Global Non-Profit Research Organization

Global nonprofit research organization expands scientific impact with Lifted, an Upwork Company™, engaging 248 experts across 38 countries in 1.4 days

Aug 19, 2025

In short about the Impact

248 independent contractors engaged across 38 countries.

1.4-day average time to hire during peak periods.

Hiring managers supported globally with a streamlined, decentralized hiring model serving 80+ countries.

The challenges we’ve tackled

Cost Efficiency Mandate

Volatile public funding required scalable solutions without expanding headcount.

Localized Talent Gaps

Specialized expertise was needed in remote or underserved regions where talent access was limited.

Decentralized Operations

Hiring was distributed across teams and countries, with inconsistent workflows.

Urgency to Deliver

Slow sourcing timelines delayed scientific and policy projects tied to global development goals.

How our solution helped

Onboarded 248 independent contractors through Lifted, supporting work across 38 countries.

Achieved 1.4-day average time to hire during peak periods.

Supported targeted hires in countries across Africa, Europe, and North America.

Facilitated flexible, short-term contracts optimized for project-based scientific and policy work.

It's all in the result and impact.

248 independent contractors engaged across 38 countries.

1.4-day average time to hire during peak periods.

Hiring managers supported globally with a streamlined, decentralized hiring model serving 80+ countries.

Key success factors, which
make us different

Localized Reach

Talent sourcing across geographies ensured alignment with local policy, language, and project needs.

Scalable Oversight

Global talent inventory reporting gave hiring managers the data to act faster and more effectively.

Strategic Program Support

Lifted’s team provided hands-on training, badging enablement, and intake best practices to accelerate impact.

Transparent Pricing

Flat-rate structure enabled budget forecasting across decentralized teams.

The outcome

From Ad-Hoc Hiring to a Global Talent Engine: This partnership transformed the organization’s ability to match global challenges with the right expertise, without expanding internal infrastructure. What began as a need for faster hiring evolved into a full-scale workforce strategy, with Lifted now powering a scalable IC model that supports scientific innovation in agriculture, sustainability, and climate resilience.

While this work was performed when these Enterprise solutions were embedded in Upwork, the same offerings and more are now available through Lifted, an Upwork Company.

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