Grants for Immigration Nonprofits

A coordinated and collaborative funding approach to address immigration and refugee issues in Oregon.

OCF has joined with The Collins Foundation, the MRG Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and the Pride Foundation to form the Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative. The purpose is to create a coordinated, collaborative framework to address issues of immigration and refugees in our state, and to support local organizations responding to these issues.

Funding Structure and Process

The Collaborative uses various methods to consider application requests: a pooled fund, a combination of pooled and aligned funds, or aligned funds only. These methods are always in general alignment with eligible areas of support described in this collaborative framework.

“No Wrong Door”

Nonprofit and community groups may reach out to any representative of any participating funder by email or telephone. These representatives will make any information and documents available to the rest of the representatives. Funders will also coordinate their efforts when communicating or requesting information from community groups to lessen the burden of answering to different people on similar issues.

Shared Application and Reporting

The Collaborative shares a common Grant Application Form. A submitted application does not guarantee a grant award. Someone from the Collaborative may contact the applicant for additional questions as needed. At the end of the grant period, grantee submits one report in a format supplied by the Collaborative.

Funding Process, Application Review & Reporting

The Collaborative does not have established funding cycles or a formal RFP (Request for Proposals) process. The intent is to offer a nimble and responsive way that reduces the wait time for grantees. The collaborative member who receives the application makes it available to other members for joint review and discussion. If additional clarifying questions arise, a member of the collaborative contacts the applicant to secure the answers. The members may choose to fund an application using various methods: a pooled fund, a combination of pooled and aligned funds, or aligned funds only. An applicant may receive one grant check if funding is provided through a pooled fund, or separate checks and letters of award if multiple funders are supporting the project. If a project is supported by multiple funders applicant may submit only one report as directed by the collaborative.

Funding Criteria

Funding will cover proposed activities for a 12-month period.  A proposal of $50,000 or more to this Collaborative is considered a large request. Any collaborative member may choose to fund an application outside the parameters of the eligibility requirements set forth in this document. Individual members of this collaborative may also choose to fund the applicant organization for a different project within the same time period.

Funding Eligibility & Areas of Interest

The Collaborative will consider requests for projects that provide:

• Legal information, advice, services and representation for immigrants and refugees.
• Outreach and education about policies, programs, services and preparedness.
• Information-gathering, research and analysis on immigration and refugee issues.
• Basic human needs for immigrants and refugees.
• Community organizing, civic engagement and advocacy.

Although any individual collaborative member may choose to invest more in some areas than others, the response to the organizations and community will be coordinated.

Critical Response Fund

To consider small requests that need a quick turnaround time, the Collaborative has established a small fund to respond to critical needs. Broadly defined, "critical response" means a response needed within 48 hours for small, planned or unanticipated expenses related to funding eligible activities. This may include materials and expenses for education and outreach, training and capacity fees. Requests under this fund cannot exceed $4,000.

Our Goal

To foster a pluralistic, vibrant democracy through the civic integration of immigrants, support for nonpartisan voter registration and education, and voting rights.

Focus Areas

Field Building

• Through support for state and local groups aiding immigrant communities

Strategic Communications

• Informing the immigration reform debate and providing messaging for communities

Policy Development

• Improving federal and state policies regarding immigration and civic integration

Nonpartisan Civic Engagement

• Encouraging legal residents to become American citizens and informed voters.

Immigrant & Refugee Funders Collaborative

In early 2016, we shared our three-year equity plan, identifying increased engagement and investment in immigrant and refugee communities among the Foundation's priorities. Since then, Federal actions on immigration -- including executive orders that restrict visitors, immigrants, and refugees to the U.S; detentions of DACA youth, their parents, and others in Oregon and throughout the country; and a series of ICE raids in the Northwest -- have served as catalysts for several foundations in Oregon, urging us into action. We're pleased to share one way we're moving forward together: by launching the Oregon Immigrant & Refugee Funders Collaborative in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, MRG Foundation, and The Oregon Community Foundation. The purpose is to create a coordinated, collaborative, and nimble funding approach to address emerging and urgent issues impacting immigrants and refugees in the state, and to support local organizations responding to these issues.

Funding Structure and Process

“No Wrong Door”

Nonprofit and community groups are encouraged to reach out to any of the representatives from each of the participating funders by email or by telephone. Representatives from participating funders communicate with each other and make any information and documents available to the rest of the representatives. Funders will also coordinate their efforts when communicating and/or requesting information from community groups to lessen the burden on answering to different people on similar issues.

Shared Application | Funding Process | Application Review

The funders collaborative share a common application form. A submitted application does not guarantee a grant award. The collaborative does not have established funding cycles or a formal "request for proposals" process. The intent is to offer a nimble and responsive process that reduces the wait time for grantees; the collaborative expects to make decisions within four weeks of receiving a proposal, with funds dispersed shortly after that. The collaborative member who receives the application will make it available to other members for joint review and discussion. If additional clarifying questions arise, a member of the collaborative will contact the applicant to secure the answers. The members may choose to fund an application using various methods: a pooled fund, where a grantee will receive one grant check; aligned funding, where the grantee will receive separate checks and letters of award if multiple funders are supporting the project; or a combination of pooled and aligned funds.

What We’ll Fund | Areas of Interest

Collectively the funders collaborative will consider requests for projects that provide:

• Legal information, advice, services, or representation for immigrants and refugees
• Outreach and education about policies, programs, services, and preparedness
• Information gathering, research, and analysis on immigration and refugee issues
• Basic human needs for immigrants and refugees
• Community organizing, civic engagement, and advocacy

Individually any collaborative member may choose to invest more in some areas than others, but the response to the organizations and community will be coordinated among participating funders. 

Reporting

At the end of the grant period, grantees will be required to submit a single report in a format supplied by the collaborative. Even if a project is supported by multiple funders aligning their funding, grantees will only need to submit one common report.

Critical Response Fund

The funders collaborative may consider small requests that need an especially quick turn-around time. The collaborative has established a small fund to respond to critical needs. Broadly defined, critical response means a response needed within 48-72 hours, for small, planned or unanticipated expenses related to funding eligible activities. This may include materials and expenses for education and outreach, training and capacity fees. Requests under this fund cannot exceed $4,000 and will receive a response in 48-72 hours, with funds dispersed within a week.

Request for Proposals

The Fund for New Citizens in The New York Community Trust is committed to helping immigrant-led nonprofits advocate for pro-immigrant policies and provide critical services and support to immigrants in New York City. Since it was started in 1987, the Fund has awarded more than $25 million in grants to help local immigrants and the organizations that work on their behalf.

For the past two years, New York City’s immigrants have weathered an onslaught of anti-immigrant federal policies, including the threatened termination of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, new restrictions on asylum-seekers, reductions to refugee admissions, and a ban on travel from some majorityMuslim countries. The proposed “public charge” rule, although fairly limited in scope, is likely to depress utilization of vital health and social services. Similarly, a heavily-litigated plan to add a question about citizenship to the census is expected to have a profound chilling effect on immigrant participation. And although the local and State policy outlook is brighter, escalating immigration enforcement—deportations are up by more than 150 percent in the City, and the number of new deportation cases is at an alltime high—has generated considerable fear and anxiety among local immigrants, and left many even more vulnerable to exploitation.

Against this backdrop, the Fund is inviting local, immigrant-led nonprofits to submit proposals of up to five pages in length for capacity-building and advocacy projects that respond directly to the current immigration policy environment

Projects may include:

Advocacy and community education comprising:

• Immigration policy advocacy at the local and state levels;
• Community organizing around immigrants’ rights; and/or
• Know-your-rights training, community outreach, and emergency planning for immigrants and their families.

Capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening organizational infrastructure, addressing administrative challenges, and expanding programming through:

• Improvement of financial and data management systems;
• Implementing new fundraising methods;
• Leadership, board, and staff development;
• Coordination of partnerships with other nonprofits, faith-based groups, healthcare providers, schools, and/or government agencies;
• Volunteer recruitment and training;
• Membership development;
• Strategic planning;
• Strategic communications;
• Creating a new staff position or hiring a consultant to implement a new (not existing or ongoing) program; and/or
• Implementing new technology and processes that will allow for improved or expanded outreach and/or service delivery.

Grants are expected to range from $40,000 to $70,000 for one year of funding. However, most grants will not exceed $60,000, and capacity-building grants will typically be spread out over two years (i.e., not exceeding $30,000 in year one and $30,000 in year two). 

Mission

The mission of Marbrook Foundation is to promote the values of the Brooks family by making grants and focusing involvement in designated charitable areas and causes that reflect those values.

Immigrants and Refugee Empowerment and Education

Marbrook Foundation is interested in supporting initiatives or organizations that empower and create opportunity for new immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities metro area.

As the immigrant and refugee populations grow and become increasingly diverse, so does the potential for enrichment and transformation in our communities. Marbrook Foundation believes that addressing the opportunities and challenges that come with blending cultures, languages and beliefs strengthen our shared communities and contribute to the well-being of all citizens.

Focus Areas

The Foundation will consider proposals for programs that support immigrant and refugees in the following areas: 

• Culturally safe and conducive learning environments for children and youth. These programs may include a focus on mindfullness.
• Intentional intercultural learning, and cross-cultural experiences
• Healthy development, life-skill development, and well-being for youth and families
• The development of skills for financial independence
• Leadership development and empowerment in the community
• Cultural preservation

The Firedoll Foundation is a private family foundation founded by two unrepentant liberals from the 60's who still believe in the motto, "If you are not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." 

Community Development and Entrepreneurship

We believe that government has largely abdicated its responsibility in the area of community development. Although non-profit organizations should not be in the position of having to fill the gap, they are. Funders must step forward and provide them with support.

We concentrate our grant making on the Alameda and Contra Costa Counties of the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on the development of self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship and community services.

Immigrant Issues and Human Rights

Immigration is a continuing source of vitality and rejuvenation of American society. We reject the anti-immigrant hysteria that swept the United States in the 1990's, bringing with it the detention of thousands of immigrants by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

We support projects that provide alternatives to detention and advocate on behalf of detained immigrants and asylum seekers. We are especially inclined to support organizations providing legal aid to immigrants in detention, facing deportation, and/or seeking asylum. We make grants to human rights projects on behalf of vulnerable populations whose basic rights are being sacrificed by repressive governmental or religious policies or for the sake of global economic interests.