Ascend Digital Strategies

We’re a full service digital firm.

Delivering results, not just metrics. If the path to victory were as simple as blasting poll-tested content out across the internet, then every campaign would succeed. We work in partnership with our clients to package their unique story into digital content that is both compelling and data-driven — motivating the right people to read, to listen, and most importantly, to act.

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What We Do

Grassroots Fundraising

Small-dollar donors are the lifeblood of many campaigns. We’ll help you raise money through the full suite of digital tools available — from email to texting to social media — armed with industry best-practices to maximize the return on your investment, capitalize on emerging trends and, mostly importantly, meet your audience where they are.

List Building

All campaigns depend on building relationships with hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. Whether it’s for fundraising, volunteering, or voter turnout, we’ll help you build, grow, and engage a robust list of targeted contacts — while avoiding spam filters.

Message and Strategy

We work with your team to craft a winning message that reflects your authentic story and will resonate with the public. Then, we devise a step-by-step roadmap for delivering that message to the people who matter.

Media Buying

Whether it’s displaying your ads on YouTube, Hulu, Facebook, CTV, OTV, or across the web, we use cutting-edge targeting technology and industry best practices to ensure that every dollar you invest is spent on reaching the right audience.

Video Production & Design

Video remains the richest and most dynamic storytelling medium online. We are a one-stop shop for video development, from concept to post-production editing.

We also craft and publish engaging, on-message ad copy, graphics, and websites to make people stop scrolling and pay attention.

How We Do It

Our philosophy is that for digital content to matter, it needs to tell an authentic story.

Delivery Time

We conceive, produce, vet, and publish high-quality digital content under tight deadlines. We don’t just keep up with the news cycle; we make it work to our advantage.

Accessibility

This is one of our core values. We are committed to working closely with you to build a digital program that caters to your needs and surpasses your expectations.

Reporting

We give you the unvarnished truth, backed up by hard data, so that together we can double down on what’s working, change course when needed, and maximize the return on your investment.

Our Team

Craig Frucht, Partner

Craig is an experienced communications strategist who has served in high-level positions in local, state, and federal politics. At Ascend, he specializes in messaging and strategy, script and content development, and email marketing. Prior to launching Ascend, Craig was a long-time senior advisor to Governor Jared Polis (D-Colo.), serving as his Congressional Press Secretary and later leading speechwriting and messaging for his successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign. Craig’s experience also includes serving as Communications Director for former Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) as well as managing digital media campaigns for nonprofits and private sector companies throughout the Western United States.

Michael Sparks, Partner

Michael is a Coloradan with seven cycles of campaign experience who specializes in digital strategy on Western campaigns. At Ascend, he specializes in video production, website development, and buying and targeting. Prior to launching Ascend, Michael led digital operations for Governor Jared Polis (D-Colo.), first in his Congressional office and later on his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, for which Michael directed and oversaw an award-winning digital program that received widespread acclaim. Michael’s experience also includes serving on presidential campaigns, managing digital operations for a variety of startup businesses, and working as an organizer on Democratic campaigns across the nation.

Bailey Mohr, Principal

Bailey is an experienced digital strategist who’s raised more than $100 million online for Democratic candidates and causes. As a Principal at Ascend, she specializes in digital fundraising strategy, list-building and email and text message marketing. Before joining Ascend, she served as Senior Advisor for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) campaign, building a first-of-its-kind digital fundraising and persuasion program to reelect Senator Schumer to a historic fifth term and expand Democrats’ majority in the U.S. Senate. She also was Digital Director for Governor Steve Bullock’s (D-Mont.) campaigns for president and U.S. Senate. Throughout her career, she’s led innovative online fundraising programs for campaigns at every level, from state legislative races to some of the most competitive Senate and special election campaigns in the country.

Tori DeGiosio, Director of Fundraising

Tori brings creative and data-driven techniques to the Ascend team as Director of Digital Fundraising and Web Design. She has extensive experience helping progressive candidates, non-profits, ballot initiatives, and more achieve and surpass their digital fundraising goals. As a native Pennsylvania, Tori served as Digital Director for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s re-election in 2018, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s re-election campaign in 2020, surpassing fundraising goals from small-dollar donations and keeping campaigns at the forefront of emerging trends. Previously, she led a creative team overseeing the online fundraising and digital advocacy for a variety of progressive organizations, ballot initiatives, PACs, and non-profits for multiple election cycles, ensuring email list growth and health in addition to raising millions in competitive cycles.

Remy, Pawlitics Associate

Remy is one sharp pup who works as a Pawlitics Associate at Ascend, and knows how to fetch results. With his ability to stay ahead of the pack and always sniff out the latest trends, he’s a true top dog in the industry. Whether it’s crafting the pawfect message or unleashing a barketing campaign, Remy’s always eager to put his pawlitics degree to work!

Let’s make progress together.

Are you looking to build awareness for a cause, recruit volunteers, raise money, or win an election? Contact us today.