Clearly, there are many opportunities to build

on existing resources in Grand Rapids to create

a stronger system of support for newcomers.

What will it take for the community to move forward

in seizing these opportunities? Learning from

the experience of other communities around the

United States and Canada, it is clear that funders

play a crucial role. Some of the most exciting and

productive work in this arena is being done by

funders, often involving convening community

organizations, establishing funding collaboratives,

and other activities that go beyond traditional

grantmaking.

Funders are uniquely positioned not only to

provide financial support, but also – and equally

important – to offer leadership on emerging

issues, providing the impetus necessary to engage

community organizations and individuals. Many

funders around the country have embraced this

role in addressing immigrant and refugee issues

in their communities. For example:

• The Fund for Immigrants and Refugees, a

five-year effort in Chicago, awarded $6.3 million

in grants for newcomer-related projects to 66

non-profit organizations in metropolitan Chicago.

Twenty-seven funders, including Chicago’s

United Way, 24 Chicago-area foundations, the

state of Illinois, and one national foundation,

have been involved in the fund, a special project

of the Donors Forum of Chicago.

• The Colorado Trust’s Supporting Immigrants

and Refugee Families Initiative (SIRFI) is a

five-year, $7.4 million effort. The initiative aims

to enhance the positive social adjustment of

newcomers in Colorado and to strengthen the

ability of service agencies to address current

and emerging needs of newcomers.

• The Los Angeles Immigrant Funders’

Collaborative provides funding for organizations

supporting the needs of immigrant and refugee

communities in areas such as health care,

education, civic participation and economic

development. The collaborative has raised

more than $1 million and in its initial funding

rounds has focused on health and education

access for low-income immigrant communities

and supporting emerging immigrant-led

organizations.

A key asset for funders exploring this arena –

as well as an indicator of widespread recognition

of the important role of funders – is Grantmakers

Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR).

GCIR is a national network of foundations

interested in issues affecting the growing newcomer

populations in their communities across the U.S.

and Canada. Established in 1990, GCIR seeks

to promote awareness and understanding among

grantmakers about national and international

migration trends, public policies and other issues

affecting immigrants and refugees, and to increase

Each month, more new

neighbors arrive in

Grand Rapids. They come

from Bosnia, Cuba,

Mexico, Somalia, Sudan,

Viet Nam and other

distant countries. Their

arrival here is a testimony

to their courage, creativity

and commitment –

the same qualities that

organizations and

individuals in Grand Rapids

will need to demonstrate

if we are to capitalize on

their presence as an

opportunity for strengthening

our community.