Upwardly Global is an employment-services organization for immigrant and refugee job seekers in the United States that focuses on occupational licensing. Founded in 2000 by Jane Leu, Upwardly Global bills itself as the “premier national organization working to support work-authorized immigrants and refugees with international credentials.” ¹

Programs

Upwardly Global operates programs to assist foreign nationals with finding jobs in the United States. The nonprofit works with employers in the US to “create more inclusive hiring practices.” ¹ Upwardly Global claims that 11,500 foreign job seekers have been placed in employment in America through its efforts, with an average starting salary of $67,000. It further claims that more than 10,000 immigrants have gone through its employment training programs, such as the Career Coaching Program. ¹

Upwardly Global’s Career Coaching Program is designed to help immigrants and refugees in the U.S. in their job search. The program provides services in U.S.-style resume building, career pathway coaching, trainings and certifications, and connections to a network of employers. ² Upwardly Global’s website lists which visas are needed for eligibility in their programs. ³

Upwardly Global’s Professional Licensing Guide is designed to help foreign professionals become licensed in their field in the U.S. Professionals such as doctors, engineers, teachers, and other state-regulated professions are coached on how to obtain a professional license to work in various U.S. states. ⁴

Upwardly Global is a member organization of the EOA Coalition, along with Evacuate our Allies. ⁵ The coalition has joined the call to pressure the U.S. Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow certain Afghan refugees to stay in the U.S. permanently. ⁶

Financials

In 2023, Upwardly Global reported $22,391,041 in revenues and $13,659,379 in expenses with $31,782,416 in total assets and 107 employees. ⁷ In the same fiscal year, Upwardly Global received $2,209,637 in government grants, representing nearly 10 percent of revenues. ⁸

In 2022, the Bank Of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation donated $1,000,000 to Upwardly Global for general operating costs. ⁹

In 2022, the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation donated $900,000 to Upwardly Global for “Automating Resume Review and Job Referrals for Immigrants and Refugees.” ¹⁰

In 2022, the Dayton Foundation Plus donated $800,000 in unrestricted grants to Upwardly Global. ¹¹

People

Jasmeet Krause-Vilmar is the president and chief executive director of Upwardly Global. ¹²

1.  “Advancing Workforce Inclusion.” Upwardly Global, January 25, 2025. https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/.
2. “Career Coaching.” Upwardly Global, February 19, 2025. https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/career-coaching/.
3. “Eligible Visas.” Upwardly Global, February 13, 2025. https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/career-coaching/accepted-visas/.
4.  “Professional Licensing Guides.” Upwardly Global, April 16, 2024. https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/career-coaching/professional-licensing-guides/.
5. “Home.” Evacuate Our Allies. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.evacuateourallies.org/home.
6. Handy, Shannon. “San Diego Leaders Call on Congress to Pass Act Allowing Afghan Refugees to Stay in U.S. Permanently.” CBS8, September 21, 2023. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/politics/san-diego-leaders-call-on-congress-to-pass-act-allow-afghan-refugees-stay-in-us/509-bab3828f-9cf1-4d38-9777-398328248302.
7. “Upwardly Global.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943346127.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Upwardly Global. 2023. Part 8, line E.
9. “Upwardly Global.” CauseIQ. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/upwardly-global,943346127/
10.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation. 2022. Part 14.
11.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Dayton Foundation Plus Inc. 2023. Schedule I, part 2, line 213.
12. “Jina Krause-Vilmar.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jina-krause-vilmar-9b2478/.