UNFCU Foundation Announces 2026 Grant Partners

(MENAFN- 3BL) NEW YORK, March 16, 2026 /3BL/ - UNFCU Foundation awarded $795K to 21 grant partners that align with its mission to sustain pathways out of poverty for marginalized women and youth. This year's grant partner selection by UNFCU Foundation, now in its 11th year of philanthropy, focused on impactful programs benefitting migrants and refugees globally.

“The intersection of sustainability, inclusion, and economic empowerment is at the center of our work,” said Yma Gordon, Executive Director, UNFCU Foundation.“Through this year's grants we are proud to expand access to skills-based training, quality education, and critical healthcare for women and youth and in this way further our strategy to leave no one behind.”

“Having recently marked 10 impactful years of grant-making, we remain deeply committed to bridging social, economic, and digital divides,” said Pamela Agnone, Chairperson of the UNFCU Foundation.“Program participants' resilience in overcoming difficult circumstances by seizing new opportunities like artisan collectives, agribusiness, and social entrepreneurships, inspires us to do even more. We look forward to following progress as women shape brighter futures for themselves and catalyze positive change for their families and their communities.”

UNFCU Foundation grant partners located in six countries represent non-profit, non-governmental, and UN organizations. The grant selection process identified their program alignment with UNFCU Foundation's mission and their impact equipping women and youth to break the cycle of poverty. These purposeful alliances spotlight the power of collective action:

“As a long-time partner, UNFCU Foundation's support helps to ensure that The Floating Hospital is meeting the behavioral-health needs of women and girls in public schools, family homeless shelters, and the medically underserved community at large,” said Floating Hospital President Sean T. Granahan.“This enables our teams to provide a continuum of care for families across New York City and assistance in rebuilding lives.” “UNFCU Foundation's support comes at exactly the time when we're aiming to scale up our digital training programs for refugees,” said Fabien de Castilla, Konexio Africa Director.“It will enable us to sustain and grow the successful program we've just completed in Kenya, especially in Kakuma Refugee Camp.” “Because of the UNFCU Foundation's critical support, we can provide integrated, no-cost medical, sexual and reproductive health, and behavioral and mental health services to even more girls and young women in marginalized communities,” said Dr. Sarah Wood, Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center in New York City.“Many of our youth have experienced trauma and would otherwise be unable to access services.” “UNFCU Foundation's commitment to refugee women's success is reflected in the tangible progress we've made together,” said Preethi Nampoothiri, Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee in Silver Spring, Maryland.“We've been able to expand our reach and provide job readiness training, financial literacy workshops, and credit-building services to an increasing number of women. This partnership allows us to continue working toward creating a future where refugee women can thrive and contribute to their communities with confidence.” “Emma's Torch is proud to be a grant recipient of the UNFCU Foundation,” said Kerry Brodie, its Founder and Executive Director.“Partnering together helps us provide effective training that is well-regarded by employers in the hospitality industry, creating high demand for Emma's Torch graduates and increasing the skill level of the culinary workforce overall. By providing refugees with opportunities for stability and economic mobility, we are making a meaningful, lasting impact not only on our graduates, but on their families and communities as well.”

Grantees and projects supported by the UNFCU Foundation in 2026 include:

Health care grantees:

The Floating Hospital Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center

Education grantees:

Building Tomorrow MindLeaps The YWCA of Brooklyn

Livelihood training grantees:

Emma's Torch Global Fund for Widows Hot Bread Kitchen Imagine Her International Rescue Committee (IRC) Konexio Mission for Community Development (MCODE) RefuSHE Resilience Action International Sanctuary for Families Together We Bake provides women in the Washington, DC area with livelihood training and direct experience in the food industry, as well as post-program professional development support. Trickle Up United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) delivers livelihood training and social reintegration care to indigent obstetric fistula survivors in Nigeria. UN Women Village Enterprise World Food Program USA supports the mission of World Food Programme Senegal to strengthen food systems and create job opportunities for youth in Senegal through vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and career counseling.

Furthers impact by supporting emergency relief efforts in 2025:

UNFCU Foundation also worked in partnership with the UN system to decrease the impacts of job, health care, and education loss post-disasters. UNFCU Foundation teamed up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, in Sudan and Myanmar, as well as the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, to provide emergency humanitarian aid in the Caribbean in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

About UNFCU Foundation

UNFCU Foundation is an accredited New York-based, non-profit corporation launched in 2015. It was established by the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) with a mission to sustain the path out of poverty through healthcare and education for women and youth. Since its inception, UNFCU Foundation has supported programs to enable more than 140,000 marginalized women and youth to unlock their potential.

To learn more, follow UNFCU Foundation's progress on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Elisabeth Philippe, UNFCU Foundation, ..., Tel. +1 347‐686‐6776; Mobile +1 347‐510‐4036

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