History

ACE is a non-profit IRS 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2000 by Denver businessman and philanthropist, Alex Cranberg, whose vision was to ensure that children of Colorado’s low-income families had access to quality K-12 education through scholarships. A lengthy period of initial investigation by Cranberg and other local business leaders corroborated that privately funded scholarships result in the following benefits:

  • Improved student academic performance 
  • Increased parental involvement
  • Increased personalized teacher attention
  • Disciplined and safe learning environment
  • Reduced racial conflicts
  • Reduced student delinquency

Now in its seventh year of existence, ACE is pleased to have worked with 157 private schools to serve over 1,800 at risk students across Colorado with total funding commitments exceeding $9 million.  The average income for ACE scholarship recipients is approximately $22,000 annually.  ACE is closing the achievement gap and increasing graduation rates:

  • 2004 – over 90% of ACE seniors graduated and 67% went on to college 
  • 2005 – over 90% of ACE seniors graduated and 86% went on to college
  • 2006 – over 90% of ACE seniors graduated and 78% went on to college.
ACE

Investment for a Lifetime

“Without the ACE Scholarship program, I would not know that I can be anything I want to be. The sky is the limit.” 

Ace Scholar, 8 years old