The WES Mariam Assefa Fund

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund believes in the talent and contributions of immigrants and refugees. The high-impact USD$30 million philanthropic fund supports efforts to permanently dismantle the barriers that impede economic advancement among immigrants and refugees in the United States and Canada.

The fund’s initial areas of inquiry and interest include:

  • Enabling immigrants and refugees with the skills to succeed in the workplaces of today and tomorrow
  • Encouraging employers to develop inclusive employment practices
  • Developing leadership capacity in immigrant and refugee communities
  • Driving innovative financial and technical solutions that accelerate the economic and workforce integration of immigrants and refugees
  • Growing an ecosystem of cross-sector organizations focused on immigrant workforce integration

Our Grantees

The Fund's Work

Roots in the WES Mission and History

Since 1974, WES research, programs, products, and tools have helped millions of international professionals and students achieve their academic and professional goals. But 45 years later, systemic barriers to immigrant success and economic inclusion remain in place. The WES Mariam Assefa Fund, named after the organization’s longtime CEO, seeks to accelerate efforts to knock down those barriers and ensure that newcomers have the tools and skills they need to access meaningful employment and integrate into the workforce. You can read our press release regarding the fund’s launch here.

Stay in Touch

As the WES Mariam Assefa Fund has more to share on our areas of focus, funding opportunities, and lessons learned from our work and partners, we will provide regular updates. Join our distribution list to learn the latest. Thank you for coming along on this journey with us.

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Have questions?

Visit our FAQs to learn about our priorities, approach to funding, and more!

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