Giving Forum Index | Archives | Subscribe | Advertise | Editorial Calendar

GCIR Encourages Field to Promote Immigrant and Refugee Concerns
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) is a national organization that seeks to move the philanthropic field to address the needs of the world's growing and increasingly diverse immigrant and refugee populations. With a core focus on the United States, GCIR serves as an information database and networking facilitator to grantmakers. GCIR's 500 grantmaker members, representing more than 300 foundations, work on a wide range of issues including education, health, employment, civic participation and immigrant integration. For more information, contact GCIR nationally at 707.824.4374, www.gcir.org, or locally call GCIR board members José González, 651.227.0891, or Jocelyn Ancheta, 651.662.2894.

Immigration Basics 2005
16 pages, National Immigrant Forum, updated January 2005
This publication covers basic facts and figures on immigrants in the U.S. and a basic explanation of U.S. refugee and immigration policies from the National Immigrant Forum, an immigrant rights organization that advocates and builds public support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and are fair to and supportive of newcomers to our country.
> Download a PDF
> Call the National Immigrant Forum at 202.347.0040

Immigration in Minnesota: Discovering Common Ground
16 pages, The Minneapolis Foundation, October 2004
This publication is a multifaceted approach to sharing the facts, promoting community conversations, and creating a statewide agenda on immigration in Minnesota.
> Download the report

The Government Response to Domestic Violence Against Refugee and Immigrant Women in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, December 2004
Although domestic violence is a serious problem for women of all backgrounds, refugee and immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to certain forms of abuse and face unique problems in gaining protection from violence. This report, funded by Otto Bremer Foundation, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation, concerns government's response to battered refugee and immigrant women in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
> Download the report

Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity
20 pages, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2005
Launching a business has become a growth industry among African-Americans and especially Latinos, according to a new survey from the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The research found that the Latino rate of entrepreneurship increased from 0.38 percent in 1996 to 0.48 percent in 2004, higher than the white, non-Latino rate of 0.39 percent. Moreover, the survey found that, on average, immigrants (0.46 percent) have substantially higher rates of entrepreneurship than native-born Americans (0.35 percent).
> Download a PDF

Minnesota Meeting 2005: A Focus on Immigration in Minnesota
The Minneapolis Foundation
Three public dialogues on Shaping Minnesota's Agenda on Immigration, National Immigration Policy: Reshaping Minnesota's Workforce and Culture and Homeland Security and Civil Rights were designed to help formulate a statewide agenda. Recommendations from the sessions have not been released, but tape-recorded broadcasts of each of the three meetings can be viewed online at www.MinnesotaMeeting.com.

The New Minnesotans Toolkit
Minnesota Community Campaign, Neighborhood House
This toolkit, made possible by a donation from St. Paul Travelers Foundation, identifies resources to help communities welcome New Americans. The kit includes "The New Minnesotans," a 20-minute video featuring immigrant stories and settling experiences, as well as an expert panel of educators, social service providers, community activists and business representatives. A discussion and activity guide is intended to help start the dialogue in communities. Additional fee-based support is also available. For more information, contact Renae Oswald-Anderson or Angela Delmedico, 651.789.2571, or visit www.neighb.org.

Supporting English Language Acquisition:
Opportunities for Foundations to Strengthen Immigrant Families
44 pages, GCIR and The Annie E. Casey Foundation, September 2005
Given the vital role language proficiency plays in the integration process, this report is essential reading for funders seeking to improve social and economic outcomes for immigrant families. It discusses successful strategies and offers examples of promising programs that have helped immigrants — regardless of their educational background — increase their employment prospects and economic stability through the improved English and other vocational skills.
> Download the report