Best Grants for Immigration Nonprofits in Vermont

Nonprofit organizations providing immigrant services and workforce development in Vermont can access funding through the Clowes Fund, with awards up to US $150,000. The Fund primarily supports multi-year operating grants for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, and returning grantees may also seek continuation support for arts or K-12 education programs connected to immigrant and refugee communities.

Nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, and schools in Vermont can seek $10,000 - $25,000 to strengthen systems supporting young children and families, especially around food security and transportation. Building Bright Futures prioritizes projects serving families facing economic insecurity, including immigrant and migrant worker communities, through one-time investments that expand capacity, improve infrastructure, and increase reach.

Doctoral-level researchers studying immigration, immigrant integration, or related race and ethnicity issues in the U.S., including Vermont, can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants of up to US $200,000. Funding supports rigorous social science projects under its Immigration and Immigrant Integration priority, with applications beginning via a required letter of inquiry.

Universities and other tax-exempt research institutions in Vermont working on immigration and refugee rights for U.S. youth may be eligible to host early-career scholars through this program. William T Grant Foundation supports five-year research and mentoring plans, awarding up to US $425,000 to expand scholars’ expertise and advance policy-relevant youth research.

The B.W. Bastian Foundation Grant supports organizations committed to equality for all Americans, including the LGBTQ+ community. Grants typically range from $100 to $15,000, and applicants must have 501(C)3 tax status. Funding is primarily for projects in the Intermountain West and may include general operating support or specific programs. Organizations should first inquire before applying, especially if requesting more than previous grants. The foundation does not fund individuals or lobbying efforts.

Early-career faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, access to opportunity, or systemic inequality can receive US $35,000 - US $50,000 for one-year social science projects, including work relevant to immigrants in Vermont. Russell Sage Foundation supports methodologically rigorous studies on topics like labor markets, immigration policy, education, criminal justice, and neighborhood segregation, with priority for underrepresented scholars at under-resourced institutions.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions conducting social science dissertation research on immigration, immigrant integration, race, or inequality in the U.S., including work relevant to Vermont immigrant communities, can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s Dissertation Research Grants, offering up to US $15,000. Funding supports data collection, preparation, analysis, and writing for aligned projects.

Vermont immigrant-serving and arts or cultural 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through the Vilcek Foundation to support innovative programs highlighting immigrant contributions in the arts, sciences, culture, and society, with awards of US $5,000 - US $20,000. Eligible U.S.-based organizations must operate independently (no fiscal sponsors) and provide standard IRS and financial documentation.

Researchers with doctorates conducting social science studies on race, ethnicity, and immigration can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants, with awards up to US $200,000. Projects may examine how race, ethnicity, nativity, and legal status shape social, economic, or political outcomes, and Vermont immigration-focused nonprofits partnering with qualified scholars may benefit.

Universities and research institutions with doctorate-level scholars conducting social science research on immigration, immigrant integration, or related decision-making in context can seek funding in Vermont and across the U.S. Russell Sage Foundation provides up to US $200,000 for rigorous, well-developed projects in fields like sociology, economics, public policy, law, and psychology.

North Korean-born individuals and immediate family members in the U.S. pursuing accredited college or university programs can apply for the Lindsay Lloyd North Korea Freedom Scholarship, awarding up to US $10,000 for education. Vermont organizations serving immigrants and refugees may share this opportunity with eligible clients connected to North Korea and studying in the U.S. or its possessions.

Nonprofit organizations, religious groups, and public schools in Vermont that distribute food to people in need can receive ongoing donations of unsold baked goods through this program. Focused on hunger relief, Panera Bread Foundation invites immigrant service and other community programs to commit to weekly pickups to support underserved and at-risk populations.

Immigrant students at Berkshire Community College in Vermont pursuing higher education can receive tuition support through the New World Fund Scholarship, recognizing academic success, leadership, and concern for others. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation supports new immigrants in the U.S. for five years or less who demonstrate financial need and leadership potential.

Current or former USCRI Albany clients pursuing higher education or technical/trade certificates may be eligible for scholarships that support immigrant and refugee students, including those connected to Vermont. Grants from Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region help students in immigrant services and higher education access funding through a universal application covering multiple scholarship opportunities.

Immigrant and refugee high school seniors seeking higher education support can receive US $1,000 scholarships to pursue college. Vermont immigrant services nonprofits may share this opportunity with eligible students they serve. The Community Foundation of Rappahannock River Region offers at least two renewable awards annually for high-achieving or highly motivated, financially needy, foreign-born seniors.

College-bound students from immigrant families in Torrington can receive $750 toward higher education costs through the Patrick Dillon Scholarship, administered by Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. Vermont immigration nonprofits may share this opportunity with eligible clients who are first-generation immigrants or children of first-generation immigrants planning to attend an accredited college or university.

Nonprofits and agencies providing child welfare, foster care, or immigration and refugee support can seek large-scale federal funding to serve unaccompanied children in the U.S., including Vermont. The US Dept. of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families funds home studies, safe placements, and post-release services to help children and sponsors adjust, access community resources, and stay safe. Awards range from US $1,000,000 - US $50,000,000.

Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund partners with foundations, individual donors, activists, and other allies to work strategically towards racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully-representative democracy. We curate an ecosystem of mutually reinforcing, aligned donor collaboratives and fiscally sponsored projects that deploy a creative array of strategies and tactics to further this vision.

RISE Together Fund: Small Grants

Call For Application

RISE Together Fund (RTF), an initiative of Proteus Fund, is announcing an open call for inquiries for our 2026 Small Grants Fund for U.S. public charity organizations or fiscally sponsored projects of such organizations, that support Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (BAMEMSA) communities.

As part of RTF’s commitment to prioritizing the needs and sustainability of the fields we collectively support, RTF will provide organizations with general operating grants to allow for organizational flexibility when possible. 

About RTF's Small Grants Fund

BAMEMSA movements have a strong history of organizing and collaboration, and are well poised with the knowledge, learning and experience to build an inclusive, multiracial democratic future and respond to the current unconstitutional threats facing the country. Through this fund, RTF aims to resource community power building organizations that use a multiplicity of approaches to create change rooted in the strength and leadership of BAMEMSA movements.

RTF supports groups that build community power, strengthen movement bases, defend civil and human rights including freedom of protest, speech, religion, and association, end the criminalization and surveillance of our communities, and respond to the rise in xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate. RTF values groups that are intersectional in their approach and have or are developing sustainable long-term strategies to support BAMEMSA communities and movements.

Priority Issue Areas

• Protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant and refugee BAMEMSA communities by responding to harmful policies and practices, and strengthening community-led advocacy at the local, state, or federal level.

• Mobilizing BAMEMSA communities for nonpartisan civic engagement and election protection by increasing nonpartisan voter participation, combating voter suppression, and building sustained civic infrastructure ahead of, during, and between elections.

• Advocating for U.S. policy changes that end violence in Gaza and the West Bank by elevating Palestinian voices, influencing public discourse, and engaging in advocacy that shifts U.S. political, diplomatic, or funding decisions.

• Challenging harmful national security frameworks and their impacts on BAMEMSA communities by documenting, exposing, and organizing against surveillance, Islamophobia, and policies rooted in the War on Terror, particularly in the context of 9/11’s 25-year legacy.

• Responding to emerging opportunities and threats affecting BAMESMA communities such as influencing policy developments, addressing civic issues in the U.S., or developing narratives to change public discourse. This includes work addressing weaponizing issues around bodily autonomy and LGBTQ+ identity to fracture movements and communities.

Priority Strategies

RTF values organizations that take an intersectional approach and are intentionally building long-term community power. We prioritize support for groups that strengthen movement ecosystems, deepen their base, and defend the rights of BAMEMSA communities through the following strategies:

• Convening, Collaboration, and Movement Coordination: Bringing together organizations, leaders, and coalitions to align shared goals, coordinate strategies to advance shared visions, and reduce fragmentation across the field. This includes facilitating strategic convenings, developing platforms for collaboration, building cross-issue or cross-regional partnerships, developing shared agendas or issue campaigns, and strengthening trust and alignment among movement actors.
• Community Power-Building, Base Building, Civic Engagement, and Organizing: Expanding and activating a grassroots base within BAMEMSA communities to drive collective action and policy change. This includes community leadership development, public education campaigns, community organizing, nonpartisan voter engagement and election protection, and ongoing nonpartisan civic participation efforts that build sustained community power.
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Infrastructure: Advancing legal strategies and policy advocacy that expand and protect the rights of BAMEMSA communities. This includes impact litigation, legal advocacy, know-your-rights efforts, policy development, and advocacy at a local, state, or federal level.
• Communications and Narrative Strategy: Shaping public discourse and advancing narratives that reflect the experiences, dignity, and demands of BAMEMSA communities. This includes developing messaging strategies, producing and amplifying media, countering harmful or divisive narratives (including those targeting immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and reproductive rights), and increasing the voice share of BAMEMSA community members.
• Bolstering Movement Infrastructure: Strengthening the internal capacity and long-term sustainability of organizations and the broader movement ecosystem. This includes organizations supporting leadership development and pipelines, data and technology infrastructure, security and safety, and other core functions that enable groups to operate effectively and respond to evolving challenges.

Limited funding may be available for requests above $25,000.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Sidney and Carol Aroesty Family Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance to East High School graduating seniors planning to pursue a degree in any science discipline at a two- or four-year college, university, or technical school.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $12,000; divided into equal annual installments paid over four consecutive years of undergraduate study. Award is paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Patrick Caroselli Scholarship

To provide financial assistance for college to high school seniors in Monroe County whose parents immigrated to the United States and attained citizenship.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; award amount may be split between two or more recipients. Award paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. Average award $5,000; not to exceed the cost of tuition.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards must be used for costs related to enrollment in a higher education program, prioritizing tuition fees.

Bold Foundation

Our Mission: Fighting Student Debt

The average student today will graduate more than $30,000 in debt and is far less likely to start small businesses, seek the highest impact careers, buy homes, or start families. At Bold.org®, we believe that’s a problem worth solving.

New Beginnings Immigrant Scholarship

Immigrating to a new home takes resilience, determination, and a strong commitment to achieving one’s aspirations.

Many immigrants have overcome extraordinary challenges and obstacles to continue their academic journeys and pursue their dreams. As a result of these hurdles, many students from immigrant backgrounds have limited financial resources which can make higher education inaccessible.

This scholarship seeks to support immigrant students so they can continue working toward their educational goals.

To apply, tell us about your experience as an immigrant and your career aspirations.

The Residential Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children program, funded by the US Department of Health & Human Services, aims to provide safe and child-centered care for unaccompanied minors. This initiative supports organizations that can offer 24/7 services and are licensed to provide necessary care, including group homes and transitional foster care, particularly in areas near the U.S. southern border, ensuring the well-being of vulnerable children.

The Institutional Challenge Grant aims to foster collaborative research by requiring institutions to adapt their policies and enhance capacities for meaningful partnerships. It encourages applications from diverse leadership teams in youth-serving areas, focusing on addressing inequalities in youth outcomes. The grant outlines four key goals: strengthening partnerships, pursuing a joint research agenda, facilitating institutional change, and enhancing collaborative capacities for producing actionable research evidence.

The H. C. Gemmer Family Christian Foundation, established in 1956, focuses on peace, justice, and racial harmony. With a mission to support ecumenical efforts, the foundation has expanded its assets significantly since the passing of H. Robert Gemmer in 1992. The foundation prioritizes funding initiatives that promote peace education, human rights, and social justice, while providing grants to organizations that demonstrate financial stability and effective community impact.

The PCC Rapid Response Grants provide support for cultural initiatives that aim to shape narratives during critical cultural moments. These grants prioritize projects that engage communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized groups, focusing on intersectionality, gender justice, and social equity. Eligible projects include pop culture campaigns, research, and public spectacles that respond to urgent political and cultural events, aiming to reach mass audiences and disrupt harmful narratives.

The J.M.K. Innovation Prize, awarded by The J.M. Kaplan Fund, supports early-stage social innovators tackling critical issues in environment, heritage conservation, and social justice. With up to $175,000 in funding and tailored support over three years, it empowers organizations to pilot transformative solutions. The Prize fosters collaboration among awardees, providing resources and mentorship to enhance their impact. Open to both non-profit and mission-driven for-profit entities, it addresses the funding gap for innovative, high-potential projects.

The IAF Research Fellowship Program, administered by the Social Science Research Council, aims to support rigorous research on community-led development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fellowship provides a $20,000 stipend for twelve months, fostering innovative solutions to pressing issues such as economic opportunity, migration, and social inclusion. Researchers are encouraged to explore how community-led models can create lasting impacts and respond to global trends, enhancing local resilience and development.