In an era where global migration is reshaping the social, economic, and cultural fabric of countries, there is a critical need for bold, equity-driven initiatives that center the experiences of immigrants and refugees—not as passive beneficiaries, but as active leaders and changemakers. This is where the Mariam Assefa Fund plays a transformative role.
Established to address systemic barriers faced by immigrants and refugees, the Fund is not a traditional philanthropic entity. Instead, it’s a movement-focused fund that catalyzes change through trust-based philanthropy, community-centered leadership, and systems-level thinking. It invests in people, organizations, and ideas that are building inclusive economies and equitable societies.
In this comprehensive blog, we’ll explore what the Mariam Assefa Fund is, what it stands for, who it supports, and why it matters so deeply in today’s world.
🌍 The Origin: Honoring a Legacy, Empowering a Mission
The Mariam Assefa Fund was created in honor of Mariam Assefa, an Ethiopian immigrant whose legacy reflects resilience, community service, and commitment to the success of newcomers. Her name symbolizes not just one individual, but the experiences of millions of immigrants who come to new countries seeking safety, opportunity, and dignity.
The Fund was launched as a dedicated philanthropic initiative focused on breaking down barriers that immigrants and refugees face in the workforce, education systems, and civic life. It embodies a vision where migration is recognized as a strength—and newcomers are positioned to thrive, lead, and build futures on their own terms.
🧭 Mission and Vision of the Mariam Assefa Fund
At its core, the Mariam Assefa Fund seeks to:
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Build equitable, inclusive economies where immigrants and refugees are fully included
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Amplify the leadership and voice of immigrant and refugee communities
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Challenge structural racism and xenophobia in workforce and education systems
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Support community-rooted solutions and power-building among marginalized populations
The Fund envisions a world where the systems shaping people’s lives are just, inclusive, and accountable to the communities they affect.
🔍 Key Focus Areas
The Fund’s grantmaking and partnerships center around several deeply interconnected areas:
1. Workforce Equity for Immigrants and Refugees
The Fund invests in organizations and ideas that:
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Promote fair hiring and labor practices
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Break down barriers to employment for internationally educated professionals
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Support worker organizing and immigrant labor rights
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Advance workforce policies that are inclusive and anti-racist
2. Credential Recognition and Professional Access
One of the most significant barriers for immigrants is the non-recognition of foreign academic and professional credentials. The Fund supports efforts to:
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Streamline credential evaluation
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Reform licensing requirements
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Provide pathways for immigrants to re-enter their fields of expertise
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Expand tools and technologies that assist with credential verification
✨ FACTS Transcripts plays a crucial role in this space by helping immigrants obtain and securely deliver official, university-sealed transcripts for credential assessments.
3. Community Power and Leadership Development
The Fund uplifts immigrant- and refugee-led initiatives by funding:
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Grassroots organizing and civic engagement
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Youth and leadership development programs
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Storytelling platforms and narrative justice
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Campaigns that push for policy change led by directly impacted people
4. Immigrant Justice and Anti-Racist Systems Change
To dismantle structural inequities, the Fund supports:
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Racial justice advocacy rooted in immigrant communities
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Cross-movement solidarity between BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and labor groups
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Research and education to reframe how society views migration and identity
🌱 Who the Fund Supports
The Mariam Assefa Fund does not focus on large, elite institutions. Instead, it seeks to partner with:
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Immigrant- and refugee-led organizations
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BIPOC-led grassroots movements
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Community-based nonprofits working at the intersections of race, migration, and justice
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Social enterprises developing inclusive economic models
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Collaborative efforts that drive systems change
Importantly, the Fund uses trust-based philanthropy, meaning it builds long-term relationships, reduces reporting burdens, and centers the leadership of the grantees rather than imposing top-down controls.
🔄 How the Fund Works: Beyond Grantmaking
The Mariam Assefa Fund doesn’t simply write checks—it co-creates, convenes, and challenges norms in philanthropy.
It offers:
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Multi-year, unrestricted funding to give organizations flexibility
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Capacity building and technical support
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Learning communities for peer exchange
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Narrative change strategies to shift public discourse
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Research investments to inform policy and practice
This holistic approach ensures that investments go beyond survival and enable organizations to build power and innovate.
🌐 Geographic Scope
While the Fund operates primarily in the United States and Canada, its impact ripples beyond national borders through:
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Global advocacy for credential recognition
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Engagement with diaspora communities
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Cross-border partnerships on issues like climate migration, displacement, and transnational labor
Its work is especially crucial in cities and regions where immigrants and refugees are heavily concentrated, and where local policies significantly impact newcomers’ lives.
🔧 The Role of Technology and Documentation
Immigrants often face bureaucratic delays when trying to prove their educational qualifications or work experience. This is where verified documentation services become essential.
FACTS Transcripts supports the goals of the Fund by:
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Providing authenticated academic transcripts from universities worldwide
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Helping immigrants submit required documents to credential evaluation agencies like WES, IQAS, CES, and others
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Offering secure, streamlined, and scalable solutions for nonprofit partners and immigrant-serving organizations
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Reducing the red tape that keeps professionals out of work due to missing or delayed records
When used alongside Fund-supported programs, FACTS ensures immigrants have the academic proof they need to unlock professional and educational opportunities.
📣 Real-World Impact: Examples of Fund-Supported Work
While the Fund supports a wide variety of initiatives, here are some examples of the types of impact it fosters:
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A coalition that successfully advocates for fair licensing reform for foreign-trained nurses
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A grassroots youth leadership program that mobilizes undocumented students into civic leaders
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A digital tool that connects immigrant jobseekers to culturally competent career coaching
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A worker center that organizes restaurant workers to demand better wages and protections
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A storytelling project where refugees reclaim narratives about resilience, identity, and hope
Each of these efforts not only serves individuals—they transform systems that impact generations.
📋 Final Thoughts: A New Model of Philanthropy
The Mariam Assefa Fund is not just a grantmaking initiative—it is a blueprint for inclusive, community-driven philanthropy. It stands in contrast to top-down models that overlook lived experience, and instead puts power into the hands of immigrant communities who know what they need.
By funding bold ideas, trusting grassroots leaders, and removing institutional barriers, the Fund is building a world where migration is recognized as a force for good, and where no one is locked out of opportunity because of where they were born.
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