Gift catalyzes Upwardly Global’s goal of serving 25,000 job seekers in 2025
NEW YORK — Upwardly Global, a national organization dismantling employment barriers for immigrants with professional degrees, announces the receipt of a transformational gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The generous gift accelerates Upwardly Global’s “Unlocking Brighter Futures Together” strategy, which aims to serve 25,000 immigrant, refugee, and asylee job seekers in 2025 and each year following.
“We are deeply honored to receive this generous gift from MacKenzie Scott, which represents a profound endorsement of our mission,” says Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO of Upwardly Global. “This support underscores the growing significance and impact of our work. With global migration and forced displacement on the rise, we must meet the moment, building an equitable workforce that enables newcomers to rebuild their lives and careers.”
For over two decades, Upwardly Global has worked to place newcomers into thriving-wage careers across in-demand industries. Today, Upwardly Global has placed nearly 11,000 job seekers into skill-aligned jobs with an average starting salary of $67,000, resulting in an average wage gain of $57,000.
Immigrants and their children drive 100% of workforce growth in the U.S. today through 2035. By actively welcoming immigrant communities upon their arrival, Upwardly Global aims to revitalize communities and build economic resilience for the benefit of all.
“Labor shortages are not just statistics; they highlight the urgent need to align education and skills with the high-demand jobs that shape our future,” says Krause-Vilmar. “Technology and AI loom large, both as challenges and opportunities to bridge the skills mismatch. At Upwardly Global, we see an opportunity to redefine inclusion and unlock the potential of newcomers. We believe true inclusion is the engine of innovation and prosperity and that every individual deserves the chance to rebuild their life.”
Through its “Unlocking Brighter Futures Together” strategy, Upwardly Global works to set a new standard of workforce inclusion for newcomers, enhancing shared prosperity nationwide. With this gift, Upwardly Global aims to:
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- Make investments in inclusive AI technologies to enhance equitable workforce opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and asylees.
- Create a community of changemakers to champion workforce inclusion and shift restrictive narratives.
- Accelerate impact by providing implementing partners with tools and resources to support immigrants in their communities.
- Build Upwardly Global’s own organizational muscle and enhance its team’s strengths to meet this moment.
MacKenzie Scott, known for her innovative approach to philanthropy, provides unrestricted support to organizations making a tangible impact in their communities. This opportunity will allow Upwardly Global to realize its mission: building an equitable, welcoming country where everyone — including immigrants, refugees, and asylees — can fully contribute and thrive.
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About Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global’s mission is to dismantle employment barriers for low-income immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals and to advance their inclusion into the U.S. economy. Since 2000, Upwardly Global has empowered unemployed or underemployed newcomers with the skills, career coaching, and social capital needed to rebuild their lives and careers. Learn more at UpwardlyGlobal.org.