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Amplifying Impact Through Purposeful Public Relations

Ascendium Education Group Logo
Expertise Delivered
Messaging Strategy, Public Relations
The Challenge

Ascendium Education Group’s mission is to make education and training beyond high school a reality for learners from low-income backgrounds.

Following a major rebrand and restructure in 2019, Ascendium faced a critical challenge: despite their significant philanthropic investments, they lacked strong name recognition and were struggling to gain media traction for the transformative work they were funding.

They needed more than visibility — they needed authentic stories that demonstrated how their grants were changing lives and systems in Wisconsin.

Our Approach

Building Trust and Telling Human Stories

Rather than focusing on self-promotion, The Creative Company positioned Ascendium as a humble, mission-driven funder whose impact is seen most clearly through the success of its grant partners.

We created a targeted media relations strategy centered around:

  • Developing a clear, consistent messaging framework emphasizing Ascendium’s role in solving educational inequities.
  • Proactively building relationships with key journalists in education and philanthropy beats nationwide.
  • Crafting compelling narratives about grantees’ successes and learners’ stories to make the outcomes tangible and relatable.
Wisconsin State Journal cover story highlighting Literacy Network's volunteer tutoring, supported by Ascendium.
Newspaper article from the Wisconsin State Journal featuring Ascendium-supported CDL training programs.
Ascendium feature in In Business Madison’s 2024 Corporate Giving Guide.
Hands holding a phone displaying a press release for Ascendium Education Group.
Nonprofit leaders attend a media training event hosted by Ascendium and presented by The Creative Company in Madison, WI.
Press and community members gather at a Milwaukee event hosted by Ascendium and All-In Milwaukee.

The Results of Consistent Public Relations

Increased Visibility and Recognition
  • Earned media placements grew by 133% in the first year of our engagement and another 29% in the following year across top-tier and regional outlets in Wisconsin.
  • Coverage highlights included features in the Wisconsin State Journal and CNN.
  • Established trusted relationships with journalists, resulting in multiple repeat coverage opportunities.
  • Improved partner and grant recipient participation in media initiatives, enhancing storytelling pipelines and credibility.
Shifting the Narrative
  • Positioned Ascendium as a thoughtful leader in education philanthropy without shifting the spotlight away from its partners and beneficiaries.
  • Helped frame larger systemic challenges in education access through human-centered storytelling.
★★★★★

“We were really impressed with your team and what you provided, and it’s not always an easy crowd, so kudos to you. You were well prepared, brought structure to the conversation and still made room to explore our frolics and detours. The session and your guidance were tremendously helpful, especially compared to other experiences we’ve had. Thank you for your excellent work and thoughtful approach to crisis communications.”

 
Rebecca Rapp
Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
★★★★★

“We were really impressed with your team and what you provided, and it’s not always an easy crowd, so kudos to you. You were well prepared, brought structure to the conversation and still made room to explore our frolics and detours. The session and your guidance were tremendously helpful, especially compared to other experiences we’ve had. Thank you for your excellent work and thoughtful approach to crisis communications.”

 
Rebecca Rapp, General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer | Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
Rebecca Rapp
Ascendium Education Group, Inc.