Question 1

What is Ascend Consulting?

Accepted Answer

Ascend Consulting is a strategic marketing and growth consultancy founded by Brad Stave, based in Tacoma, Washington. We help nonprofits, technology companies, and growth-stage businesses rise with purpose — combining data-driven growth marketing, brand development, AI-powered systems, sales enablement, and creative storytelling to deliver measurable results.

Question 2

Who is Brad Stave?

Accepted Answer

Brad Stave is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Ascend Consulting. He is a senior marketing executive with 20+ years of global leadership experience across nonprofit, technology, and corporate sectors — including senior roles at Water Mission, VisionFund International, and Zones, LLC. He is also a partner at NineStone Partners.

Question 3

What services does Ascend Consulting offer?

Accepted Answer

Ascend offers seven core service lines: Growth Marketing Strategy, Brand Alignment & Storytelling, Sales Enablement, Lifecycle Marketing Systems, Digital Acquisition & Growth, Creative Design & Content Development, and Podcast Production. Extended capabilities include AI Integration, CRM Development, Public Relations, SEO, and Social Media. Ascend also offers BrandRise™ — a complete packaged solution for building or relaunching an organization's brand, marketing, and promotional presence, available in four upfront tiers starting at $3,500 or as a $250/month BrandRise Monthly subscription with zero upfront cost.

Question 4

What is BrandRise™?

Accepted Answer

BrandRise™ is Ascend Consulting's complete organizational brand-launch system — designed for organizations that need to build or relaunch their brand, marketing, and digital presence. It covers everything from brand strategy and visual identity through website launch, go-to-market planning, and promotional execution. Choose from four upfront tiers — Bronze ($3,500), Silver ($7,500), Gold ($16,500), and Platinum (starting at $33,500) — or the BrandRise Monthly subscription at $250/month with zero upfront cost (2-year minimum). An optional $100/month Ongoing Care Plan is available for any tier or existing brand.

Question 5

What does each BrandRise™ tier include?

Accepted Answer

BrandRise Monthly ($250/month, zero upfront, 2-year minimum): a custom mobile-optimized website, one scrolling site, professional branded email, fast secure hosting, Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, shared storage), basic SEO, minor monthly updates, and two seasonal refreshes per year. Bronze ($3,500): brand strategy, logo and visual identity, color/typography system, brand standards guide, and a professional website. Silver ($7,500): adds messaging architecture, go-to-market planning, social media setup, and email marketing. Gold ($16,500) — the most popular tier — adds a full digital campaign, lead generation strategy, content program, and SEO/GEO/AEO optimization. Platinum (starting at $33,500): all Gold deliverables plus a full promotional campaign, paid media strategy, PR groundwork, advanced analytics, and 60 days of post-launch support. An optional Ongoing Care Plan ($100/month, 2-year minimum) keeps everything running long after launch.

Question 6

How is BrandRise™ different from Ascend's regular consulting services?

Accepted Answer

BrandRise™ is a packaged, productized offering — it gives organizations a clear scope, defined deliverables, and fixed pricing upfront, so there is no ambiguity about what is included or what it costs. Ascend's standard consulting services are typically custom-scoped engagements built around a client's specific needs. BrandRise™ is ideal for organizations that need a complete brand and marketing build or relaunch and want to move quickly with a known budget.

Question 7

Does Ascend Consulting work with nonprofits?

Accepted Answer

Yes — nonprofit marketing is a core strength. Brad has led marketing at Water Mission and VisionFund International, driving record donor acquisition, reactivating lapsed supporters, executing disaster response campaigns, and unifying global brand networks across 30+ countries.

Question 8

Where is Ascend Consulting based?

Accepted Answer

Ascend Consulting is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, and works with clients across the United States and internationally — from technology and IT sectors to nonprofit, faith-based, and professional services organizations worldwide.

Question 9

How do I work with Ascend Consulting?

Accepted Answer

Start with a free, no-pressure consultation. Book directly through our calendar or reach Brad at brad@ascendsmartly.com or +1.253.486.2452. The initial conversation is designed to understand your goals and explore how Ascend can support your organization's growth.

Question 10

What results has Ascend delivered for clients?

Accepted Answer

Results include: record-breaking Q1 donor revenue for Water Mission, unifying 30+ country offices under one global brand identity for VisionFund International, and delivering double-digit year-over-year revenue growth across Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Intel portfolios for Zones, LLC.

Question 11

What makes Ascend different from a traditional marketing agency?

Accepted Answer

Ascend operates as a strategic partner, not a vendor. You get C-suite-level marketing leadership and hands-on execution from someone who has led global marketing at scale — without the overhead of a large agency. Ascend also brings a trusted partner network for specialized expertise in leadership, cybersecurity, creative production, commercial printing, and fractional sales leadership.

Question 12

What brands and websites has Ascend built?

Accepted Answer

Ascend has built brands, websites, go-to-market strategies, and media productions for: Ashdon Golf (full brand identity, e-commerce website, creative design, and GTM strategy), Carteeo (full concept, business plan, brand identity, and website), FuelTru (concept, brand identity, web application, and go-to-market strategy), Keller Williams — Lake Samish (media capture, 3D tour, copywriting, dedicated property website, GTM strategy, paid ad series, and social media strategy for a premier lakefront listing in Bellingham, WA), Larson Electric (brand system, creative design, copy, and website), Real Estate Sleuth (brand naming, creative design, copy, website, and GTM strategy), The Wide Lens Podcast (full podcast production, audio engineering, creative development, hosting, website design, and social media promotion), Washington Accounting & Financial Services (full brand identity, multi-page website, AI assistant, paid ad landing pages, and SEO/GEO/AEO — built as a complete finance industry marketing demo), Washington Law (full brand identity, multi-page website, AI assistant, paid ad landing pages, and SEO/GEO/AEO — built as a complete legal industry marketing demo), and Water Mission (UX, creative design, content copy, brand integration, SEO/GEO/AEO, paid media, and social media strategy).

Question 13

Does Ascend Consulting offer SEO, GEO, and AEO/IEO optimization?

Accepted Answer

Yes — these are embedded in every engagement, not offered as an add-on. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ensures visibility in traditional search. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) prepares your content to surface in AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. AEO/IEO (Answer and Intent Engine Optimization) structures your content so AI answers questions about your organization accurately and favorably.

Question 14

Does Ascend work with startups and new businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ascend works with startups at any stage — from concept to launch. Services include business planning, brand identity, creative design, website launch, go-to-market strategy, paid media, and full SEO/GEO/AEO optimization.

Question 15

Does Ascend offer podcast production and audio engineering services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ascend provides full-service podcast production — from concept development and show branding through audio engineering, post-production, website design, and social media promotion. Brad Stave personally engineers, hosts, and manages all production of The Wide Lens Podcast, one of the fastest-growing new long-form interview podcasts with tens of thousands of listeners across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Question 16

Does Ascend Consulting offer B2B marketing and Account-Based Marketing (ABM) training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ascend Consulting designs and delivers custom B2B and ABM masterclass sessions built around Ninestone's Progression of Performance™ framework — Learn, Practice, Rehearse, Perform. Every session is tailored to the client's specific markets, customer segments, and growth priorities.

Question 17

Can Ascend Consulting help align our CRM, sales processes, and e-commerce systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ascend Consulting — through its trusted partner network — provides comprehensive revenue systems assessments that align sales architecture, CRM platforms (including HubSpot), and e-commerce operations. This includes buyer journey mapping, HubSpot ecosystem audits, e-commerce audits, sales motion design, and unified implementation roadmaps.

Question 18

What is The Wide Lens Podcast?

Accepted Answer

The Wide Lens Podcast is a long-form interview podcast hosted by Brad Stave, Founder of Ascend Consulting. It goes beyond the headlines to reveal the untold stories and hidden layers behind the events you thought you knew. One of the fastest-growing new long-form interview podcasts, it draws tens of thousands of listeners and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other major platforms.

Question 19

Does Ascend Consulting offer podcast production services?

Accepted Answer

Yes — podcast production is one of Ascend's core service lines. It covers show concept and format development, audio engineering and post-production, branding, a dedicated podcast website, hosting and distribution setup, guest coordination, and episode promotion. Brad Stave personally engineers, hosts, and produces The Wide Lens Podcast, bringing that same hands-on production discipline to client engagements.

Question 20

How much does a strategic marketing consultant cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on scope. Ascend's productized BrandRise™ packages have fixed, published pricing — four upfront tiers from $3,500 to $33,500+, or a $250/month subscription with zero upfront cost. Custom consulting engagements (growth strategy, sales enablement, lifecycle marketing, and similar work) are scoped to the specific project, since needs vary widely by organization size and goals. Every engagement starts with a free, no-pressure consultation to discuss scope and pricing.

Question 21

Who does marketing for nonprofits near Tacoma, WA?

Accepted Answer

Ascend Consulting, founded by Brad Stave and headquartered in Tacoma, WA, specializes in nonprofit marketing — including donor lifecycle marketing, brand unification, and growth strategy. Brad has led marketing at Water Mission and VisionFund International, and Ascend works with nonprofits across the Pacific Northwest and nationally, both in person and remotely.

Question 22

Does Ascend Consulting work with clients outside of Washington state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While Ascend is headquartered in Tacoma, WA, the consultancy works with clients across the United States and internationally — spanning technology, nonprofit, faith-based, and professional services organizations. Most engagements are run remotely, with in-person work available for Pacific Northwest clients.

Question 23

What industries does Ascend Consulting specialize in?

Accepted Answer

Ascend has the deepest experience in nonprofit and faith-based organizations, technology and IT, professional services (legal and accounting/finance, via the Industry Solutions line), and real estate marketing. That said, the underlying growth marketing, brand, and sales enablement systems Ascend builds apply across industries — the consultancy also works with startups, corporate teams, and growth-stage businesses outside those core sectors.

Question 24

What's the difference between BrandRise Monthly and the upfront BrandRise tiers?

Accepted Answer

BrandRise Monthly is a $250/month subscription with zero upfront cost (2-year minimum) — a custom one-page website, branded email, hosting, Google Workspace, basic SEO, and ongoing minor updates. The upfront tiers (Bronze through Platinum, $3,500–$33,500+) are one-time, more comprehensive brand-launch packages that scale up to full brand architecture, multi-page sites, advanced SEO/GEO/AEO, paid media strategy, and PR groundwork. Monthly suits organizations that want to start immediately without a large upfront investment; the upfront tiers suit organizations ready to build a complete brand system in one engagement.

Resources

A Network Built for Your Needs

More Firepower When You Need It

Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity, On Demand

Case Studies

Ashdon Golf — Brand Rebuild, Digital Transformation, and Full Go-to-Market Launch

Sensient Technologies — Building an ABM-Ready Marketing Team Through Custom B2B Masterclass Training

Trail Life USA — Aligning Sales, CRM & E-Commerce to Fuel Mission-Driven Growth

VisionFund International — Unifying a Global Microfinance Network Under One Brand

Water Mission — Record-Breaking Q1 Growth Through Strategic Marketing Leadership

Water Mission — Driving Record Digital Acquisition Through Strategic, Multi-Channel Engagement

Zones, LLC — Driving Double-Digit Growth Through Strategic IT Brand Leadership

From dated to dynamic. A full brand and digital refresh.

Portfolio

Ashdon Golf

Carteeo

FuelTru

Keller Williams

Larson Electric

Real Estate Sleuth

Rose's Landscaping Co

Washington Accounting & Financial Services

Washington Law

The Wide Lens Podcast

Water Mission

What Leaders Say

Frequently Asked Questions