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$445,000 Awarded to Immigrant-Led Organizations in Maine

Announcing the The Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund’s Newest Grantees!

POSTED BY: SHIMA KABIRIGI

A woman smiles while wearing traditional garb.

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Immigrant & Refugee Funders Collaborative (IRFC), I am pleased to announce $445,000 in new grants to support 40 immigrant-led and immigrant-serving organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 response here in Maine.

These organizations define resilience. For a year now, immigrant communities in Maine have been among the most directly and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In the midst of a global pandemic, these organizations have stepped up to offer support and services for individuals and families in need. They are providing direct assistance with food, transportation, and housing for individuals and families that are required to quarantine. They conduct critical public health education and outreach. They offer interpretation and translation services. And so much more. In so doing, they are ensuring that immigrant community members have access to the resources and support they need.

The Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative is proud to support this work through grants from the Immigrant-Led Organizations (ILO) Pooled Fund at Maine Initiatives. IRFC members are foundations that share a common commitment to supporting immigrant communities here in Maine and we recognize that we are able to do more together than we are apart.Through the ILO Pooled Fund, we are combining resources to get them out the door and into the community where and when they are needed most. This is the third round of emergency, COVID-response grants we have made from the ILO Pooled Fund and brings our total grantmaking from this fund to $965,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.

We are honored to make these grants and invite you to learn more about these amazing immigrant-led and immigrant-serving organizations below.

In strength and solidarity,

Shima Kabirigi


Recipients of the Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund include:

Afghan Association of Maine

Angolan Community of Maine

Cambodian Community Association of Maine

Capital Area New Mainers Project

Congolese Community of Maine

Dijiboutian American Empowerment Project

Gateway Community Services

Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center

Hope Acts

Immigrant Resource Center

In Her Presence

Intercultural Community Center

Ladder to the Moon

Maine Access Immigrant Network

Maine Association of New Americans

Maine Community Integration

Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services

Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition

Mano en Mano

New England Arab American Association

New Mainers Public Health Initiative

New Roots Cooperative Farm

Portland Empowered

Presente! Maine

ProsperityME

Rwandese Community Association

Somali Bantu Community Association

Somali Community Center of Maine

South Sudanese Community Association of Maine

Sustainable Livelihoods Relief Organization

United Youth Empowerment Services

Women United Around the World