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meet Ascendus

Our goal is to help business owners ascend to a better life. And while you’ll find us listed individually below, you can be sure that we work together as a team to ensure your success.

Victoria Richardson, Chief Development Officer

Victoria brings over a decade of transformative leadership to her role as Chief Development Officer at Ascendus. Since joining the organization in 2010, she has led efforts that have raised over $90 million to expand access to capital and financial coaching for small business owners nationwide—advancing our vision of financial ascension for all.

As CDO, Victoria is driving a bold strategic fundraising plan to amplify our impact and deepen our commitment to financial mobility. She is known not only for her accomplishments, but for her unwavering clarity, collaborative spirit, and deep care for people. Her leadership has shaped a high-performing development team and positioned Ascendus as a trusted partner to national funders and community allies alike.

Rooted in a belief in the power of partnership to spark sustainable change, Victoria blends vision, dedication, and mission alignment to cultivate the institutional support essential to our next chapter of growth—one defined by expanded reach, stronger relationships, and more inclusive opportunities for small business owners to ascend.

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