The WES Mariam Assefa Fund
The WES Mariam Assefa Fund supports catalytic efforts to create more inclusive economies for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and Canada.
About Us
Through grantmaking, co-funding partnerships, and support beyond the check, we work closely with organizations and leaders that are focused on ensuring more equitable access to opportunity and wealth. We also seek to shift power to local communities and community leaders, and to advance justice for immigrants and refugees.
The WES Mariam Assefa Fund
Collaboration & Sustainability
Our grantee and co-funding partners share our commitment to building inclusive, equitable economies. Together with these partners, the Fund seeks to create a collaborative and sustainable network of organizations seeking to ensure that U.S. and Canadian communities and workplaces are places where immigrants and refugees have the opportunity to thrive.
The WES Mariam Assefa Fund
Funding Commitments
By 2025, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund aims to invest over $50 million into immigrant and refugee leaders and communities in the U.S. and Canada. In 2024, we aim to ensure that 65 percent of the Fund’s total dollars are awarded to immigrant-led, women-led, and/or BIPOC-led organizations.
Featured Initiatives
The Fund provides both general operating support grants and flexible strategic project grants to support a range of initiatives. Some of these include open calls to submit proposals. Others are sourced through research and community connections. Past open calls have included:
Better career pathways and training programs for workers in low-wage jobs are essential in helping immigrants and refugees achieve economic mobility and security; however, they alone are not enough.
The Canadian Employer Practices initiative sought to engage Canadian employers in labour market integration and worker-centered approaches to building more inclusive workplaces.
The Elevating Migrant Leadership initiative was designed to support immigrant and refugee-led organizations in the U.S. that are seeking to develop civic leadership and advocacy skills so they can more effectively influence the development of programs and policies that affect them and their communities.
The Opportunity Challenge was a co-funding project of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund and the Tarsadia Foundation. The U.S.-based challenge sought to identify solutions to support the success of immigrants and refugees and their communities.
Insights
Read our Insights Blog to hear perspectives from our Grantee Partners and the WES team.
How the Ellis Island Initiative Is Changing the Narrative to Welcome Immigrants in New York State
The United States has seen a significant uptick in the number of individuals seeking asylum within its borders, with over 150,000 arriving in New York City alone just in the past year and a half. With nearly half a million job openings throughout New York State, immigrants and refugees potentially have many opportunities to contribute […]
The Who, What, and Why of Investing in Newcomers
By Matthias Pries, Impact Investing Manager Migration is the loom that weaves the rich tapestry that is Canadian society. Walk down the main street of any Canadian city and you can see, smell, and hear it. Working at World Education Services (WES) has given me a chance to strengthen this tapestry. How? By investing in […]
How Human-Centred Design Can Create More Inclusive Tech Workplaces for Newcomers
Guest Blog by Lila Berryman, senior innovation specialist, Venture 2 Impact, and Nouhaila Chelkhaoui, founder and CEO, Scale Without Borders At Venture 2 Impact, with support from the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, we set out to develop a project that would support Canadian tech employers’ efforts to meaningfully recruit, engage, and retain the diverse talents […]
Fund Launches Initiative to Elevate Migrant Leadership and Build Inclusive Futures
New funding opportunity seeks to support organizations elevating the voices and influence of immigrants and refugees in United States communities The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced a new grantmaking initiative. Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building Inclusive Futures will support U.S. organizations that are working to strengthen immigrant and refugee voices and leadership. […]