The WES Mariam Assefa Fund

WES envisions a world where immigrants have equitable and expanded access to good work — jobs that pay a living wage, that recognize education and skills earned anywhere, and that support people’s long-term goals and aspirations. The Fund partners with organizations who share our commitment to building inclusive, equitable economies. Together with these grantee and funder partners, the Fund seeks to create a collaborative and sustainable network of organizations seeking to ensure that immigrants can thrive in U.S. and Canadian communities and workplaces.

Less than 2 percent of foundation funding in the U.S. goes to pro-immigrant groups and less than 1 percent goes to women of color, according to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. We seek to address that gap by deploying our own funds, partnering with co-funders, and influencing the larger philanthropic community to expand their investment in these areas.

WES launched the Fund in 2019 with $US30 million in seed funding and a desire to deepen the organization’s impact through meaningful investment and philanthropy. ”The Fund at 5” report from 2024 highlights the impact of the Fund’s grantee partners and the lessons learned in its first five years of building a trust-based philanthropy that seeks to advance inclusive workplaces and communities, equitable economies, and opportunities for all.