Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund
Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund
The Immigrant-Led Organizations (ILO) Fund supports immigrant flourishing in Maine. We fund and strengthen the ecosystem of nonprofit, community-based organizations led by and serving Maine’s immigrants, refugees, asylees, migrant farm workers, and those who are undocumented.
Current Grantees
2023:
Action for Life
Angolan Community of Maine
Congolese Community of Maine
Furniture Friends
Gateway Community Services Maine
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
Hope Acts
Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
In Her Presence
Maine Access Immigrant Network
Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services
Maine Association for New Americans
Presente! Maine
ProsperityME
Rwandese Community Association of Maine
Welcoming Immigrant Neighbors
Yetu Housing and Community Resources
York County Community Action Corporation
Purpose
The work of the Immigrant-Led Organizations (ILO) Fund is rooted in a vision of immigrant flourishing in Maine and seeks to ask and answer these questions, in community:
- What does it mean for Maine to be welcoming to new Mainers?
- What does immigrant flourishing require?
- How can we support the dynamic and diverse ecosystem of immigrant leaders and immigrant-led organizations that are doing that work?
The ILO Fund answers these questions by:
- Providing unrestricted, multi-year grant support to immigrant-led and immigrant-serving organizations;
- Each year, the ILO Fund provides approximately $500,000 in multi-year, unrestricted grants to a new cohort of immigrant-led and immigrant-serving organizations. Since 2018, the ILO Fund has made more than $2M in grants to over 40 ILOs.
- Centering and prioritizing immigrant visions, voices, and leadership in all aspects of this program;
- This includes in the grantmaking process, the internal staffing of the ILO program, the Community-Led Needs Assessment, and the Immigrant-Led Community Advisory Committee.
- Highlighting and celebrating the diversity of work being led by ILOs across Maine.
- Strengthening and deepening the ties and connections among and between immigrant communities, leaders, and organizations;
- Engaging and connecting the broader community to these organizations, building relationships that can sustain their work moving forward.
Additional efforts within the Immigrant-Led Organizations Program include Community-Led Needs Assessment, a Technical Assistance Program and a Resource Hub.
Grant Amount & Funding Levels
The ten (10) organizations selected for the 2024 ILO Fund cohort will receive unrestricted, general operating grants of $45,000 paid out over three (3) years, $15,000 per year.
In addition, these organizations are invited to participate in a series of peer learning, training, capacity-building, and community outreach activities over the course of their 3-year grant period, from August 2024 through August 2027.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2024 Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund, applicant organizations are:
- Working exclusively or primarily in Maine
- Programming primarily serves and supports immigrant communities
- An immigrant-led organization, group, or coalition
To establish immigrant-led status, organizational applicants are required to meet at least two out of three of the following for at least the past two years:
- Immigrant key staff leaders of the organization - 50% of board and staff are reflective of the community
- Immigrant members on Board of Directors - 50% or more in governing decision-making roles
- Immigrant activists - 50% or more of on the ground, community interfacing staff/volunteers
How to Apply
Applications for the 2024 Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund closed May 31st at 11:59pm.
See all of our ILO grantees