Upwork Announces Call for Grant Applications Through The Upwork Foundation Initiative

$50,000 economic empowerment grants to be awarded to nonprofit organizations working to address economic inequalities rooted in systemic injustice

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Upwork (UPWK), the leading online talent solution, today announced a call for grant applications through The Upwork Foundation initiative, a program designed to create inclusive economic opportunities so people have better lives. Cash grants of $50,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations addressing systemic discrimination through the economic empowerment of marginalized populations around the world.

This grant opportunity is centered around the 2020 Sustainable Development Goals Report which found that the COVID-19 pandemic could push seventy-one million people into extreme poverty by the end of 2020, in what would be the first rise in global poverty since 1998. The findings of this report concluded that among the most impacted are those affected by heightened inequalities including older persons, persons with disabilities, children, women, migrants and refugees.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated economic inequalities that are rooted in systemic injustice, and we are proud to support nonprofit organizations that are creating economic opportunities for those who are most impacted,” says Anna Ninan, Senior Director leading The Upwork Foundation initiative. “By putting the principle that greater equality leads to greater wealth and security for all at the forefront of this funding cycle, we hope to both underscore the need for such efforts and to highlight the solutions to these challenges advanced by organizations around the world.”

Grants will be funded by proceeds from an equity contribution through a donor-advised fund. All legally-registered nonprofits and non-governmental organizations that are at least two years old and are legally eligible to receive funds from a U.S. foundation may apply.

Learn more about the grantmaking program here and apply for a grant here before 11:59 p.m. PT on October 16, 2020. Grant recipients will be announced in winter 2020.

About Upwork

Upwork is the leading online talent solution transforming traditional staffing. We empower businesses with more flexible access to quality talent, on demand. Through Upwork’s matching technology and services, companies have access to a global pool of proven professionals so they can scale their teams dynamically to meet business needs. Upwork also provides skilled professionals access to more opportunities.

Upwork’s mission is to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. The community of independent professionals working via Upwork spans many categories including software development, creative & design, finance & accounting, consulting, operations, and customer support—over 8,000 skills are represented.

More than thirty percent of the Fortune 500 use Upwork. Clients include Airbnb, Automattic, BISSELL, GE, and Microsoft.

Upwork is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with an office in Chicago as well as team members in more than 800 cities worldwide. For more information, visit Upwork’s website at www.upwork.com and join us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

About The Upwork Foundation initiative

The Upwork Foundation initiative furthers the company’s mission to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. It aims to build a future of inclusive learning and opportunity by serving those at risk of being left behind by the Fourth Industrial Revolution as well as supporting other nonprofits and its own employees in volunteering. The program supports four key areas, including giving; partnerships; product; and volunteering. The Upwork Foundation initiative includes a donor-advised fund created through the Tides Foundation.