In the landscape of modern philanthropy, the Mariam Assefa Fund stands apart. Instead of the traditional grantmaking model that often relies on rigid metrics, impersonal applications, or one-time donations, this Fund follows a values-based, systems-change approach that seeks to transform how immigrants and refugees are integrated into economic and social life.
If you’re a nonprofit, grassroots organization, social enterprise, or community leader wondering how the Fund selects which projects and organizations to support, this comprehensive guide offers in-depth insight into their criteria, methods, and decision-making philosophy.
From the Fund’s strategic vision to its prioritization process, learn how your work can align with one of the most forward-thinking immigrant-support initiatives in North America.
🌍 The Fund’s Mission: Transforming Systems for Immigrant and Refugee Inclusion
Before examining how the Fund decides what to support, it’s essential to understand why it exists.
The Mariam Assefa Fund was created to challenge the systemic inequities that immigrants and refugees face in the workforce, education, and society at large. Its mission goes beyond just “helping” individuals—it’s about reforming institutions, empowering communities, and building inclusive economies.
The Fund focuses on:
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Supporting immigrant- and refugee-led organizations
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Changing policies around credential recognition and employment barriers
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Investing in community-based, equity-driven innovations
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Supporting the leadership development of underrepresented groups
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Partnering with systems-change thinkers, practitioners, and coalitions
🧠 How the Fund Determines What to Support: A Strategic Framework
The Fund’s selection process isn’t merely based on applications or proposals—it is grounded in a strategic, participatory, and equity-centered framework that takes into account vision alignment, lived experience, and long-term impact.
Here’s how the process works in principle:
1. Strategic Alignment with Core Focus Areas
The Fund primarily supports projects and organizations that address one or more of its key thematic areas:
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Workforce equity and economic mobility for immigrants and refugees
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Credential recognition for internationally educated professionals
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Power building and immigrant leadership development
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Community-rooted systems change and innovation
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Anti-racism and equity in employment systems
If your initiative aligns with these issues—not just as buzzwords, but in practice—you are more likely to be considered for funding.
2. Leadership by and for Immigrant and Refugee Communities
The Fund gives strong preference to organizations that:
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Are founded or led by immigrants and refugees
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Actively involve the communities they serve in decision-making
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Elevate voices that are historically marginalized in philanthropy and public policy
Leadership matters deeply—not just as representation, but as a means of reclaiming power and creating authentic solutions.
3. Potential for Systems-Level Impact
While the Fund supports both direct services and policy work, it prioritizes efforts that aim to transform underlying structures and create lasting change.
This includes:
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Advocacy and policy reform
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Research and data-informed frameworks
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New models of inclusive hiring, licensing, or education pathways
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Scalable or replicable practices that can influence broader systems
Projects must answer:
“How does this change the system, not just support the individual?”
4. Community Trust and Engagement
Even innovative solutions must be grounded in community voice and trust.
The Fund supports organizations that:
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Are deeply embedded in immigrant and refugee communities
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Use participatory design in program creation
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Foster coalition-building and collaboration
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Are accountable to the people they serve
Rather than top-down models, the Fund prefers initiatives that start from the grassroots up.
5. Equity and Inclusion Practices
Equity is not just a goal—it’s a requirement. The Fund evaluates whether organizations:
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Have diverse, inclusive leadership and staff
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Prioritize anti-racism, gender justice, and accessibility
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Are committed to decolonizing their strategies and narratives
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Reflect the intersectional realities of the communities they serve
Equity must be embedded in your mission, your culture, and your operations—not just your proposals.
6. Innovation and Willingness to Learn
The Fund is interested in emerging ideas, untested models, and bold experiments—especially from newer or nontraditional organizations.
Organizations that are:
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Open to iteration and growth
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Willing to share failures and lessons learned
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Curious and adaptive in their work
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Not bound by rigid, output-driven metrics
…are often excellent candidates for support.
7. Partnership Readiness and Sustainability
While the Fund doesn’t require polished, large-scale infrastructures, it does consider whether an organization is ready to:
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Enter into trust-based partnerships
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Participate in learning communities
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Be transparent with outcomes and challenges
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Manage the operational demands of funding
In short, they ask: Can this organization make the most of the opportunity, and grow from it?
📑 Example of a Project the Fund Might Support
Let’s explore a hypothetical case of a project that aligns well with the Fund’s selection criteria:
Project:
An immigrant-led organization in the U.S. partners with local employers to pilot a new model that recognizes foreign-trained engineers’ credentials without requiring re-licensure. The program offers mentorship, alternative certification pathways, and policy advocacy to scale the model statewide.
Why it aligns:
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It addresses workforce access and credential recognition
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It is led by immigrants and rooted in community
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It challenges systemic licensing barriers
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It includes policy, service, and innovation components
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It aims for scalable, lasting impact
🤝 How the Fund Identifies Potential Projects
The Fund doesn’t rely solely on open applications. Projects and partners may be identified through:
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Community engagement and listening sessions
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Referrals from peer funders or networks
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Participation in immigrant rights or workforce coalitions
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Responses to strategic calls for proposals
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Co-creation opportunities and invitations to collaborate
That’s why visibility, trust, and engagement in the broader ecosystem are just as important as application quality.
🛠️ The Role of FACTS Transcripts in Empowering Fund-Aligned Projects
Many initiatives supported by the Mariam Assefa Fund focus on credential access, education-to-employment pipelines, and professional reintegration for immigrants.
FACTS Transcripts is a valuable operational partner for these projects.
If your program involves:
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Supporting immigrants in obtaining official academic records
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Submitting documentation to credential evaluation agencies
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Helping internationally educated professionals re-enter their field
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Partnering with institutions on licensing and certification pathways
…FACTS Transcripts provides secure, university-sealed documentation that is globally recognized, efficiently processed, and tailored to regulatory bodies.
This not only boosts your program impact but also strengthens your case when presenting your work to funders.
📋 Final Checklist: Are You a Strong Fit for Support?
Ask yourself these questions:
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Is your work focused on immigrant and refugee inclusion?
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Do you engage affected communities in your leadership and design?
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Are you challenging or reforming unjust systems?
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Is your team diverse and equity-driven?
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Are you open to growth, feedback, and shared learning?
If your answer is yes, then your project is aligned with the spirit and purpose of the Fund.
📝 Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just About Funding—It’s About Changing the World Together
The Mariam Assefa Fund doesn’t fund projects to fix problems—it funds people and ideas to reimagine the future.
Their selection process reflects this bold mission. It’s not about fitting into a grant template—it’s about building relationships, shifting power, and centering equity in every decision.
So whether you’re a grassroots leader or the head of a nonprofit, the question isn’t just “How do I get selected?”—it’s “How can I be part of something bigger than myself?”
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