Best Grants for Immigration Nonprofits in Colorado

The Colorado AmeriCorp Operational Grant, administered by Serve Colorado, aims to enhance community service through AmeriCorps funding. It supports programs targeting workforce development, health care, and green infrastructure, focusing on underserved communities. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to priority areas, ensuring high-quality program designs to improve lives and foster civic participation. This grant empowers organizations to engage AmeriCorps members in impactful service, promoting economic mobility and advancing racial equity, while addressing local community needs.

State agencies, local governments, and tribal governments in Colorado can apply for Bureau of Justice Assistance funding to support law enforcement and justice system activities related to immigration enforcement and criminal investigations. Grants may benefit agencies working on immigrant-related crime, gang activity, trafficking, detention, and related court and transportation operations within the U.S.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored groups serving Denver immigrants can apply for The Denver Foundation’s Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund, awarding US $25,000 - US $200,000 for legal services. Funding supports removal defense, affirmative immigration relief, capacity-building to expand pro/low-bono attorneys, and help with filing and other representation-related fees for low-income Denver residents.

Doctoral-level researchers studying race, ethnicity, and immigration in U.S. contexts can receive up to US $200,000 for rigorous, data-driven projects, including original data collection and analysis. Russell Sage Foundation provides Colorado immigration and immigrant-rights scholars with funding for research assistance, data acquisition, analysis, and investigator time on topics like legal status, policy, integration, and social movements.

Researchers with doctorates conducting social science studies on immigration, immigrant integration, and related race and status issues in the U.S., including Colorado, can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants. Grants from Russell Sage Foundation help immigration-focused scholars pursue rigorous, peer-reviewed projects, with awards up to US $200,000 for well-developed research designs.

Nonprofit organizations in Colorado with 501(c)(3) status can seek funding for general operating support, projects, advocacy, and capacity building that advance equality, including LGBTQIA+ and broader social justice and human rights work. B.W. Bastian Foundation typically awards US $100 - US $15,000 and also considers immigration and refugee rights initiatives within its priorities.

Colorado nonprofits providing immigrant services, mental health support, food security, or programs for seniors and youth can apply for grants of US $500 - US $2,500 from the Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church. Organizations must have a local presence in Routt or Moffat County and be registered as charitable organizations in Colorado.

Nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored projects in Colorado supporting immigrants and refugees with housing, basic needs, and health or mental health services in the Greater Denver area can apply for Rose Community Foundation’s Newcomers Fund Grant. Funding supports immigration legal services, know-your-rights trainings, family preparedness, narrative change, and continuity of services in seven Denver-area counties.

Early-career faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, and related social issues can apply for $35,000 to $50,000 in one-year project support from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on economic justice, labor markets, immigration, and structural barriers, this program may benefit Colorado-based scholars and those studying immigrant experiences and immigration policy impacts.

Colorado doctoral students in U.S. institutions researching immigration, immigrant integration, race and ethnicity, or social and economic inequality can receive up to US $15,000 for dissertation data collection, analysis, and writing. Immigration-focused nonprofits may benefit through partnerships with student researchers whose projects address social conditions affecting immigrant communities in the U.S.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting immigrant contributions in the arts, sciences, culture, and society in Colorado can apply for Vilcek Foundation grants of US $5,000 - US $20,000. With a mission to recognize immigrant contributions, Vilcek Foundation provides U.S.-based nonprofits with support for creative, innovative projects and operations; applications are accepted year-round.

Researchers with doctorates conducting social science studies on race, ethnicity, and immigration affecting U.S. immigrants and racial or ethnic minorities can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s core research grants, with awards up to US $200,000. Colorado-based scholars at universities or research institutions may be eligible if their work advances understanding of immigration and related inequalities.

Doctoral-level social science researchers studying behavioral science and decision making in context can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants of up to US $200,000, including projects in the U.S. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, Russell Sage Foundation provides Colorado immigration and refugee rights scholars with support for empirical, peer-reviewed research projects.

North Korean-born individuals and immediate family members pursuing accredited higher education in the U.S. can receive up to US $10,000 for tuition and related educational costs. With a mission to support immigrant and refugee communities, Communities Foundation of Texas offers the Lindsay Lloyd North Korea Freedom Scholarship, which may benefit Colorado students meeting these criteria.

501(c)(3) organizations serving Archuleta, La Plata, or Montezuma Counties with programs in areas like immigrant services, youth development, food security, or health can seek US $12,000 - US $15,000 in support. With a mission to strengthen community well-being, The Moniker Foundation provides capital, operating, program, or project funding that may benefit Colorado immigration-focused nonprofits.

Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits, religious organizations, and public schools providing food distribution or related services can receive ongoing donations of unsold baked goods to serve people in need. Panera Bread Foundation’s Day-End Dough-Nation program supports food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, immigrant and refugee services, and similar programs, and operates through weekly, continuous product pickups from local bakery-cafes.

New immigrant students at Berkshire Community College seeking tuition support for higher education can apply for this scholarship, which values academic success, leadership, and concern for others. With a mission to strengthen communities, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation provides recent immigrants with college funding that may benefit Colorado immigration-focused nonprofits supporting similar student populations.

Current or former USCRI Albany clients pursuing higher education or technical/trade certificates in the Greater Capital Region may be eligible for this scholarship. With a mission to empower generous people with meaningful giving opportunities, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region provides support that may benefit immigrants and refugees connected to Colorado-focused service organizations.

Colorado immigrant and refugee high school seniors seeking higher education support can access funding through the Community Foundation of Rappahannock River Region, which offers at least two annual $1,000 scholarships. Foreign-born students with financial need may be eligible if their background and goals align with the William and Susanna Botts Scholarship for Immigrants criteria.

Through the generosity of fundholders and donors, NCCF has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to assist students in Northwest Connecticut with the cost of higher education.

NCCF awards more than $530,000 in scholarships a year. 

Patrick Dillon Scholarship

Academic Focus:

• Unspecified 

Award:

• $750

Established by the Dillon Family, this scholarship is awarded to a student whose primary residence is in Torrington, is either a first-generation immigrant to the United States or is the child of a first-generation immigrant, and who attends, or will attend, an accredited university or college. This scholarship is not financially need-based. (No FAFSA required)

The Home Study and Post-Release Services program, led by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, provides critical support for unaccompanied alien children in the U.S. It ensures safe placements with sponsors by conducting thorough home checks and offers ongoing assistance to help children adjust and thrive. This program is vital for the well-being of vulnerable youth navigating complex immigration processes, fostering healthy connections within the community and ensuring their safety during this transitional period.

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.