Mariam Assefa Fund - World Education Services

Our Vision

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund believes in the talent and contributions of immigrants and refugees. Our philanthropic fund supports catalytic efforts to build more inclusive economies for immigrant and refugee workers in the U.S. and Canada with a focus on:

How Our Partners are Working to Ensure Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Immigrants and Refugees

Immigrants and refugees have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with many working on the front lines of the pandemic. In the U.S., 12 million immigrants and refugees work in occupations such as health care and transportation, or in roles that have been some ...

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Recent Articles

8 Key Tips and Takeaways for Organizations Engaging with Employers to Support Immigrant Talent

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New Toolkit to Help Employers Successfully Integrate Immigrants into the Workplace

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Meet Nada El Masry, Co-Founder of RADIUS Refugee Livelihood Labs

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The Fund’s Nomzana Augustin Interviewed by Economic Opportunity Funders

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How Andrea Plaza is Working Toward Immigrant Justice in New Mexico

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Meet Rosemarie Powell, Executive Director of Toronto Community Benefits Network

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We’ll share updates on the Fund’s efforts, what we’re learning, and opportunities through our email list.

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Funding Opportunities

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund selects grantee partners and awards funding through a range of mechanisms, including outreach to aligned organizations and open calls for proposals.

U.S. Employer Practices

We’re looking to identify promising new ideas from organizations working with employers to advance more inclusive practices that improve economic mobility for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. The application portal for this funding opportunity will reopen by September 2021.

Canada Employer Practices

We’re looking to identify and fund promising solutions that can improve employer practices in Canada and engage employers in the economic integration of immigrants and refugees. The application portal for this funding opportunity will reopen by September 2021.

Canada General Application

We are looking for a broad range of funding ideas aligned with the Fund’s social impact goals and mission to ensure all immigrants and refugees can achieve their goals and thrive. The application portal for this funding opportunity will reopen in early 2022.