A Desperate Need, an Amazing Opportunity, and an Incredible Group of Women
Every single day, against extraordinary odds, girls and women in Pakistan and Afghanistan gather through Ascend. In the midst of economic uncertainty, however, Ascend faces a critical financial shortfall. To keep the lights on, we need help — and so do the women and girls we serve.
This is not easy to write. We try to keep our online platforms as positive and upbeat as possible. After all, with so much despair and hardship in the world, we’ve always wanted our Instagram and Facebook accounts to be sources of hope and inspiration. But, as you read on, we know you’ll also understand where we’re coming from and why we can’t waste time mincing words.
As hard as this is to say, without an immediate influx of financial support, some of our programs cannot continue into 2027. Recently, we reached out to our community via email, and the results were breathtaking. So many of you donated and, in the process, gave us hope for the future of Ascend and the women we serve. But we’re not yet at the finish line.
Resources and Hope for Women Everywhere
Every single day, against extraordinary odds, girls and women in Afghanistan and Pakistan gather through Ascend. They step into spaces where they can move their bodies, clear their minds, and build a future. In Afghanistan, women and girls who’ve already lost so much rely on Ascend for learning, community, employment, physical wellness, and, above all, hope.
While so many organizations have been forced underground or out of Afghanistan entirely, Ascend continues to operate legally and openly. That makes us a rare and crucial lifeline for women living under a regime determined to make them invisible.
Our women and girls have incredible stories.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter and find out for yourself.
Our local teams achieve quiet, incredible victories every day. But without more consistent and permanent financial resources, those victories will come to a screeching halt. We cannot let that happen. The need is critical, and the timeline is short. To keep our doors open, our staff employed, and our participants safe and supported through the coming year, we need our community to step forward now.
But we still need to raise $200,000 if we want to remain fully operational next year.
A Match that Gets Us Halfway With Your Help
To improve the odds, one of our generous donors has offered to match every gift between now and the end of the year, up to $50,000. If successful, that match would bring us halfway to our goal. This is where your help becomes critical.
Whether you’ve given before or are considering your first gift, every dollar makes a vital impact. Here is how you can help us bridge this funding gap today:
Become a monthly recurring donor: A commitment as modest as $10/month provides steady, reliable support we can count on.
Make a one-time gift: A contribution of any amount immediately fuels our active programs.
Give through a donor-advised fund (DAF): Include Ascend in your DAF grant recommendations this season.
Donate stock directly through Ascend’s website.
Connect us to institutional support: Recommend Ascend to a private or family foundation in your network.
Double your gift through employer matching programs. Check with your workplace to see if this applies to you.
Change the trajectory of a girl's entire life.
From one-time gifts to recurring monthly donations, donor-advised funds, gifts of stock, employer matching programs, or in-kind services, there are so many ways you can help Ascend remain active and open for the women who need us.
Without our donors, Ascend never could have made it this far—or made the incredible impact we’ve seen through the years.Today, I’m asking you once more to help us bridge the gap so we can continue our work and mission.
Thank you for your generosity, your partnership, and your commitment to ensuring these crucial spaces remain open. Remember: Your gift of any size — be it $5 or $5,000 — could be the one that tips the scales so that Ascend can keep the door open and continue to be a shining light for women everywhere.
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