2018 Immigration Strategy Grantmaking

Our Strategic Grantmaking Process

The Community Foundation sets aside targeted funds to support organizations that further the overarching strategic goal of ensuring that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants in Greater New Haven, will achieve greater civic and economic participation and success, thereby becoming more fully integrated members of a more welcoming community. Read more about our immigration strategy.

A grant review committee consisting of experts in the field and Community Foundation staff reviews all the immigration applications and scores them according to established criteria that rates organizations and programs.

Below is a list of immigration organizations and their projects that were recommended for grants.

2018 Approved Immigration Grants

Apostle Immigrant Services $3,379

Project: VOTE 2020 aims to educate immigrants about the naturalization process and assist those who are eligible in filing applications early enough that they will be able to vote in the 2020 election. Learn more about Apostle Immigrant Services on giveGreater.org.

Connecticut Students for a Dream $4,000

Project: The Youth and Community Empowerment Project will organize and develop immigrant youth to be leaders in the community, provide information on immigrant rights to community members and learn the power of their stories, and foster a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in high schools so immigrant youth can thrive and reach their potential. Learn more about Connecticut Students for a Dream on giveGreater.org.

CitySeed, Inc. $10,000

Project: Sanctuary Kitchen, a program of CitySeed, was launched in 2017 with two critical goals in mind: 1) to promote and celebrate the culinary traditions of refugees and immigrants in Connecticut and 2) provide incubation training and business development opportunities for these residents. In our first year, the program proved to be enormously popular with both our chefs/entrepreneurs and the Greater New Haven community. Learn more about CitySeed, Inc on giveGreater.org.

Elena's Light $2,621

Project: A one-on-one English tutoring pilot program for female immigrants in New Haven with a focus on studying for the Connecticut DMV learner's permit test.

Elm City Internationals $15,000

Project: Elm City Internationals ("ECI") uses soccer as a tool to engage low-income, immigrant and refugee students in academics. The College Readiness Academy is broken into three main parts: reading and writing enrichment, college counseling, and college follow-through. Learn more about Elm City Internationals on giveGreater.org.


Foundation for the Arts and Trauma $5,000

Project: The ALIVE program provides trauma-informed, arts-based approach to facilitating student success for immigrant students (including undocumented) at Barnard School.

Learn more about Foundation for the Arts and Trauma on giveGreater.org.

New Haven Legal Assistance Association $15,000

Project: Legal services for undocumented immigrants seeking defensive and/or affirmative relief (including asylum, U-Visa, T-Visa, Violence Against Women Act, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and adjustment of status), as well as affirmative civil rights litigation in federal and state courts on behalf of immigrant workers. Learn more about New Haven Legal Assistance Association on giveGreater.org.

Springs Learning Center $5,000

Project: The center provides a systematic one-to-one method of learning the oral, written and reading of English, as well as one-to-one classes in Citizenship Exam Preparation.

Unidad Latina Accion $20,000

Project: Community organizing for immigrant rights.