Protecting Immigrant Communities in 2025: A Call for Philanthropic Action
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On November 6, the United States of America woke up to face a stark new reality and an uncertain future. We know that this uncertainty and fear is impacting certain communities disproportionately as people worry about their rights disappearing – communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and women, to name a few.
As we enter 2025, millions of immigrant families, in particular, across the country are facing unprecedented anxiety and uncertainty. Parents are having difficult conversations with their children about emergency plans. Community leaders are working overtime to provide accurate information and combat the spread of fear-inducing misinformation. These are not abstract policy discussions or talking points – they are the lived realities of our neighbors and community members whose security and safety are targeted.
The stakes could not be higher. With the incoming administration's stated plans to implement aggressive immigration policies, including potential mass deportations through declared national emergency powers and military deployment, approximately 46.2 million people – 14% of the U.S. population – face potential impact. Behind these numbers are real people: the teachers educating our children, the doctors and nurses caring for our communities, the scientists advancing medical breakthroughs, the artists and creators shaping our culture, the local leaders strengthening our democracy, and the essential workers who kept our country running through the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The philanthropic sector faces a critical moment. Our response must match the urgency of the immediate threat and the necessity of building long-term resilience. This is not just about defending communities under attack – it's about preserving the fundamental values of inclusion, dignity, and human rights that define our society. It's about protecting the generations of people essential to our prosperity and cultural richness, especially when their contributions have historically gone unrecognized.
As a follow-up to our previous blog post sharing recommendations from leaders of immigration-focused nonprofits, we wanted to lift up specific priorities and recommendations we’ve heard from the sector and our partners in the context of the election outcome.
Priorities for 2025
We are already seeing a robust response emerging across sectors. Several state and city governments are preparing to act as the last line of defense for immigrant communities, exploring legal protections and policies that could shield residents from federal enforcement actions. Immigration legal aid organizations are rapidly scaling up their capacity, conducting know-your-rights workshops in churches, schools, and community centers. Grassroots organizations that have long served immigrant communities are forming new coalitions, sharing resources, and creating rapid response networks. National advocacy groups are preparing for prospective legal challenges.
A few specific examples of priorities to support as funders are included below:
Immediate Protection & Legal Defense
Scale up funding for immigration legal services and rapid response networks.
Support know-your-rights training and emergency preparedness programs
Fund security assessments and protective measures for immigrant-serving organizations
Strengthen coordination between national advocacy and local legal service providers
Movement Infrastructure & Coalition Building
Invest in state-level infrastructure, especially in vulnerable regions
Support cross-movement solidarity, particularly between immigrant rights and civil rights organizations
Fund organizing efforts that bridge racial, ethnic, and faith communities
Build capacity for rapid response to enforcement actions
Narrative Change & Community Defense
Counter misinformation targeting immigrant communities
Support immigrant-led media platforms and content creators
Fund research and messaging that demonstrates immigrants' contributions to American society
Invest in alternative media ecosystems in multiple languages, such as community radio, alternative community media networks, and immigrant-led digital content creators and journalists.
A Call to Action
This moment calls for all of us in philanthropy to demonstrate our courage and commitment. The choices we make in 2025 will resonate for generations to come. Immigrant communities have always been essential to our country’s past and present. Now, we must stand with them to protect our future. The path forward requires courage, creativity, and unwavering commitment to immigrant justice. By acting boldly now, philanthropy can help immigrant communities survive this challenging period and emerge stronger and more resilient.
For Foundation Leaders:
Challenge your board to increase payout rates for 2025-2026 to meet this historic moment
Remove bureaucratic barriers that slow down grantmaking when speed is essential
Use your institutional voice and relationships to advocate for immigrant communities
Consider how every portfolio – not just immigration-specific funding – can support immigrant communities
For Program Officers and Foundation Staff:
Reach out to your grantees now to understand their needs and challenges
Advocate within your institutions for flexible funding and streamlined processes
Connect grantees to other funders and resources
Look for opportunities to connect immigration to other portfolios and programs
Make grants to intermediaries if immigration is not your area of expertise (Examples like Four Freedoms Fund and Abundant Futures Fund)
For Individual Donors:
Increase your giving to immigrant rights organizations
Support local grassroots groups that larger foundations may overlook. Most states have immigration coalitions, and their members are critical to support (Examples like New York Immigration Coalition, Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)
Leverage your networks to bring new resources to the movement
Speak up in your communities about the importance of protecting immigrant rights
For Everyone in Philanthropy:
Recognize that this is not business as usual – we must take risks and act with urgency
Center the voices and leadership of directly impacted communities
Build authentic relationships with immigrant leaders and organizations
Use your privilege and access to open doors and create opportunities
Remember that your silence or inaction is a choice with real consequences for millions of families
History judges how people respond in moments of crisis. Future generations will ask us where we were and what we did in 2025 when members of our communities were targeted. We can choose to be cautious and maintain business as usual or rise to meet this extraordinary challenge with the boldness and urgency it demands. The time for half-measures and incremental change has passed. Immigrant communities have always believed in this country’s promise – now it's time for philanthropy to prove that their faith is justified.
This blog post builds on insights from recent sector convenings by Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR). It draws from the expertise of immigrant rights leaders, organizers, and advocates nationwide. The recommendations also reflect immediate needs and long-term strategic priorities identified by movement leaders and highlighted in our previous blog.