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
2009 Members
Altman Foundation
Morton K. & Jane Blaustein Foundation
Booth Ferris Foundation
The Clark Foundation
Dora Fund in The New York Community Trust
Ford Foundation
FJC, a Foundation of Philanthropic Funds
Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation
Interest on Lawyer Account
Fund of the State of New York
Suzette Brooks Masters & Seth J. Masters Fund in The New York Community Trust
The New York Community Trust
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Twenty-First Century ILGWU Heritage Fund
UJA-Federation of New York
Current 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.