Through July 31, sponsor groups applying to be matched with a refugee can qualify for financial assistance.

The Sponsor Fund

The Welcome Corps is a service opportunity for Americans in communities across the country to make a lasting impact by helping refugees build new lives in the United States. Welcome Corps sponsors work together in groups to deliver essential support and ensure refugees feel secure and empowered to be active members of the communities welcoming them.

Many refugees approved for resettlement don’t know someone in the United States. Thanks to the generous support from private donors, the Welcome Corps and the Sponsor Fund are making it easier to join a movement of welcoming communities in all 50 states and D.C. If you are applying to be matched with a refugee you don’t know, the Sponsor Fund is covering the financial requirement so more volunteers can get involved and focus on providing the best possible support to our new neighbors.

Financial Assistance is Available

Now through July 31, grants are available to lower financial barriers and cover 100% of the initial financial requirements for sponsor groups applying to welcome refugees they do not already know.

This means sponsor groups do not need to raise funds before submitting an application. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact and support refugees in their journey to safety and stability.

You can qualify in two simple steps:

Complete this form with information about your group and how many people you can welcome. For example, a single refugee or a family of four. Each group submits a single application.
Our team will review your form and provide a pre-award letter to upload as part of your Welcome Corps application.

Sponsors help newly arriving refugees with things like securing housing basic necessities like furniture, groceries, and clothing — until they can cover costs themselves. The Sponsor Fund lowers financial barriers, making it easier for more groups to get involved.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Sponsor Fund, groups should meet a few basic requirements.

Apply to sponsor a refugee individual or family you do not know. The Sponsor Fund is not accepting applications from sponsor groups applying to sponsor someone they know.

All group members meet Welcome Corps sponsor eligibility requirements, including successfully completing background checks.

Apply before the refugee’s arrival. Groups applying for funding after refugees arrive to the United States are not eligible.

If your group has previously welcomed refugees and plans to sponsor again, you can apply for the Sponsor Fund! Just meet all of the requirements above and be in good standing with the Welcome Corps. This includes submitting 30- and 90-day reports and completing the review process.

Application Review and Approval Timelines

Once our team reviews your application, you will receive a conditional approval letter. This typically takes 1 week after completing the Sponsor Fund application. Your group coordinator will upload the letter as part of your Welcome Corps application. You do not need a GoFundMe account to apply for funding, but you will need a GoFundMe account to receive the grant. Approved groups receive instructions on how to open an account.

Funds are disbursed after your group is matched. Depending on the timeline, funds may be disbursed within the first 30 days after the refugee’s arrival.

Grantee Requirements

Sponsors who receive a grant from the Sponsor Fund agree to report basic information—such as how the funding was used and additional fundraising efforts—in 30-day intervals or until the grant funds have been used in full.

Questions?

For questions about the Sponsor Fund, please contact your Private Sponsor Organization or email contact@welcomecorps.org with the subject line “CSH Sponsor Fund.”

The Sponsor Fund is made possible through the generous private philanthropy efforts led by the Shapiro Foundation in partnership with the Community Sponsorship Hub and GoFundMe.org.