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A Coasterners Health Access Foundation program
Coasterners Ascend
Building pathways into digital health, health informatics, and STEM careers — so the communities most affected by health inequities help lead the systems that serve them.
Coasterners Health Access Foundation Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 42-2717249). Donations to the U.S. organization are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
What Ascend does
Ascend is our flagship pathways program. It connects learners and early-career professionals from underserved communities to the skills, mentors, and opportunities that turn interest in health and technology into careers that change health systems from within.
STEM & informatics exposure
Workshops and learning experiences that introduce youth to health informatics, data science, AI, and digital health careers.
Mentorship
Pairing participants with health professionals, researchers, and technologists who reflect the communities we serve.
Skills & workforce readiness
Practical training in digital health tools, data literacy, and professional skills that employers and health systems need.
Pathways to opportunity
Guidance toward education, certification, and early-career opportunities — with support that continues after the program ends.
Why it matters
Health systems are becoming digital — but the people building and running them rarely reflect the communities facing the greatest barriers to care. That gap shows up in the tools, the data, and ultimately the outcomes.
Ascend exists to close it. When people from underserved communities gain the skills to work in digital health and health informatics, two things happen at once: individual economic mobility rises, and health systems gain insiders who understand the barriers firsthand. That is health equity built to last.
Program Goals
What Ascend is working to deliver, year over year.
200
Underserved youth trained annually
100+
Participants matched with mentors
50
Industry-recognized certifications supported each year
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Participants connected to internships, research, or employment opportunities
Partners
AADFC
Africans and African descent living in St. Albert, AB, CA
Kampala International University
Academic partner supporting training and pathways into digital health and STEM careers.
Give to Coasterners Ascend
100% of your donation reaches Coasterners — our giving platform charges the foundation no platform or processing fees. One-time and monthly gifts are both welcome; monthly giving sustains programs year-round.
- $25 Learning materials for one participant
- $50 A seat in a hands-on digital health workshop
- $100 A month of mentorship matching and support
- $250 Certification support for one rising professional
Giving levels are illustrative of program costs; all gifts support Coasterners Ascend and the mission of Coasterners Health Access Foundation Inc.
Secure checkout via Zeffy · Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfer accepted.
Coasterners Health Access Foundation Inc. (United States) and Coasterners Health Access Foundation (Canada) are separate legal entities that share this website and a common mission.
Donations on this page are made to Coasterners Health Access Foundation Inc., a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 42-2717249), and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions unless otherwise stated.
Coasterners Health Access Foundation (Canada) has applied for registered charity status with the Canada Revenue Agency and cannot issue Canadian official donation receipts at this time.
Giving questions, answered
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes — donations on this page go to Coasterners Health Access Foundation Inc., a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 42-2717249), and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law. You'll receive a receipt by email automatically after giving.
I'm in Canada — can I get a Canadian tax receipt?
Not yet. Coasterners Health Access Foundation (Canada) has applied for registered charity status with the Canada Revenue Agency and cannot issue official Canadian donation receipts at this time. You're welcome to give to the U.S. organization, though the gift will not qualify for a Canadian tax credit.
How much of my gift reaches the program?
100% of your donation. Our giving platform charges the foundation no platform or processing fees, so every dollar you give goes to Coasterners.
What's the optional tip at checkout?
The tip goes to Zeffy, the free platform that processes our donations — it's how they keep the service free for nonprofits. It's entirely optional and separate from your donation to Coasterners; you can set it to zero and your full gift still reaches us. Tips to Zeffy are not tax-deductible.
Can I give monthly?
Yes — choose the monthly option on the form. Recurring gifts are the most powerful way to sustain Ascend, and you can change or cancel anytime.