Immigration Funding Through a Justice Lens: Recommendations for Philanthropy
📷 credit: Miko Guziuk via Unsplash
The scope of immigration’s impact has consistently shaped the very fabric of American society. As of 2022, 14% of the U.S. population – approximately 46.2 million individuals – was born abroad (Migration Policy Institute, 2024). The demographic reality of immigration has transformed communities, local economies, and social structures across the nation. Despite their significant contributions, immigrant communities remain highly vulnerable and are increasingly under attack, facing legal, economic, and social challenges that threaten their safety, stability, and acceptance.
We also know the current federal administration has had a mixed approach to immigration largely only working to create opportunities to protect current immigrants while deterring and restricting would-be immigrants. The presidential campaign rhetoric is also once again trying to pit groups against one another by spreading misinformation and lies about certain immigrant groups.
Philanthropy has a critical role to play in the face of ongoing attacks on immigrant rights. Recent interviews conducted by Raquel Gimeno and Alison Upton Lopez of leaders in the immigration space offer insights for funders seeking to make a meaningful impact in this space.
Current Landscape: Challenges and Inequities
Interviewees highlighted a few themes around the current challenges facing the sector when it comes to addressing and prioritizing immigration and immigrant communities.
Severe Underfunding: The immigration sector faces a funding crisis, particularly in legal services, narrative work, and state-level advocacy. This underfunding perpetuates systemic inequities and limits the capacity for transformative change during a time when immigrants are most at risk.
Political Vulnerability: With looming political uncertainties, immigrant communities are at risk of increased deportations and erosion of legal protections, highlighting the urgent need for expanded support systems. Anti-immigrant rhetoric is continuously spread, which not only shapes public opinion but influences policy. This rhetoric dehumanizes immigrants, fuels discrimination, and creates a pressure pot of hostility that impacts the daily lives and dignity of the migrant population.
Movement Fragmentation: Years of crisis response have led to burnout and division within the immigration movement, weakening collective power and resilience.
Risk Aversion and Its Ripple Effects: Funder’s hesitance to engage in potentially controversial work has a cascading effect on the sector. Smaller nonprofits, lacking the resources to navigate potential legal challenges, are often forced to adopt similarly risk-averse strategies. This domino effect of caution further limits the sector's ability to pursue bold, transformative initiatives, which disproportionately impact grassroots and community-led organizations.
Recommendations for Justice-Oriented Philanthropy
Provide Sustained, Flexible Funding: Offer multi-year, unrestricted support to build organizational capacity and enable proactive strategies.
Integrate Immigration: Prioritize immigration and immigrant communities long-term in any grantmaking strategy, not just as a response to waves of xenophobic rhetoric and policies.
Empower Local Action: Focus on state and local initiatives for immediate impact and momentum-building.
Amplify Marginalized Voices: Invest in narrative change work centering immigrant experiences and countering harmful rhetoric.
Strengthen Legal Defenses: Support direct legal aid and strategic litigation to protect immigrant rights.
Foster Intersectional Solidarity: Build connections between immigrant communities and other marginalized groups.
Invest in Community Power & Infrastructure: Fund grassroots organizing and leadership development within immigrant communities.
Prepare for Political Contingencies: Develop strategies to help organizations plan for the outcomes of national elections, particularly around safety and security, legal defense, and longer-term policy strategies.
Call to Action
The fight for immigrant justice requires bold, sustained commitment from philanthropy. By centering equity, empowering communities, and addressing root causes of injustice, funders can play a pivotal role in building a more inclusive and just society for all.
*Note: Leaders from the following organizations were interviewed for this work: