New York's Grantmakers Helping New York's Immigrants
The Fund for New Citizens is a joint foundation effort to help immigrants in New York City. Founded in 1987, the Fund has made more than $17 million in grants to strengthen immigrant-led organizations; challenge punitive immigration laws; promote pro-immigrant policies at the State and City levels; foster coalitions of immigration advocates and others with shared concerns; and support partnerships to provide legal help to immigrants.
New York City is always being reshaped and revitalized by new waves of immigration from across the globe. By pooling resources, the Fund for New Citizens ensures that immigrant issues are addressed and that voices of immigrants are heard on public policy issues.
If you are interested in joining the Fund, please contact Coordinator Elizabeth OuYang at lizouyang@aol.com or (212) 686 - 0010 x650.
Accomplishments of the Fund for New Citizens
- Helped create the New York Immigration Coalition, now the leading voice for newcomers in the State and a leader in national advocacy efforts.
- Developed partnerships between immigration legal services and community organizations that help more than 1,800 immigrants file for citizenship and permanent residency yearly.
- Established the Immigration Representation Project, a nationally recognized coalition of legal agencies that has represented more than 3,000 immigrants and asylum seekers facing deportation/removal.
- Supported a class action lawsuit that successfully challenged the severe backlog in processing citizenship applications.
- Organized funders, and legal and community groups to assist more than 4,000 immigrants affected by the federal government's Special Call-In Registration Program.
- Provided resources and management consulting to build the capacity of 40 diverse immigrant groups.
Current Priorities
- Build the capacity of immigrant organizations
- Provide immigration legal services in immigrant neighborhoods
- Support advocacy for immigration reform
- Increase representation for asylum seekers and other immigrants in detention, and at the immigration court
- Inform the funding community about immigrant issues through briefings and site visits
2011 Members
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund
- The New York Community Trust
- Interest on Lawyer Account of the State of New York
- Foundation to Promote Open Society
- Altman Foundation
- Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation
- Booth Ferris Foundation
- The Clark Foundation
- Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Fund
- UJA-Federation of New York
- Dora Fund in The New York Community Trust
- FJC-A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds
- Valentine Perry Snyder Fund
- Twenty-first Century ILGWU Heritage Fund
Current and Past Grantees
- Adhikaar
- African Refuge
- Asian Americans for Equality
- Bronx Defenders
- Catholic Charities
- Chhaya Community Development Corporation
- Chinese Progressive Association
- Chinese Staff and Workers Association
- Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
- Community Resource Exchange
- Council of Peoples Organization
- Domestic Workers United
- Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project
- Human Rights First
- La Union
- Legal Aid Society
- Make the Road New York
- Mirabal Sisters
- National Mobilization Against Sweatshops
- New Immigrant Community Empowerment
- NY Immigration Coalition
- NY Taxi Workers Alliance
- Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights
- Queens Community House
- South Asian Youth Action!
- United Chinese Association of Brooklyn
- Vamos Unidos
- Young Korean American Service & Education Center
Proposals to the Fund for New Citizens are by invitation only.