The Community Sponsorship Catalyst Fund

Communities benefit when neighbors engage directly in welcoming refugees.

We believe that community sponsorship of refugees begins in local communities, and we are eager to provide further support to organizations facilitating these community-led initiatives.

Catalyst Fund Impact

The Community Sponsorship Catalyst Fund (Catalyst Fund) is guided by the belief that when neighbors engage meaningfully in the welcoming of newcomers, the entire community benefits. After launching the first call for proposals in the Fall of 2020, more funders have contributed to this effort and the Fund continues to grow.

background

Rounds of
Funding

Including one round of emergency response in support of newly arrived Afghans.

Programs

At the local, regional, and national level are supported by the Catalyst Fund.

Welcoming
Communities

The Catalyst Fund is expanding community sponsorship opportunities in communities across the United States.

Become a Fund Donor

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About the Catalyst Fund

Why Community Sponsorship Matters

At its heart, community sponsorship creates opportunities for people to play a key role in supporting refugees as they settle into their new communities.

Community sponsorship is a significant commitment, but it also has proven to be an extremely rewarding one that often builds powerful bonds between sponsor groups and the refugees they welcome. The current moment presents a critical opportunity to reimagine resettlement and lay the groundwork for a future, reinvigorated system built on community participation.

 

Meet the Founders

In support of this community-driven effort, a coalition of funders including the Open Society Foundations, The Shapiro Foundation, and philanthropists G. Barrie Landry and Laurie T. Franz, came together in late 2019 to establish a new fund to help organizations across the United States develop, implement, and enhance community sponsorship programs. After launching the first call for proposals in the Fall of 2020, more funders have contributed to this effort and the Catalyst Fund has continued to grow.

Application Process

While the fund is currently not accepting applications, your organization may register to receive an alert when the next round of funding is released. Register your interest by completing the form below.