Upwardly Global

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Upwardly Global is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000. It supports immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals in restarting their careers in the U.S. by providing career coaching, training, and employment resources.

Organization

Upwardly Global is headquartered in New York City and has additional physical offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

The organization has a board of 12 members, each serving a three-year term when elected, and an executive leadership team.

According to the organization’s 2024 annual report,[1] graduates of their Career Coaching Program earn an annual starting salary of $67,000 with an average salary gain of $46,000. Most of Upwardly Global’s graduates have secured employment in logistics, healthcare, STEM, business operations, engineering, and IT.

History

Upwardly Global was established in San Francisco by Jane Leu, who identified a gap in services for internationally trained professionals seeking employment in the U.S. Leu initially operated the organization informally before it received its first grant from the Three Guineas Fund in 2000.

She served as CEO until 2009 when Nikki Cicerani succeeded her, leading the organization's expansion from two metropolitan areas to four and, in 2013, launching online services.

In 2018, Jina Krause-Vilmar became President and CEO. Before joining Upwardly Global, Jina held several leadership positions in various organizations, including HIAS, Near East Foundation, and the Women’s Refugee Commission. Her career also includes advisory roles at the International Rescue Committee and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Funding

In 2000, Upwardly Global received its first official grant from the Three Guineas Fund. The organization has received funding from private donors, as well as from organizations such as the Accenture,[2] Achelis Foundation,[3] Ashoka: Innovators for the Public,[4] the Alan Slifka Foundation, Cisco Systems,[5] Community Technology Foundation for California,[4] the Draper Richards Foundation,[4] the Gimbel Foundation, the Johnson Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, the Leitner Family Foundation, New Profit, Inc., the New York Times Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation,[6] the San Francisco Foundation,[4] the Third Millennium Foundation, Wells Fargo, and more.

In 2024, Upwardly Global received a gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.[7]

Awards

In 2024, Jina Karuse-Vilmar was included in City & State’s 2024 Power of Diversity: Asian 100[8] list for her work with Upwardly Global. Former President and CEO Nikki Cicerani won the Committee of 200 Foundation’s 2016 Luminary Award[9] during her time with Upwardly Global. In 2006, Upwardly Global founder Jane Leu won the 2006 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award,[10] which honors Americans under 40 years old who are making significant contributions to their communities through public service.

The organization has received numerous awards, including the 2004 Manhattan Institute Award for Social Entrepreneurship[11] and the Migration Policy Institute’s 2010 E Pluribus Unum Award,[12] which honors exceptional immigrant integration initiatives. For their crisis response work aiding Afghan newcomers during Operation Allies Welcome, Upwardly Global received honorable mentions in Fast Company’s 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards[13] and Ragan’s Crisis Communications Awards.[14]

AI and Technology Initiatives

In 2021, Upwardly Global released its AI job pathways tool, aimed at helping immigrant job seekers streamline their job searches. In 2024, through funding from Cisco,[5] the organization piloted and integrated new AI upgrades, including a career navigation assistant and an AI-powered resume builder.

In 2023, Upwardly Global partnered with Workday to create Upwardly Global Fetch, a custom-built application programming interface that enables recruiters and hiring managers to access Upwardly Global's talent pool of immigrant and refugee job seekers.[15]

Career Coaching Program and Partnerships

Career Coaching Program

Upwardly Global offers a free career coaching program aimed at helping immigrant and refugee professionals navigate the U.S. job market. The organization provides job search strategies, resume building, interview preparation, training, and tools to translate their skills, education, and experience into a format that aligns with U.S. employment standards. Through this program, participants gain access to educational resources such as Coursera,[16] Cisco Networking Academy, Splunk, and more, as well as technical training platforms and certification resources.

Corporate and Workforce Partnerships

Upwardly Global partners with organizations that work with immigrant and refugee communities.[17] This includes sharing the organization’s career coaching methodologies, learning tools, and employment-preparation modules[18] with community colleges, workforce development agencies, and immigrant-serving organizations.

Along with workforce partners, Upwardly Global engages midsize and Fortune 500 corporations to enhance workforce inclusion for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. by working closely C-suite executives, corporate social responsibility (CSR), human resources, and talent acquisition departments to provide them with access to a broad pool of work-authorized immigrant job seekers. The organization also collaborates with companies to develop returnship[19] and mid-career internship programs,[20] which provide entry points for immigrants to reenter the workforce or access mid-skill jobs, and organizes group volunteer opportunities that allow employees to mentor immigrant job seekers.

The organization has established several partnerships including the New York State Office for New Americans,[21] the California Department of Social Services,[22] Arizona State University, Miami Dade College, Hispanic Federation,[23] Global Detroit,[24] Accenture,[25] Microsoft,[26] and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Outreach

Volunteer Opportunities

Upwardly Global offers volunteer opportunities for professionals to mentor job seekers and support organizational initiatives.

Volunteer roles range in focus and time commitment, allowing individuals to contribute in capacities such as mentors, language coaches, informational and mock interviewers, networking coaches, and industry experts.[27]

In addition to directly supporting immigrant job seekers, volunteers can engage in organizational support activities for Upwardly Global. Opportunities include providing pro-bono strategy work, assisting with communications and social media by sharing the organization’s content, and helping with fundraising efforts by making introductions to potential donors.[28]

National Leadership Council

Upwardly Global’s National Leadership Council is a volunteer advisory group composed of professionals from various industries,[29] including technology, finance, business, and healthcare. The council supports the organization’s mission by contributing time, expertise, and resources to advance workforce inclusion for immigrants and refugees. Members engage in activities such as fundraising, advocacy, and community outreach, and serve as ambassadors for Upwardly Global’s programs and initiatives.

Annual Gala

The Upwardly Global Gala is an annual gathering that brings together leaders from the corporate, advocacy, and nonprofit sectors to support the organization's mission. It serves as a platform to recognize individuals and organizations that have made notable contributions to inclusive employment practices and to share stories from job seekers and partners involved in Upwardly Global’s programs.

Past honorees include:

Along with these initiatives, Upwardly Global provides opportunities for philanthropic engagement by employees of partner companies, including initiatives such as employee giving campaigns, corporate matching programs, and sponsorship opportunities.

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Accenture (October 22, 2015). "Accenture to Help Upwardly Global Expand Jobs Training Program for Immigrants and Refugees in the U.S." *Accenture Newsroom*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/2015/accenture-to-help-upwardly-global-expand-jobs-training-program-for-immigrants-and-refugees-in-the-us
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  17. ↑ Upwardly Global. "Connect: For Workforce Partners". *Upwardly Global*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/workforce-services/
  18. ↑ Upwardly Global (February 2024). "Upwardly Global Partnership Program". *Higher Ed Immigration Portal*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UPGLO-Partnership-Program-print_FINAL.pdf
  19. ↑ Weaver, Molly (October 1, 2023). "Nursing Returnship Programs: Reigniting Careers and Addressing Shortages". *Sunflower Talent Strategies*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.sunflowertalentstrategies.com/blog/nursing-returnship-programs
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Morse, Maggie (August 18, 2017). "The Accenture and Upwardly Global Partnership: A Public-Private Partnership". *Darden Ideas to Action*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/the-accenture-and-upwardly-global-partnership-a-public-private-partnership
  26. ↑ New York City Employment and Training Coalition. "Upwardly Global". *NYCETC*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://nycetc.org/members/upwardly-global
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Upwardly Global. "Equity in Action: Beyond Welcome". *Upwardly Global*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://support.upwardlyglobal.org/event/equity-in-action-beyond-welcome/e401275
  31. ↑ a b Upwardly Global (September 21, 2023). "Highlights of Upwardly Global’s 2023 Equity Gala". *Upwardly Global*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/news/news/highlights-of-upwardly-globals-2023-equity-gala-2/
  32. ↑ a b Upwardly Global (2020). *The Upwardly Global 2020 Virtual Gala Program*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Upwardly-Global-2020-Virtual-Gala-Program-2.pdf
  33. ↑ Upwardly Global (November 9, 2016). "Upwardly Global Honors Business Leader for Contributions to Immigrant and Refugee Integration". *Upwardly Global*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/news/press-releases/upwardly-global-honors-business-leader-for-contributions-to-immigrant-and-refugee-integration/
  34. ↑ Chapman, Justin (October 5, 2021). "Upwardly Global Gala Celebrates the Contributions of Immigrants and Refugees". *Michelson Philanthropies*. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.michelsonphilanthropies.org/news/upglo-2021-gala-celebrates-immigrants-refugees/

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