Ascendus, Inc. unlocks opportunities for small businesses
Praxis financing supports services for children with disabilities
Ascendus Inc. is a beacon of hope for small businesses, particularly those led by individuals from low-to-moderate-income backgrounds. As a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Ascendus is dedicated to fostering economic opportunity through access to capital and financial education. Since its founding in 1991, the organization has supported approximately 60,000 small businesses across 49 states, disbursing over $420 million in loans.
This investment not only strengthens financial resilience but also creates generational opportunities for business owners and their families. Ascendus actively tracks clients' progress, measuring both business outcomes—such as survival rates, job creation, and revenue growth—and household improvements like increased income and enhanced credit scores.
Partnering with local, national, public, and private entities, Ascendus maintains a strong presence in key regions, including New York, Florida, New England, Georgia, and Michigan. Through its technical assistance program, the organization reaches over 10,000 small businesses annually. Its dedicated Loan Consultants provide personalized support throughout the entire loan process, ensuring clients receive guidance tailored to their unique needs.
Impact story: Always Keep Progressing
Annie Tao, co-owner of Always Keep Progressing
Always Keep Progressing takes a holistic approach by integrating occupational, music, art, and speech therapy into a unified framework. This streamlined model eliminates the common challenges of fragmented care, reducing the burden on parents who would otherwise juggle multiple appointments across different locations. Many children relying on Medicaid also face significant obstacles in accessing these vital services, making the practice’s mission even more critical.
In under two years, Always Keep Progressing has seen remarkable growth, more than doubling its clientele and staff to serve over 50 clients with a team of 25 dedicated professionals. With the support of loan funding, the practice expanded its clinic, acquired new therapy equipment, and strengthened its workforce. To date, it has positively impacted over 400 families across Miami and is now planning to open a second location. Committed to continuous growth, Always Keep Progressing has also introduced additional services, including feeding therapy and expressive therapy, further enhancing its comprehensive care model.
The Praxis commitment
Praxis Mutual Funds supports organizations through investments in Calvert Impact, an impact-investing institution that helps people around the world through community development financing. It’s part of the Praxis commitment to place approximately 1% of each of its funds to benefit neighborhoods and individuals through community investments.