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Immigrant Hope is a ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America with the mission to equip churches to provide immigrants with the hope of the gospel, help finding a pathway to legal residency, and a home in a church that cares for them.
Summary | Amount | Objectives | Requirements
Documents | Selection | Use of Funds | Timeline
Language | Contact | Application
Summary
Immigrant-led churches can offer sustainable, affordable immigration legal aid to their communities through Immigrant Hope. This ministry can equip the church to show God’s love by meeting real needs, provide an opportunity for church members to build relationships with their immigrant neighbors, and change the reputation of the church in the community. All of this contributes to more effective disciplemaking of congregants and community members alike.
However, these churches may need assistance to raise the initial funds and build the program. This grant would provide the seed funds needed to start an Immigrant Hope program in a viable immigrant-led church.
Amount
$15,000
Grant Objectives
- Open a sustainable Immigrant Hope immigration legal aid clinic in an immigrant-led church within 2 years of the grant.
- Build the program to represent 50 low-income clients per year within 3 years of operation.
- Integrate the center’s leaders into the Immigrant Hope network community.
Requirements
- At least one-third of the church’s staff and lay leadership (elders, ministry directors, etc.) are first- or second-generation immigrants.
- The church completes the Immigrant Hope Site Application and an interview with an Immigrant Hope team member.
- The church commits to provide financial or in-kind support (office space, phone and internet access, equipment, staff time, etc.) at a value of at least $15,000 over three years.
- An individual commits to leading the ministry through its startup and the first two years of operation.
Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Online application form
- 3-year budget for the immigration program
- Church commitment letter
- Recommendation letters (optional)
Click here for a detailed description of the supporting documents.
Selection
A team including Immigrant Hope staff, board members, and site directors will interview applicants, review the applications, and grade the applications on the factors listed below. The team will then consider the three highest scoring applications and decide on the award.
The church must demonstrate:
- Alignment with the Immigrant Hope mission, vision, and Statement of Faith
- Health and stability
- Track record of service to immigrants
- Buy-in and commitment to immigration legal ministry by the church leadership
- Integration of the ministry with the church’s evangelism and discipleship programs
- Qualified and committed ministry leader and workers
- Ministry viability (resources exist to launch the program)
- Ministry sustainability (resources exist to continue the program long-term)
- Willingness to contribute to the Immigrant Hope community and expansion of the ministry
- Community need and accessibility to the immigrant community
Preference will be given to churches that demonstrate:
- Partnership in the ministry with other churches
- Connection to a church plant or second language service
- Relationships with immigration attorney(s) in the community
- Relationships with nonprofit immigration program(s) in the community
- Relationship with an Immigrant Hope office
- Involvement of your denomination’s national or regional (District) leaders
- Strategic locations (major cities, regional hubs, under-served areas, etc.)
Use of Funds
Grant funds can be used to cover expenses related to developing and operating the immigration legal ministry. The funds must be used within 3 years of receipt. Some examples of how the funds may be used:
- Training and legal materials
- Travel expenses for training and shadowing
- Office renovation
- Purchasing equipment and office supplies
- Insurance premiums
- Case management software fees
- Immigrant Hope network membership fees
Timeline
- Application available: August 1, 2020
- Proposals due: October 31, 2020
- Interview with an Immigrant Hope team member: Completed by November 15, 2020
- Decision and dispersal: December 2020
Language
Grant information, application and interview are available in Spanish or English. Contact us if you would prefer to use another language and we will try to accommodate you.
Contact
For grant information please contact Karla Hannant:
info@immigranthope.org | (612) 516-5422
Application
Application Form
Supporting Documents
