this work assisted Ascend in rallying funders around a shared vision: supporting whole families so that children and the adults in their lives can thrive together.