Best Grants for Immigration Nonprofits in Maryland

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects working on immigrant and refugee rights, racial justice, or climate justice can receive funding for advocacy, legal services, and community support. The Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation primarily supports work in Baltimore and the DC Capital Region, including immigrant-led organizing, impact litigation, and holistic services for refugees and asylum seekers.

State agencies, local governments, and tribal governments in Maryland can apply for Bureau of Justice Assistance funding to support law enforcement and justice system activities related to immigration enforcement and crime. Grants from Bureau of Justice Assistance help cover costs for investigations, prosecutions, detention, transportation, and support services targeting criminal activity involving noncitizens.

Researchers with doctorates studying immigration and immigrant integration can seek up to US $200,000 for social science research through Russell Sage Foundation’s core grants. Grants from Russell Sage Foundation help Maryland immigrant services and immigration rights scholars examine race, citizenship, legal status, politics, and policy impacts on immigrant and native-born outcomes in the U.S.

Doctoral-level researchers conducting U.S.-focused studies on race, ethnicity, and immigration can receive up to US $200,000 for data collection, analysis, and investigator time. Russell Sage Foundation provides Maryland immigration and immigrant-rights scholars with support for rigorous, theory-driven projects on policy, legal status, social movements, and related social, economic, or political outcomes.

Individual researchers studying community-led development and immigration-related issues in Latin America, the Caribbean, or the U.S. can receive US $20,000 fellowships to support 12 months of rigorous field-based research. Social Science Research Council and the Inter-American Foundation fund projects on topics like migration drivers, migrant integration, social inclusion, and disaster resilience, including work relevant to Maryland-focused immigration nonprofits’ constituencies abroad.

Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in Maryland can access funding for general operating support, projects, advocacy, and capacity building through the B.W. Bastian Foundation; awards range from US $100 - US $15,000. Immigration and refugee rights nonprofits that explicitly commit to equality, including for the LGBTQ+ community, may be eligible and must first inquire by email or phone.

Early-career faculty researching U.S. immigration, immigrant integration, or related inequalities can receive US $35,000 - US $50,000 in one-year project funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on economic mobility and systemic barriers, this program may benefit Maryland immigration nonprofits partnering with scholars to study policy impacts, labor markets, education, or immigrant communities’ civic and political engagement.

Maryland immigration and refugee rights researchers enrolled as U.S.-based doctoral students can access funding through the Russell Sage Foundation’s Dissertation Research Grants, awarding up to US $15,000 for one year of dissertation work. Projects must focus on U.S. social conditions within RSF priority areas, including immigration, inequality, and employment-related topics affecting BIPOC communities.

With a mission to recognize immigrant contributions, Vilcek Foundation provides Maryland immigrant services and arts nonprofits with US $5,000 - US $20,000 for innovative programs in the arts, sciences, culture, and society. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations, including those in Maryland and U.S. territories, can apply year-round if their work centers immigrant contributions.

Researchers with doctorates studying race, ethnicity, and immigration in the U.S. can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s core research grants, with awards up to US $200,000 for social science projects. Maryland-based scholars or those examining immigrant and refugee experiences relevant to Maryland immigration nonprofits may benefit from this funding opportunity.

Doctoral-level researchers studying behavioral science and decision making in social, economic, political, or legal contexts can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants of up to US $200,000. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, the foundation supports U.S.-based projects, including work on immigration, immigrant integration, and related institutional practices that may inform Maryland-focused programs.

Individuals born in North Korea, or their immediate family members, pursuing accredited higher education in the U.S. can receive up to US $10,000 for tuition and related educational costs through the Lindsay Lloyd North Korea Freedom Scholarship. With a mission to support immigrant and refugee communities, Communities Foundation of Texas assists students whose experiences connect to immigration and refugee journeys, including those in Maryland.

Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofits, religious organizations, and public schools providing food distribution or related services can receive regular donations of unsold bread and baked goods to serve people in need. Panera Bread Foundation’s Day-End Dough-Nation program supports immigrant and refugee services, food pantries, shelters, youth programs, and other community initiatives across the U.S.

With a mission to strengthen communities, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation provides new immigrant students in the U.S. with tuition support for degree studies at Berkshire Community College. Applicants must have been in the country five years or less, demonstrate leadership skills, and show financial need, which may resonate with Maryland-based immigrant-serving organizations advising students.

With a mission to support education, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region provides Maryland immigrant- and refugee-serving students with scholarships for higher education and technical or trade programs. Current or former USCRI Albany clients now living in the Greater Capital Region may be eligible, which can benefit those connected to Maryland-based immigration nonprofits.

Maryland immigrant and refugee-serving nonprofits may have students who qualify for a $1,000 higher-education scholarship for foreign-born graduating seniors with financial need, awarded through the William and Susanna Botts Scholarship for Immigrants. Local immigrant youth connected to immigration nonprofits could benefit from this support administered by the Community Foundation of Rappahannock River Region.

Immigrant and first-generation college students in Torrington seeking higher education support can receive $750 scholarships for accredited universities or colleges. Focused on immigrant services and higher education, Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation invites eligible students, including those connected to Maryland-based immigration nonprofits through family ties, to apply for the Patrick Dillon Scholarship.

Nonprofit and agency providers offering child welfare, foster care, or immigration support services in Maryland can access large-scale federal funding to deliver home studies and post-release services for unaccompanied children. Grants from the US Dept. of Health & Human Services: Administration for Children & Families range from US $1,000,000 - US $50,000,000 and support safe placement and ongoing case management for these youth.

FY27 Lighthouse Grant Program

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) are soliciting grant applications for the County’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Lighthouse Grant Program from qualified organizations. The FY27 Lighthouse Grant Program expects to provide one umbrella (lead) organization a total of $3,993,574 in county funds. Potential applicants must note that the Montgomery County Council has not yet appropriated the funds to support this Grant Program and final funding amounts may change. The awarded applicant will have an opportunity to revise their budget and proposal to match the actual appropriated amount. If the County Council substantively changes the scope or the terms of this Grant Program through the appropriations process, a new NOFO will be issued to reflect their decisions. Applicants would then need to submit a new proposal based on the updated scope and requirements. 

The awarded organization will lead a coordinated network of community-based partners to deliver comprehensive, culturally, and linguistically responsive services that promote stabilization, integration, and long-term self-sufficiency. This includes implementing a centralized intake and needs assessment system; providing navigation to critical services such as housing, healthcare, education, immigration legal services, intensive case management, and strong outreach to diverse immigrant populations across the County. Services must also incorporate preparedness planning for families facing immigration-related disruptions, along with fraud prevention, and safeguards against notario exploitation. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnership development, coalition leadership, and capacity-building efforts, including establishing a community advisory board and supporting partner organizations to ensure coordinated, equitable, and responsive service delivery systems.

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 William T. Grant Scholars Program provides crucial support for early-career researchers aiming to expand their expertise through innovative research and mentoring. This five-year program focuses on reducing inequality and improving the use of research evidence to benefit young people in the U.S. By emphasizing the development of new disciplines and methods, the program encourages applicants to take bold risks in their research trajectories, ultimately fostering a supportive academic community.

The Caesars Foundation supports community-focused organizations through monetary and in-kind donations, prioritizing strategic areas like social equity, climate action, and mental health. Eligible applicants include IRS-recognized nonprofits and educational institutions operating within the U.S. Requests must align with these focus areas to enhance community impact. Organizations that discriminate or operate outside the U.S. are ineligible. By fostering collaboration, the foundation aims to uplift vulnerable populations and promote sustainable practices.