Ascend Fund

Advancing a Just Economy—Together

Building on the success of Ignite Fund, Ascend Fund is our next bold step in transforming Baltimore's neighborhood economies through community-rooted entrepreneurs and creative capital.

Our purpose remains the same: to close the wealth gap by investing in people, enterprises, and ideas too often overlooked by traditional capital.
Ignite Fund served as a proof of concept—investing over $3 million and supporting 603 jobs and 42 enterprises—demonstrating the power of aligned capital and community trust.

Now, Ascend Fund expands our reach—strategically growing what works, seeding new possibilities, and crowding in a coalition of co-investors, public/private partners, and visionaries like you.

How is Ascend Fund building on our success?

We Invest Differently—By Design.

 

Growing Local Neighborhood Economies: Investing in place-based strategies that support entrepreneurs who are rooted in the community and committed to job creation and revitalization.

Wealth Building for Founders & Families: Prioritizing capital structures that allow entrepreneurs to retain ownership, build equity, and circulate dollars locally.

Creative Capital for Mission-Minded Entrepreneurs: Providing flexible, patient, and aligned capital in the form of venture debt, loans, revenue share, grants, and hybrid instruments that meet real-world needs.

Structured Co-Investor Network: Catalyzing layered capital from individuals, foundations, corporations, CDFIs, and government partners to multiply impact.

Increased Focus on Job-Creating Industries: Including manufacturing, health & wellness, early childhood education, neighborhood retail, and digital/tech-enabled services.

Measuring What Matters: Impact isn’t a byproduct, it’s the purpose.

We invest in entrepreneurs to grow a more equitable local economy. That means tracking more than just financial returns. Our approach to impact measurement is intentional, grounded in the real outcomes that matter for communities and households.

Core Areas of Impact - We track progress across four top-level impact areas:

  • Job Creation: Measuring full-time, part-time, and contract roles created through our investments.
  • Entrepreneur Equity: Supporting founders across lines of race, gender, and geography to ensure inclusive participation.
  • Enterprise Growth: Tracking revenue growth and business expansion across our portfolio.
  • Neighborhood Economic Vitality: Monitoring shifts in household income, local ownership, and access to goods, services, and jobs.

These metrics help us stay accountable to our mission, building community wealth and expanding opportunity where it's needed most.

Bianca Wise, Founder of Home Helpers®

Case Study: Home Helpers® is a Baltimore-based home care franchise founded in 2019 to empower seniors and individuals with disabilities to live safely and independently at home. Today, it operates two locations across the Baltimore Metro and Montgomery County, employing a 40-member team.

  • Jobs Created:Bianca’s franchise employs 47 people—28 Care Team members from Baltimore City, plus part-time HR and recruiting consultants and an independent contractor nurse—directly advancing our neighbourhood economic indicators.
  • Revenue Growth: Since launching two locations in 2019, Home Helpers® has seen consistent year-over-year growth, earning the Caring Stars Best Home Care Award in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

“I’ve been through the struggles of building a business, and I know how tough it can be. Like Ignite Capital was there for me, I want to be there for the next person. I have a lot to share, and being part of this community is incredible.”

 — Bianca Wise

95%

Women Employed

79%

Baltimore City-Residents Employed

97%

Persons of Color Employed

Investment Opportunities

Flexible Capital for Every Kind of Partner

Risk Mitigation

We recognize the risk of doing nothing is greater than the risk of betting on people with vision. Strategies include:

Join Us

Build With Us: Invest, Donate, Partner
We’re not just raising capital—we’re building a movement. Your participation powers transformation.

Ways to Engage:

Donate: Support our operating capacity, capacity building initiatives or loan loss reserves
Invest: Choose a note option aligned with your risk and return preferences
Co-Invest: Join us on direct investments into high-impact enterprises
Procure: Source from our entrepreneurs—products, services, or contracts