Western Union Foundation

Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation has been a catalyst for economic opportunity for people who migrate in pursuit of a more prosperous future. We are proud to partner with innovative nonprofits that provide scholarships for higher education, skill building for workforce readiness, and inclusion programs to create equitable access to employment.

Our current social impact commitment is Prosperity Beyond Borders, a multi-year initiative to drive $500 million in aggregate wage gains for disadvantaged, high-potential individuals who currently lack access to economic mobility. Through this commitment, we aim to help aspiring individuals achieve a better quality of life and the opportunity to live up to their full potential.

2023 Impact Report

Stories of Impact

Hear directly from people around the world whose lives have been impacted by the Western Union Foundation’s work.

Arian: CEO Scholar of the Year

Arian is a first-generation university student studying biochemistry and mathematics. Originally from Iran, he is driven to make meaningful contributions to cancer treatment and prevention and has already demonstrated great impact in the field.

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Queen: Micro Rainbow

Queen is originally from Nigeria, where same-sex relationships are punishable with prison time. Determined to live her truth and be happy, she moved to the UK and partnered with Micro Rainbow to find safety and inclusion.

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Dhananjay: Foundation Fellow

Dhananjay is a Western Union Foundation Fellow and founder of DetoXyFi, a social venture with a mission to provide equitable access to safe drinking water to disaster-affected communities in India.

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Sasha: Global Scholar

Originally from Ukraine, Sasha’s family has been greatly impacted by the war and are now displaced from their home country. Amidst this stress, Sasha has remained focused on school and is determined to graduate and support refugees impacted by war.

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Luisa: Foundation Fellow

Luisa is a Western Union Foundation Fellow and founder of Get Up and Go Colombia, a nonprofit that aims to transform communities most affected by armed conflict through safe and sustainable tourism.

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Signature Programs

Prosperity Beyond Borders will be anchored by our two signature programs that provide scholarships to international students, and fellowships for change makers aspiring to make a social impact.

Global Scholars Program

We believe that education is one of the surest pathways to economic opportunity and professional mobility. The Western Union Foundation Global Scholars Program provides scholarships to international students who are struggling financially to complete their final years of college. To date, we have funded over 500 scholarships with plans to provide over 100 more throughout Prosperity Beyond Borders.

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Foundation Fellowship Program

We are proud to support ambitious changemakers who dream of starting their own businesses. The Western Union Foundation Fellowship provides entrepreneurs with business training and seed funding to launch community-focused ventures. Through Prosperity Beyond Borders, we plan to directly support more than 135 additional Fellows through this transformative program. 

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Prosperity Beyond Borders is the evolution of our mostly recently concluded commitment, Opportunity Beyond Borders, through which $20 million was invested, reaching more than two million people worldwide and connecting 50,000 individuals to economic opportunities. Learn more about the positive impact and people whose lives were transformed through Opportunity Beyond Borders in our 2022 Impact Report.

2022 Impact Report

Join Us

Together, we can create a world where aspiring individuals have equitable access to quality education, career pathways, and a chance to transform their lives for the better.