About Western Union Foundation
The Western Union Foundation prioritizes economic mobility and workforce integration with a strong emphasis on programs that prepare migrants, refugees, youth, and new Americans for employment and global mobility. They fund global scholarship and education initiatives, labor mobility partnerships, and youth entrepreneurship/economic-readiness programs, with occasional disaster relief support. Their grants often support well-known intermediaries and programmatic partners that scale workforce solutions internationally.
Focus Areas
Global scholarship programs for international students and mobility (e.g., IIE Wu Global Scholars, Watson)Labor mobility and migration workforce partnerships (e.g., Labor Mobility Partnerships)Economic integration and advocacy for immigrants/new Americans (e.g., National Partnership for New Americans)Youth entrepreneurship and workforce-readiness programs (e.g., Junior Achievement Worldwide)International development programs linking education to employment (e.g., Plan International — Philippines)
Who They Fund
job seekers and workers (adult workforce)
About Western Union Foundation
A defining thread in Western Union Foundation grantmaking is support for people who have migrated or been displaced, often through workforce readiness, scholarships, and seed funding for community-focused ventures. The foundation uses those tools to link education and employment, with the Western Union Foundation Fellowship and the Global Scholars Program showing two of its clearest pathways: one backs entrepreneurs and community leaders, while the other supports financially struggling international students completing college. Recent grants also show partnerships with intermediaries that operate at scale, including the Institute of International Education, Watson, Labor Mobility Partnerships, and Aspen Institute. Those awards point to a funder that relies on programmatic partners rather than isolated one-off projects. In addition to education and mobility, the foundation funds economic integration efforts for immigrants and new Americans, youth workforce-readiness programs, and occasional disaster response work. The result is a portfolio centered on economic mobility, with grants designed to move people from training or displacement toward income, employment, and stronger community participation.
What Western Union Foundation Funds
Education and skills training are central to the foundation’s giving. It granted $893,306 to the Inst of International Education and $400,450 to Iie Wu Global Scholars in support of workforce and education work, reflecting a sustained scholarship channel. Labor mobility is another clear area: the foundation gave $472,850 to Labor Mobility Partnerships for workforce and education programming tied to cross-border employment. For youth and career readiness, it awarded $315,737 to Junior Achievement Worldwide and $150,000 to Ja Worldwide Inc, both in the workforce and education category. It also supports immigrant integration through a $300,000 grant to National Partnership for New Americ for workforce and education work, alongside a prior $250,000 grant to Nathional Partnership for New Americans.
How Western Union Foundation Gives
Typical grants are small in the middle and wider at the top: p25 is $66, median is $240, and p75 is $1,000. The recent grants list shows a heavy mix of repeated partners over multiple years, including Iie Wu Global Scholars, Watson, Upwardly Global, and the National Partnership for New Americans. That pattern suggests relationship-based funding rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several recurring program names also appear, including its fellowship and scholar initiatives, which reinforces a project-specific approach with partner organizations carrying delivery.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.9M
Total Assets
$1.9M
Total Revenue
$1.4M
Total Expenses
$3.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $67 and $1K, with a median of $240.
25th Percentile
$67
Median
$240
75th Percentile
$1K
Geographic Reach
National42 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Western Union Foundation Funds
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Western Union Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 816 | $11.3M | 98.3% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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