Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees

Last chance to register! Tomorrow March 20th, join GCIR and the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition for an important and timely conversation about ways advocates are working to preserve rights and protections for immigrant children and families at this critical moment. One in four U.S. children lives in an immigrant family, and the next four years will bring unprecedented threats to their safety and wellbeing. The President has begun to militarize American communities to deport millions, an act of “mass deportation” that is traumatizing children living in immigrant families — 90 percent of whom are U.S. citizens. In Congress, proposals are swirling that would put food and healthcare programs out of reach for immigrant families while punishing states and localities that welcome immigrants. Families are being torn apart, and children are being uprooted from the only homes they’ve ever known or orphaned in their own homes. The chilling effect created by these actions is extending well beyond immigrant families and is already causing community-level trauma. The consequences of these threats will ripple across generations, shaping the country’s future for decades. Fortunately, there is an active, committed, and engaged network of organizations that are already mobilizing at the federal, state, and local levels. The Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition was founded to meet this moment, bringing together leading advocates for immigrants, children, education, and health. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about how the Coalition is mobilizing its network to push Congress, engage local officials, and prepare communities to preserve rights and protections wherever possible. Register below ?? https://lnkd.in/gdSXQ_Xi #Webinar #ProtectImmigrants #ProtectKids

??? Mark your calendars! | Since #inauguration day on January 20th, the new administration has issued dozens of executive orders, policy changes, and other administrative #attacks on #immigrant communities. Join us on March 19th to: ??Learn about the current immigration policy landscape ??Make sense of the many federal announcements ??Understand the impact on immigration legal services ??Identify opportunities for philanthropy to bolster the capacity of legal services organizations to respond in the short & long-term Register: https://lnkd.in/gbjnHqvD

?? We're thrilled to announce that Northern California Grantmakers and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees are joining forces in a yearlong partnership. Stay tuned for four intersectional events packed with action-oriented content designed to move funders to invest and guide funding practices. ??? To kick off the work for this year, read the co-authored piece by Melissa Nop, Victoria Rodarte & Cairo Mendes about the status of #immigration #justice both statewide & nationally.

At a time when immigrants, refugees, Native, rural and other historically marginalized communities are coming under immense attack, it is energizing to see groups like Northwest Area Foundation increase its commitment to change. We applaud the organization for stepping up in this moment by doubling its funding for the communities they serve. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g7Bs-DTT

On March 20th, join GCIR and the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition for our webinar, “Protecting Immigrant Families and Children.” One in four U.S. children lives in an immigrant family, and the next four years will bring unprecedented threats to their safety and wellbeing. The President has begun to militarize American communities to deport millions, an act of “mass deportation” that is traumatizing children living in immigrant families — 90 percent of whom are U.S. citizens. In Congress, proposals are swirling that would put food and healthcare programs out of reach for immigrant families while punishing states and localities that welcome immigrants. Families are being torn apart, and children are being uprooted from the only homes they’ve ever known or orphaned in their own homes. The chilling effect created by these actions is extending well beyond immigrant families and is already causing community-level trauma. The consequences of these threats will ripple across generations, shaping the country’s future for decades. Fortunately, there is an active, committed, and engaged network of organizations that are already mobilizing at the federal, state, and local levels. The Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition was founded to meet this moment, bringing together leading advocates for immigrants, children, education, and health. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about how the Coalition is mobilizing its network to push Congress, engage local officials, and prepare communities to preserve rights and protections wherever possible. Register below ?? https://lnkd.in/gdSXQ_Xi #Webinar #ProtectImmigrants #ProtectKids

We hope you can join us, along with the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees for this event on April 3 addressing the important topic of What Funders Need to Know About Supporting Children in Immigrant Families.

Cairo Mendes, GCIR's Senior Director of State and Local Programs,?recently collaborated with our friends at?Northern California Grantmakers?on a blog piece highlighting the ways in which philanthropy can be in solidarity with immigrant communities who are under attack by the new federal administration. "This work is not new," write?Victoria Rodarte and Cairo Mendes. "The movement has fought for decades to make California one of the most pro-immigrant states in the country, where we passed sanctuary city laws, prevented local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, and expanded Medi-Cal access to undocumented immigrants. In this moment, the immigrant justice movement needs increased resources to respond to raids, deportations, and litigation opportunities, but also to bolster the movement’s capacity for long-term organizing, visioning, and policy change," they continue. We invite you to read the blog below. https://lnkd.in/gjDjatwQ

?? Defending Food Workers & Building Power ?? As immigration enforcement ramps up, frontline food system workers—who sustain our communities—face increasing threats to their safety, livelihoods, and labor rights. A new report from Food Chain Workers Alliance (FCWA) highlights the urgent need to build worker power and demand justice for nearly 28 million food workers exploited by the current system. Join us for a critical conversation with FCWA and grassroots worker-led organizations to hear frontline perspectives on resisting mass deportation threats while sustaining long-term organizing for justice. ?? What funders will gain: ? Concrete ways to support immediate protection & long-term systemic change ? Insight into critical resource gaps & funding needs ? Opportunities to stay connected & engaged This webinar will be held in English & Spanish with interpretation. High-level notes and follow-up resources will be shared with registrants. In partnership with the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) , Funders for Regenerative Agriculture, and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. ?? Don't miss this chance to stand in solidarity and take action! Register here: https://ow.ly/NeVm50VaqZn #FoodWorkers #ImmigrantJustice #WorkerPower #LaborRights #FundTheMovement

Against the backdrop of Women’s History Month and with the current multifaceted attacks on both gender and migrant justice, GCIR invites you to learn how philanthropy can support the economic empowerment of immigrant women during our upcoming webinar on March 27th. Immigrant women comprise 7 percent of the total population but nearly 8 percent of the workforce, and the vast majority of them work in sectors that do not require a bachelor’s degree. Immigrant women are also disproportionately represented in service occupations and more likely to live in poverty than U.S.-born women. Bringing in leaders who work at the intersections of these identities, this webinar will provide an overview of the most pressing challenges faced by low-paid immigrant women as well as the diverse strategies groups are employing to address them. As we focus on economic empowerment, we will ideate on the ways philanthropy can support the immediate needs of these communities while building long-term worker power that transcends migrant status and gender identity. We invite funders to come ready to contribute your ideas on this important and timely topic. Register below ?? https://lnkd.in/df-YixRf #WomensHistoryMonth #Webinar

GCIR’s funder delegation had another fruitful year at Foundations on the Hill in Washington, D.C.! Our contingent of three GCIR staff and a dozen funders and partners showed up energized to advocate for our immigrant communities and our multiracial democracy. This was our largest FOTH contingent yet! We are deeply grateful to the FOTH organizers and everyone who joined us to participate in this opportunity to help advance immigrant justice and belonging at this critical moment. #FOTH2025 #WashingtonDC United Philanthropy Forum Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) Disability & Philanthropy Forum The Chicago Community Trust Grantmakers In Health Funders for LGBTQ Issues Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Forefront (Illinois) World Education Services Surdna Foundation The New York Women's Foundation Philanthropy Northwest Seeding Justice BIPOC ED Coalition