Global Engagement Fund
Advancing educational, workforce, civic, and economic pathways by strengthening relationships between communities, institutions, and opportunities through community-centered global engagement.
Vision & Mission
Our Vision
An American future where culture and heritage shape how communities navigate opportunity — strengthening relationships, expanding pathways, and creating shared prosperity across generations.
Our Mission
GEF advances educational, workforce, civic, and economic pathways through partnership development, coalition building, leadership cultivation, and cross-sector collaboration. We help communities access pathways that already exist while building stronger bridges between local communities and the wider world.
The American Dream Does Not Require Leaving Home Behind
Through more than a decade of work alongside youth, families, educators, nonprofits, and community leaders, GEF arrived at a foundational realization: culture and heritage shape how people navigate opportunity.
Culture and heritage are not separate from educational success, workforce development, or economic mobility — they are the foundation upon which these aspirations are built. Across immigrant and diaspora communities, aspirations for advancement are accompanied by deep commitment to family, culture, and future generations.
The Problem We Seek to Solve
America's diaspora and diplomacy ecosystems often operate in parallel rather than in partnership — yet both seek stronger relationships and expanded opportunity.
Diaspora Ecosystem
- Communities, Culture & Heritage
- Families & Faith Institutions
- Community Leadership
- Informal Networks & Workforce Talent
Diplomacy Ecosystem
- Governments, Embassies & Sister Cities
- Universities & International Exchanges
- Corporate Global Affairs
- Development & Philanthropic Institutions
Disconnected Communities
Remain cut off from educational, workforce, and economic opportunities.
Struggling Institutions
Fail to build authentic community ownership and participation.
Unreached Grassroots
Global initiatives frequently fail to reach the community level.
Our Theory of Change
GEF strengthens the relationships between communities, institutions, and opportunities by recognizing culture and heritage as foundational to how people navigate opportunity.
This theory of change — from Diaspora to Diplomacy — is the connective thread running through every GEF program, partnership, and initiative.
Our Leadership Philosophy: Take Root. Take Flight.
GEF believes the strongest leaders are deeply rooted in who they are and connected to opportunities that allow them to contribute to their communities and the wider world.
Take Root
- Culture & Heritage
- Identity & Belonging
- Family & Community
- Responsibility & Service
- Civic Awareness
Take Flight
- Educational Success
- Workforce Development
- Leadership Development
- Entrepreneurship & Wealth Creation
- Community Impact
Our Values
Culture & Heritage
Culture and heritage shape how people navigate opportunity.
Community-Rooted
Lasting change begins within communities, strengthened through partnership and local leadership.
Relationship-Centered
Strong relationships create strong pathways.
Opportunity-Focused
We connect people and partnerships to pathways that create opportunity.
Collaborative
We build across sectors, cultures, and institutions.
Generational
We invest in leadership and relationships that endure beyond any single program.
Strategic Priorities 2026–2030
GEF's six strategic priorities form an integrated roadmap — from building organizational capacity to catalyzing a national movement for community-centered global engagement.
Build Organizational Capacity
Staffing, systems, fundraising, communications, and the Diaspora to Diplomacy Framework.
Convene Communities & Partners
Global Engagement Week, summits, delegations, and leadership convenings.
Build Partnership Pathways
Sister City, university, corporate, and embassy partnerships — 10 active pathways by 2030.
Catalyze Leadership & Mobility
Leadership fellowships, workforce pathways, entrepreneurship, and a national alumni network of 1,000+ annually.
Advance Public Diplomacy
Cultural exchange, civic dialogue, storytelling, and community diplomacy toolkits.
Generate Knowledge & Influence
Research, policy briefs, the State of Global Engagement Report, and national thought leadership.
Five-Year Growth Phases
Phase I (2026) — Build the Foundation
Establish core operating model, secure initial funding, launch Global Engagement Week proof of concept. Funding Target: $250K–$500K
Phase II (2027–2028) — Build Connective Infrastructure
Activate California-Pacific partnership network, launch leadership fellowship and workforce pilots. Funding Target: $750K–$1.5M
Phase III (2029–2030) — Build the Movement
Achieve national replication, Annual Global Engagement Summit, published research, and framework adoption nationwide. Funding Target: $3M–$5M
Join the Movement
GEF believes the future of global engagement is community-centered. Whether you are a community organization, city government, university, corporation, foundation, or individual leader, we invite you to partner with us in strengthening the relationships that connect culture, community, and opportunity.