What Upwardly Global does

Upwardly Global is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, with offices in San Francisco and Chicago. Its mission is to help immigrants, refugees, and asylees with professional credentials restart skill-aligned, thriving-wage careers in the U.S. The organization operates three integrated programs: UpGlo Direct (free one-on-one career coaching, job-readiness training, resume creation, and certifications for job seekers), UpGlo Talent (employer-facing AI-enabled access to the candidate network), and UpGlo Connect (capacity-building support for workforce development agencies, community colleges, and resettlement partners).

The technology stack centers on two employer-facing products launched or matured in 2025: Upwardly Global Fetch, a custom API integrated into Workday's HiredScore that delivers AI-powered, skills-first candidate matching inside existing recruiter workflows; and Upwardly Global Access, a Salesforce-based talent pool of more than 1,500 refugee and immigrant professionals co-designed with Accenture, Amazon, and Deloitte. Both are built on top of a modernized Salesforce database optimized for skills-first candidate matching. Free credentials (Microsoft, Google, Splunk, Coursera, eCornell), an AI resume tool, and state-by-state professional licensing guides extend the core offering.

The revenue model is philanthropic rather than transactional: services are free for both job seekers and employer partners, with employers contributing optional impact investments. Funded by individual donations (including a recurring "Welcome Society" monthly giving program), corporate donors (Accenture, Workday Foundation, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, among others), and foundation grants (CD&R Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment), with recent public gifts from Siegel Family Endowment and CD&R Foundation. Since 2000, the organization reports placing more than 35,000 job seekers, with 2025 throughput of 13,350 job seekers supported and 1,730+ placed, and alumni contributing more than $1.9 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Name

Upwardly Global

Legal name

Upwardly Global

Website

https://upwardlyglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Upwardly Global is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2000, that helps immigrants, refugees, and asylees with professional credentials restart skill-aligned careers in the U.S. through free coaching, AI-enabled employer matching tools embedded in Workday and Salesforce, and capacity-building for workforce development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development / Immigrant Career Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace & Career Integration for Immigrants (Credentialing, Job Readiness) (EDAAADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Career Services & Job Placement Platforms (Jobs, Recruiting, Employer Networks) (EDAFAMAM), Talent Acquisition (Recruiting) & Applicant Tracking (ATS) (BPACAPAD)

Keywords

• Immigrant workforce integration
• Career coaching services
• Skills-first talent matching
• Nonprofit workforce development
• Diverse hiring platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Free program funded by individual donors. The organization accepts one-time and monthly donations from individuals who support immigrant workforce integration.
2. Corporate donations and impact investments: Optional impact investment/donation requested from employer partners. Corporate donors receive recognition on website, annual report, and featured events.
3. Institutional and foundation grants: Funded by grants from foundations and institutional donors. The organization maintains diverse funding streams to sustain free programming.
4. Employer partnership (free with optional donation): No fee for employers to access talent pool and partner with UpGlo. Optional impact investment requested to support operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Upwardly Global provides free career coaching, AI-enabled talent matching, and workforce capacity-building services through three programs: UpGlo Direct for immigrant job seekers, UpGlo Talent for employers seeking qualified diverse candidates (including the Fetch Workday-HiredScore integration and Access Salesforce talent pool), and UpGlo Connect for workforce development partners. Its offerings include an AI-powered resume tool, free third-party certifications, and state-specific professional licensing guides for immigrants in regulated fields.

Product overview

Upwardly Global is a nonprofit organization operating three core programs: UpGlo Direct (career coaching for job seekers), UpGlo Talent (employer-facing recruitment tools), and UpGlo Connect (capacity building for workforce partners). The organization offers specialized AI-enabled products including Upwardly Global Fetch (a custom API integrated with HiredScore/Workday for skills-first candidate matching) and Upwardly Global Access (a Salesforce-based talent pool). Additional offerings include the UpGlo Learning Platform with resume creation tools, free certifications from major providers, and state-specific professional licensing guides. The organization serves immigrants, refugees, and asylees seeking to restart professional careers in the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UpGlo Direct: Free career coaching program for immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals seeking to rebuild their careers in the U.S.
• UpGlo Talent
• UpGlo Connect
• UpGlo Learning

Products and services

• UpGlo Direct Free career coaching program for immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals to rebuild their careers in the U.S., offering one-on-one coaching, resume creation tools, U.S. job readiness training, networking opportunities, and access to the UpGlo employer network. Designed for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. within the last 10 years, hold work authorization, and have at least a bachelor's degree.
• UpGlo Talent Employer-facing program providing AI-enabled digital tools and access to a network of highly qualified, work-authorized immigrant and refugee candidates, including Upwardly Global Fetch (HiredScore integration) and Upwardly Global Access (Salesforce talent pool). Includes employer training, working groups, and recruitment events.
• UpGlo Connect Capacity-building program for workforce development agencies, educational institutions, and immigrant-serving organizations. Provides tested learning curriculum, coaching support, reskilling and upskilling courses, certifications, and technical assistance to help partners serve immigrant and refugee professionals.
• Upwardly Global Fetch Market-leading AI-powered tool for HiredScore customers that allows recruiters to search and engage with Upwardly Global's candidate network. Features include custom API integration, skills-first matching, and automated candidate recommendations with active search capabilities and passive suggestions based on job requirements.
• Upwardly Global Access Salesforce-based talent pool providing recruiters access to over 1,500 refugee and immigrant professionals. Designed in collaboration with Accenture, Amazon, and Deloitte as a proven solution for employers to discover talent their competitors are missing.
• Career Coaching Program for Ukrainians in Poland Free career coaching program for Ukrainian professionals in Poland with degree or professional experience, delivered in partnership with FRSI and Accenture. Includes 1:1 coaching, employer connections, Polish and English language support, free LinkedIn Premium access, and certifications from Microsoft, Google, Splunk, Udemy, Coursera, and more.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ job seekers placed in skill-aligned careers since 2000
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Gregory Haile (CEO)coreOthers · 4 December 2025Gregory Haile appointed as CEO effective January 5, 2026. Workforce and economic policy expert bringing leadership in economic opportunity, skills-based hiring, and AI-driven recruitment to support U.S. economic growth and immigrant talent utilization.
• AccentureflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer partner that has hired nearly 50 talented individuals through UpGlo. Collaborated in designing Upwardly Global Access tool. CEO Julie Sweet publicly endorses the partnership. Active in employer working groups and hosts recruitment events.
• WorkdayflagshipTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to launch Upwardly Global Fetch, a custom-built API integrated with Workday's HiredScore platform, allowing recruiters to access UpGlo's candidate pool through existing workflows.
• LinkedIncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through LinkedIn's Outcomes Tracking Pilot Program providing long-term aggregate employment data. LinkedIn hosts networking events and profile review sessions for UpGlo job seekers. LinkedIn Learning resources shared with community.
• Information Society Development Foundation (FRSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtended partnership with FRSI and Accenture to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Since 2022, has trained over 1,500 Ukrainian jobseekers and placed 520 into skill-aligned roles across IT, Finance, Accounting, and more.
• IRIScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce partner in Connecticut since 2022. Over 100 registrations and 21 job placements through UpGlo platform. Uses UpGlo Learning platform to support immigrant professionals in navigating U.S. workforce.
• Michigan Works! AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide workforce development leader partnering in MI SIIP program. Enrolled 667 eligible applicants in first year, more than triple original target. Focuses on helping immigrant professionals reenter careers through local agencies.
• Global DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplements Michigan Global Talent Initiative, bringing UpGlo's national expertise to local workforce needs. Provides regional insights and connections to enhance program delivery.
• Holyoke Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner implementing Professional Pathways program that blends ACE ESOL instruction with UpGlo career curriculum and industry certifications from Coursera and eCornell.
• Welcome to America ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResettlement agency partner in Arizona supporting nearly 100 job seekers through Career Bridging program. Provides access to UpGlo learning platform for refugees in fields including leadership, engineering, healthcare, accounting, and IT.
• Enterprising LatinasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation center in Wimauma, Florida partnering to help immigrant professionals re-enter careers. Currently serves 32 students with free English courses, virtual professional modules, and job placement support.
• BarclayscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services employer hosting panel discussions, networking events, and career advancement sessions for immigrant professionals seeking banking careers in the U.S.
• Goldman SachscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner providing in-person mock interviews in finance for job seekers. Volunteers from firm provide real-time feedback to help prepare candidates.
• CumminscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManufacturing employer partner hosting recruitment info sessions, speed networking events, and direct engagement with job seekers about open roles.
• World Education Services (WES)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational credential evaluation organization co-hosting coffee chat events to help strengthen professional communication skills of immigrant job seekers.
• eCornellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline learning platform providing free certifications for UpGlo job seekers in fields including leadership, business management, and professional development.
• AmazonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designer of Upwardly Global Access tool. Major employer partner utilizing UpGlo's talent network for diverse hiring.
• DeloitteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designer of Upwardly Global Access tool. Employer partner with active engagement in employer working groups and talent acquisition.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HIAS: Jewish refugee resettlement agency providing employment, legal, and integration services to refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S. Directly comparable to UpGlo's career coaching and workforce integration mission for the refugee population.
• International Rescue Committee: Global humanitarian organization operating employment, economic recovery, and resettlement programs for refugees and displaced people in the U.S. and abroad. Overlaps significantly with UpGlo's three-pillar model of job seeker, employer, and partner support.
• RefugePoint: Nonprofit specializing in the economic integration of refugees through employment, self-reliance programs, and employer engagement. Directly comparable mission and target population to Upwardly Global.
• Talent Beyond Boundaries: Nonprofit that connects skilled refugees with international employment opportunities through a talent marketplace model. Closely aligned with UpGlo's skills-first matching of refugee and immigrant professionals to employer demand.
• Tent Foundation: Nonprofit coalition of major companies (LinkedIn, Mastercard, etc.) focused on connecting refugees to jobs, training, and economic opportunity. Similar employer-engagement approach and corporate partner network as UpGlo Talent.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network providing immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and employment assistance to immigrants across the U.S. Comparable in scale and breadth of immigrant workforce services.
• Welcome.US: Nonprofit initiative coordinating corporate, nonprofit, and government resources to welcome and integrate newcomers, including Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. Comparable in mobilizing employers and partner networks for refugee employment.

Emerging players

• COOP Careers: Nonprofit providing career coaching, mentorship, and job placement for immigrant professionals and first-generation college students. Comparable target audience (college-educated immigrants) and coaching-led model, though smaller in scale.

Others

• World Education Services (WES): Nonprofit credential evaluation service helping immigrants get foreign degrees recognized in the U.S. and Canada. Already an UpGlo partner; comparable as an adjacent enabling service addressing the credential recognition barrier.
• National Immigration Forum: Advocacy organization promoting the value of immigrants and refugees, with programs on workforce integration and employer engagement. Comparable as a policy/advocacy counterpart to UpGlo's direct service mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/upwardly_global
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGfNHBNs7N2jQayrqiC5BZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Upwardly.Global
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upwardly-global
• Instagraminstagram.com/upwardly.global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Upwardly Global