Resources – ONWARDS Project

Legal and visa issues

American Bar Association Justice Defenders Program

Works with human rights defenders who face harassment, threats, and criminal charges in retaliation for legitimate rights work. Serves lawyers, journalists, indigenous leaders, union leaders, etc.

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American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants' Rights

Online resource from the US’s best-known defender of constitutional rights provides guidance on the rights of immigrants when interacting with police, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Border Control. Also available in Spanish.

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American Immigration Lawyers Association

Provides an online tool for finding a licensed immigration lawyer and a one-page “What You Need to Know” guide to searches of phones, laptops, and tablets at US borders.

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Artistic Freedom Initiative

Provides free immigration representation and resettlement assistance to artists at risk. Also aids artists in finding temporary housing, studio space, employment, fellowships, residencies, and networking opportunities.

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Artistic Freedom Initiative FAQ on US Visas and Immigration Options

Document provides answers to common questions about options for at-risk artists, writers, and scholars wishing to travel to the United States or extend their stays.

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Artists From Abroad

The most complete and up-to-date online resource for foreign guest artists, their managers, and performing arts organizations.

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Avant-Garde Lawyers

Defends artists subjected to harassment, censorship, and imprisonment for their politically engaged art. Based in France but works internationally.

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Border Search Pocket Guide

Designed to be printed, folded, and carried in your pocket while traveling. Published by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.

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Cornell Immigration Law and Advocacy Clinic

Provides legal and visa assistance through Cornell University’s Law School.

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CUNY CLEAR

Project of the City University of New York Law School supports people, communities, and movements that are targeted by local, state, or federal government agencies under the guise of national security and counterterrorism.

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Immigration Equality

Provides specific immigration services for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants through direct legal services and policy advocacy.

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Immigration Law Help

Addresses the lack of reliable information available to low-income immigrants by providing an easy-to-use online directory of legal services providers. Searchable nonprofit legal services by state, county, and detention facility.

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International Refugee Assistance Program (IRAP)

Global legal aid organization assists refugees and displaced people. May be able to help with US Special Immigrant Visa applications, Chief of Mission appeals, family reunification processes, and US Refugee Admissions Program applications and appeals.

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International Student Resource Center

Provides immigration information and support for international students in the United States. Through comprehensive resources, timely information and updates, and access to immigration experts, the ISRC supports international students through their academic program and beyond.

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Language Services Directory

Directory from the American Translators Association includes more than 7,000 individuals and companies offering professional translation and interpreting services.

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Lawyers for the Creative Arts

Provides pro bono legal assistance to clients in all areas of art, culture, media, and entertainment, including the visual, literary, and performing arts.

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National Immigration Law Center

Online directory of providers of legal services for low-income immigrants. Also maintains a multilingual “Know Your Rights” resource.

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Refugee Translation Project

Provides free language services to people seeking asylum and other immigration relief. Also provides employment for refugees and recent immigrants.

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Tamizdat

Organizes educational activities and materials to help performing artists address problems presented by international borders and U.S. visa policies and procedures.

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Visual Artists Immigration Clinic

Project of the Center for Art Law designed to guide emerging visual artists through the process of obtaining a visa to the United States.

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Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Provides access to free or low-fee legal services on arts-related legal matters for qualifying artists in New York. Also organizes classes and workshops on legal issues.

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Job-seeking and professional development

Academic Freedom Media Review

Program of Scholars at Risk monitors threats to academic freedom and higher education communities worldwide. Distributes free US and global bulletins with links to media articles, blogs, opinion pieces, and announcements.

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Academic Jobs Online

Searchable database and application portal lists US and international jobs at academic institutions. Free for job-seekers.

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Academic Positions

Job board for positions with universities and research organizations globally with career advice and the ability to search for and research employers. Click here for link to an article on how to write a professional academic CV.

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Chronicle Careers

Database from the Chronicle of Higher Education lists more than 20,000 administrative, faculty, and executive positions at academic institutions worldwide. Also provides alerts and other job hunting tools. Free for job-seekers.

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Creative Capital Artist Lab

Offers free online professional development courses designed to help advance artists’ careers. Topics include grant writing, financial planning, audience engagement, and more. Courses available in English, Spanish, and ASL.

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Directory of Associations

Bills itself as the world’s largest free associations directory, with more than 37,000 listings. Associations can provide networking opportunities, access to potential employers, and lists of job openings.

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ENIC-NARIC Networks

Joint website of the European Network of Information Centres (ENIC) and National Academic Recognition Information Centres in the European Union (NARIC) provides information on international academic and professional mobility and procedures for the recognition of foreign credentials.

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Find a PostDoc

Website provides directory of postdoctoral fellowships and other positions for new and recently qualified PhDs.

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Guide to Writing Cover Letters

Thirty-page guide from Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on writing CVs and cover letters, including examples.

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H-Net Online

Job guide maintained by Humanities and Social Sciences Online lists positions in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Free for job-seekers.

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HigherEd Jobs

Searchable database lists thousands of positions at universities and research institutions worldwide. Also provides tips on writing cover letters, resumes, CVs, and preparing for interviews.

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How to Customize Your Resume (video)

Eighteen-minute video from Upwardly Global provides advice and tools for optimizing resumes for online submission. Skills apply to all job types.

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Idealist.org

“The world’s largest social-impact job board” includes opportunities ranging from entry-level to executive roles in nonprofits, social-impact businesses, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

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IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund Career Resources

Provides links to resources on networking, writing, career advice, language and culture, jobs and grants, CVs and cover letters, and legal advice.

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ImaginePHD

Free online tool helps PhD students and postdoctoral scholars in the humanities and social sciences assess their skills, interests, and values; explore career paths; define goals; and map out steps for success both within and outside academia. Provides templates for cover letters and resumes.

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Inside Higher Ed

Job board lists more than 40,000 positions in higher education and allows job-seekers to upload resumes. Free for job-seekers.

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JobHero

Dashboard helps job seekers manage their applications across many different job boards.

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Jobscan

Subscription service provides tools for creating and improving resumes, writing cover letters, tracking job applications, and more.

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Jobversity Resource Library

This curated collection contains links to courses, guides, templates, webinars, and other online resources from universities and other organizations. Topics range from credentials to cover letters to career fairs.

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The world’s largest professional network with more than one billion members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Provides a range of opportunities for job-seekers to connect with colleagues and employers.

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Literary Translators Database

Service of the American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) provides names and contact information for translators in many different languages.

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Middle East Studies Association

Resources and opportunities including jobs, events, programs, etc.

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My Next Move

Designed for people contemplating a career shift or entry into a new field. Provides tools for learning about career options and discovering your interests.

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National Association of Independent Schools

Searchable database lists thousands of jobs at private, nonprofit elementary and secondary schools in the United States and internationally. NAIS also provides tools and resources for job-seekers.

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NYFA Immigrant Artist Program

Program of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) connects immigrant artists with services and resources to foster their creative careers, gain support and exposure for their work, and integrate into the cultural world of New York and beyond.

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NYFA Immigrant Artist Resources

Extensive list from New York Foundation for the Arts provides links to arts councils, grant sources, job listings, workspaces, and other opportunities.

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NYFA Jobs

Curated list of job openings in the arts and culture industry in New York and beyond.

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NYFA Learning

Learn-as-you-go platform helps artists and cultural workers of all disciplines build essential skills and gain insights from trusted experts in the arts industry.

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NYFA Professional Development Program

Provides artists, creators, students, and arts administrators with tools, strategies, and advice for building sustainable careers.

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O*NET

Searchable database maintained by the US Department of Labor contains keywords and skills lists for nearly 1,000 different occupations and links to job-seeking tools.

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On the Move

From getting funding to finding advice, On the Move provides free resources for artists and culture professionals who want to work internationally. The organization maintains a collection of more than 60 funding guides and points artists to information on specialist topics like visa and tax law.

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Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World

Provides support activities including membership and networking, fellowships, and awards for women scientists.

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PhDs at Work

Provides an online space for networking and learning for professionals with PhDs working across industries and disciplines.

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Scholars Without Borders

Provides professional development support for scholars from Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia whose work has been disrupted by the war against Ukraine. Also provides an online search tool linked to active listings of jobs, grants, fellowships, and other opportunities.

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Science Careers

Provides up-to-date listings of hundreds of job opportunities in science and technology in the US and around the world. Maintained by the journal Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

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Upwardly Global

Nonprofit organization provides training, mentorship, self-guided courses, and other assistance for immigrant and refugee professionals in all disciplines. Coaching may be available to qualified job-seekers.

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Upwardly Global Skills Transferability Table

Tool developed for the ONWARDS project provides lists of careers that may be compatible with the skill sets of scholars, artists, and journalists. Also includes wage information.

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Upwardly Global US Career Readiness Resources

Provides free self-paced online training courses designed for recent immigrants seeking to get back to work in their professional field. Topics include career planning, building a resume, and preparing for job interviews.

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World Education Services

Evaluates academic credentials from more than 48,000 institutions in 203 countries and territories around the world and provides verified reports that are accepted by licensing boards, academic institutions, and employers throughout the US and Canada.

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Security, health, and wellbeing

Access Now Digital Security Helpline

Offers help 24 hours per day, seven days per week in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalog, Arabic, and Italian. Access Now works with individuals and organizations around the world to keep them safe online.

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Artists Health Insurance Resource Center

Provides personalized health insurance counseling, guidance and enrollment support, referrals to health care resources, and primary and specialty care at the Friedman Health Center in New York City.

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Electronic Frontier Foundation

The leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation works “to ensure that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people of the world.” Provides a range of tools in addition to articles, podcasts, litigation, and reports.

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Exiled Journalist Toolkit

Project of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Network of Exiled Media Outlets (NEMO), brings resources to journalists and outlets established or preparing to be in exile, as they report on communities and events in their home countries. Also available in Spanish.

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FreedomLab Risk Management Training

Free 6- to 8- hour online course, “Safety and Security in Human Rights Work,” includes key concepts in security culture, personal security, psychological wellbeing, and digital security. Modules provide guidance on securing digital information and remaining safe while surfing the internet.

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Inclusive Therapists

Mental health resource directory committed to connecting people with culturally affirming and responsive care, destigmatizing and decolonizing mental health care.

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Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline

Provides US-based journalists and news outlets with one-on-one safety consultations for digital, physical, psychosocial, and legal concerns—from dealing with doxing, threats, and arrests to preparing for risky assignments.

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Mt. Sinai Human Rights Program

Provides psychological, physical, and gynecological evaluations and continuity care to US asylum seekers who are survivors of torture and human rights abuses.

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Open Briefing

Provides funding and free resources to help activists and advocates enhance their safety and resilience under threat of physical, digital, and psychological harm.

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Research Support Consortium

Provides tools and resources for researchers seeking protection from intimidation and harassment, including a list of resources and suggested actions for mitigating risk and coping during an attack.

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Resident.ngo

Provides security consultation, training, digital risk auditing, and IT support for NGOs, human rights defenders, media outlets, and activists working in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, and other Eastern European countries.

Surveillance Self-Defense

Resource from the Electronic Frontier Foundation provides tips, tools, how-to’s, and product recommendations for safer online communications. Calls itself an “expert guide to protecting you and your friends from online spying.”

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The Center

Provides community services to the LGBTQ+ community in New York City, including mental health counseling, immigrant services, and resources for enrolling in health insurance.

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Travel Digital Pamphlet

Provides security tips and “Know Your Rights” information for immigrants who travel. Published by the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) project of the City University of New York Law School.

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US Journalist Assistance Network

Collaboration among press freedom organizations provides a searchable list of resources for journalists in the US who are immigrants or who cover immigration and are concerned about their physical safety, digital security, legal rights, and psychological well being, as well as the safety of their sources.

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Grants, fellowships, and finances

Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant

Provides financial assistance to visual artists facing an unforeseen medical emergency or a sudden, unexpected loss of income.

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Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships

Offers six month fellowships for young journalists (ages 25-35) with excellent command of English to work in American newsrooms.

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American Association of University Women

Offers international fellowships for women pursing graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States who are not citizens or permanent residents and who intend to return to their home countries to pursue their careers.

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American Council of Learned Societies

Offers international fellowship opportunities to support research in the humanities in the USA, Africa, and China.

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ARC Emergency & Resilience Funds for Eurasian Visual Artists

Provides grants for Belarusian and Russian visual artists facing threats to their lives and freedom. Emergency grants are for artists who urgently need help with basic living expenses. Resilience grants are for those who are able to continue their work but who need funds to do so.

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ARC Emergency and Resilience Funds for Ukrainian Visual Artists

For Ukrainian visual artists living inside or outside Ukraine. Emergency grants are for artists who urgently need help with basic living expenses. Resilience grants are for those who are able to continue their work but who need funds to do so.

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Artist Communities Alliance

Provides a searchable residency directory that spans disciplines along with other resources to help artists find, apply, and fund a residency experience.

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Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI)

Provides pro-bono legal help (see legal section above) and aids artists in finding temporary housing, studio space, employment, fellowships, residencies, and networking opportunities.

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Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)

ARC helps artists and cultural professionals by referring them to a wide range of services, including emergency funds, legal assistance, temporary relocation programs, and fellowships.

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Artists Fellowship

Provides emergency aid to visual artists and their families and a list of resources for emergency aid for artists and freelancers.

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Artists' Charitable Fund

Provides financial assistance to artists who have suffered a catastrophic event such as a natural disaster, medical emergency, or personal tragedy.

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Assocation for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEES)

Provides resources to help displaced scholars from Ukraine.

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Authors League Fund

Provides interest-free loans to professional authors, journalists, poets, and dramatists in financial distress.

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CERF+ The Artist's Safety Net

Provides emergency grants and loans for artists in need, in addition to networking and educational opportunities.

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Columbia University Human Rights Advocates Program

Four-month residency at Columbia University in New York, including networking, skills building, and academic coursework.

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Freedom House

Provides short-term support to human rights defenders, employees of civil society organizations, and survivors of severe religious persecution.

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Freelancers Union Relief Fund

Provides educational resources and emergency funding to freelancers in various fields.

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IIE Scholar Rescue Fund

Arranges, funds, and supports fellowships for threatened and displaced scholars at higher education institutions worldwide, including in their home regions. Also maintains lists of international fellowships and opportunities.

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International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN)

Provides referrals to two-year residency opportunities for writers and artists with local governments and civil society groups in more than 80 cities of refuge around the world.

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JX Fund

Offers training and fellowships to enable media professionals who have fled conflict zones to continue their work in exile.

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Mayer Foundation

Offers grants to New York City-area residents struggling with poverty, low income, or lack of financial resources.

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McCain Institute Human Rights Defenders Program

Provides emergency grants for practitioners as well as a downloadable Resource Guide to global and regional resources, including protection, emergency assistance, holistic training, and fellowships available for defenders and journalists.

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Modest Needs

Offers self-sufficiency grants to people in dire need but “because they are working and live just above the poverty level, are ineligible for most types of conventional social assistance.”

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MusiCares

Provides financial assistance and other services to musicians and music industry professionals who have been affected by a medical emergency or financial hardship.

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Musicians Foundation

Provides emergency financial assistance to professional musicians.

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that offer fellowships, grants, and other support to scientists, with some open to international scholars or refugees living in the US.

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National Endowment for Democracy

Provides a variety of fellowship programs aimed at helping individuals deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to strengthen democratic progress.

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National Humanities Center

Offers year- or semester-long residential fellowships for advanced study in the humanities, regardless of citizenship. Must have a doctorate or equivalent credentials.

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New University in Exile Consortium

Provides academic positions for threatened scholars at colleges in the US, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

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New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)

Provides over $4 million in cash grants to individuals pursuing artistic excellence in all forms.

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Nieman Fellowships for Journalists

Offers two full semesters at Harvard University auditing classes and participating in additional activities. Open to journalists with at least five years of full-time experience who are fluent in English.

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NYFA Opportunities

Lists fellowships, open calls, grants, and other opportunities for artists and cultural workers.

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Office of Refugee Resettlement Career Pathway Grants

Helps eligible refugees to achieve self-sufficiency by obtaining the necessary credentials, education, experience, and job skills to secure employment in professional and/or skilled career fields.

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PEN/Bare Life Review Grants

Awards of $5,000 support two immigrant or refugee writers of fiction or poetry. The Bare Life Review literary journal discontinued publication in 2021, but the grant program continues.

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Persian Heritage Foundation

Offers research and publication grants to promote research on the Persianate world in pre-Islamic and Islamic eras.

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Poets in Need

Provides emergency assistance to poets with a substantive body of published work who have an established presence as innovators in the literary community.

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Princeton University Fung Global Fellows Program

Invites five humanities researchers for one academic year to research, write, and collaborate around a common topic.

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ProFellow

Free database of thousands of funding awards for graduate study and professional development.

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Rauschenberg Emergency Grant

Provides one-time financial assistance of up to $5,000 to artists who have suffered an unexpected medical emergency or a natural disaster.

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Refugee Fellows Program

Yearlong fellowships from Refugees International are designed to give refugee leaders tools to amplify the perspectives of refugees and displaced individuals and drive meaningful change in their communities.

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Resources for At-Risk Individuals from Afghanistan

Compiled by Scholars at Risk, list includes information on fellowships and other opportunities for Afghan scholars, artists, students, human rights defenders, and others. Also includes links to visa, transit, and digital security resources.

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Resources for At-Risk Individuals from Ukraine

Compiled by Scholars at Risk, list includes information on fellowships and other opportunities for Ukrainian scholars, artists, students, and others. Also includes links to visa, transit, legal, and digital security resources.

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SAR Alternative Resources

Compiled by Scholars at Risk, this list includes links to information about jobs, fellowships, emergency assistance, and other opportunities for scholars, journalists, artists, and human rights defenders in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and elsewhere.

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Scholars at Risk (SAR)

SAR works with its global network of higher education institutions around the world to arrange short-term, temporary research and teaching positions for threatened scholars. The group also provides advisory, referral, and career support services for both scholars and practitioners at risk.

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