Inclusive Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Workers – Jul 7 (LOI)

Posted by WES Mariam Assefa Fund on June 29, 2021

WES Mariam Assefa Fund Invites LOIs for Inclusive Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Workers

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund aims to catalyze economic inclusion, opportunities, and mobility for immigrants and refugees in the United States and Canada. Through grantmaking, impact investing, partnerships, and field-building, the fund will support efforts to develop inclusive economies and ensure that all immigrants and refugees can achieve their goals and thrive.

According to the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, immigrant workers represent 17 percent of the U.S. labor force. They are also 21.3 percent of low-wage workers, despite their wide range of skills, education, and experience. 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. Beyond the benefits to individual employers, immigrant workers are critical to the country’s economic growth. As U.S. birth rates decline and the workforce ages, immigrants and refugees will be crucial to maintaining a vibrant economy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted immigrant and refugee workers and has also highlighted the worker’s experiences whose voices have not previously been heard.

To that end, the fund is accepting LOIs for the U.S. Funding Opportunity: Employer Practices program, which will award two to four grants of up to $150,000 over as many as two years in support of organizations that help employers shift their internal talent practices and 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 in 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.

LOIs are due July 7. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by late September 2021.

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

Deadline: July 7, 2021