Applications for Employer Practices re immigrants and refugees – Nov 15

Posted by WES Mariam Assefa Fund on October 19, 2021

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Invites Applications for Employer Practices

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund aims to catalyze economic inclusion, opportunities, and mobility in support of immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and Canada. Through grantmaking, impact investing, partnerships, and field-building, the fund supports efforts that work to bring about inclusive economies and ensure that all immigrants and refugees can achieve their goals and thrive.

To that end, the fund invites applications for its 2022 grants program through which grants of up to $150,000 over two years will be awarded in support of promising new ideas from organizations working with employers to advance more inclusive practices that improve economic mobility for immigrant and refugee workers. The fund seeks ideas from organizations to directly engage employers to shift internal talent practices to reduce bias in recruitment and hiring, build more inclusive workplaces, and invest in the advancement of incumbent immigrant and refugee talent; pilot demand-driven training and education programs that connect immigrant and refugee job seekers to quality jobs, particularly in high-growth sectors; build coalitions within or across sectors to advance commitments and facilitate knowledge sharing and collective action among employers; and assess the impact of existing employer initiatives focused on immigrant and refugee workers to identify the path forward for those solutions.

Organizations must be aligned with at least one of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund’s four impact goals: to build the case for solutions that advance equitable economic mobility for immigrants and refugees; deepen the bench of leaders from immigrant communities and communities of color; accelerate the uptake of worker-centered innovations; and grow the movement to foster welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplaces and communities. The fund is particularly interested in organizations that are led and staffed by people who bring lived experience from immigrant and refugee communities and communities of color and center workers’ voices and perspectives in how they design and implement their solutions; and bring a systems-change mindset.

Eligible applicants include mission-driven organizations (for-profit, nonprofit 501(c)(3), (4), or (6), or fiscally sponsored organization), registered and doing work in the United States or based outside of the U.S. but leading work in the U.S.

Letters of Intent are due November 15, 2021, and selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposal by late March 2022.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and an FAQ, see the WES Mariam Assefa Fund website.

Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Letters of Intent)

U.S. Funding Opportunity: Employer Practices