{"id":11210,"date":"2023-06-26T13:56:01","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T13:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/?p=11210"},"modified":"2025-11-13T21:06:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:06:57","slug":"5-big-wins-for-higher-education-advancement-teams-using-uc-innovation-ascend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamheller.com\/resources\/blog\/5-big-wins-for-higher-education-advancement-teams-using-uc-innovation-ascend","title":{"rendered":"5 Big Wins for Higher Education Advancement Teams Using Kindsight Ascend"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we started working with Ascend from UC Innovation<\/a> (now Kindsight) a couple of years ago, we were excited about its potential as a modern software solution built on the Salesforce platform to help higher education advancement teams reach their goals. Since then, we\u2019ve had many opportunities to see the technology up close as an Ascend certified implementation partner helping universities install, configure, customize, and use the solution.<\/p>\n

The result? We\u2019re even more<\/em> excited about how the technology helps advancement teams manage their fundraising, accelerate advancement efforts, and provide personalized experiences for alumni.<\/p>\n

Here are five aspects of Ascend that we at Heller Consulting see as big wins for higher ed advancement teams:
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Comprehensive functionality for advancement<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most colleges and universities that we see implementing Ascend are moving to it from fundraising solutions that lack the ability to support processes unique to higher education advancement. For the advancement teams at these schools, Ascend is a game changer.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why: Ascend was built from the start for advancement and development in collaboration with higher education institutions. Also, UC Innovation continually incorporates feedback from customers into the product, so it\u2019s always improving and evolving to meet the needs of development teams.<\/p>\n

For example, Ascend handles common, yet complex, advancement needs that extend beyond the capabilities of typical fundraising software, such as multiple gift designations and extensive relationship management history.<\/p>\n

From our perspective, it\u2019s the most comprehensive solution on the market today that\u2019s built on the Salesforce platform.<\/p>\n

2. Helpful integrations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In addition to its core modules, including bio demographics, prospect management, and gift processing, Ascend offers a constituent portal that allows constituents to make donations, view their giving history, and update their personal data. Beyond these modules, the product integrates with multiple tools to extend its functionality.<\/p>\n

For example, UC Innovation includes another native Salesforce app with Ascend called ruli<\/a>. It provides the ability to aggregate data, such as total giving from the past calendar year. It also allows provides the ability to add, update, and delete records based on user-defined rules as well as perform these updates on a recurring schedule.<\/p>\n

Since Ascend is built on the Salesforce platform, it also integrates well with popular marketing automation tools, such as Marketing Cloud and Marketing Cloud Account Engagement<\/a> (formerly called Pardot).<\/p>\n

Some other apps and products Ascend integrates well with include:<\/p>\n