Your organization can play a vital role in supporting community sponsors by partnering with the Welcome Corps to become a Private Sponsor Organization (PSO). PSOs recruit, support, and oversee sponsor groups who have stepped up to welcome refugees through the Welcome Corps.
PSOs join a robust support network that enhances the effectiveness of sponsorship, fosters community involvement, and contributes to the successful integration of refugees into local communities.
Here are just a few ways PSOs support Welcome Corps sponsors:
- Provide coaching to carry out core sponsorship services
- Connect sponsors with local community organizations and services
- Navigate group dynamics and provide guidance supporting refugees from diverse experiences and backgrounds
“We don’t feel like we're alone"
As sponsors in Oregon prepared to welcome a Colombian family, they worked closely with a program officer at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). This support from their private sponsor organization was critical in building up their confidence.
“We don’t feel at all like we’re just alone in this and we’re figuring it out on our own. There have been a ton of suggestions and, all the way down to a grocery list for when the family arrives, these are items you should have, and we’re not having to figure those kinds of things out all by ourselves in a vacuum. There are a ton of resources that we’re able to tap into.”
– Amy, Welcome Corps sponsor
What to Expect as a PSO
As a PSO, your organization will have the opportunity to leverage your expertise and other assets through the Welcome Corps. Organizations apply for and receive accreditation to provide sponsor support and oversight, including:
- Recruiting sponsors and matching them with already formed groups
- Pre-arrival application and preparation support
- Post-arrival mentorship ensuring the safety of refugees and delivery of core sponsorship services
- 30- and 90-day report collection and review
- Escalate concerns and provide regular updates
What are the requirements to be a PSO?
All PSOs must meet minimum requirements, including:
- 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status
- Agree to support and oversee minimum of 50 affiliated and/or unaffiliated sponsor groups per year
- Complete required Welcome Corps Essentials baseline training
- Demonstrate financial health via provision of audited financial statements
- Demonstrate organizational capacity to be an effective PSO with staff to support and oversee sponsor groups
- Complete Welcome Corps PSO onboarding
How are PSOs supported by the Welcome Corps?
Support for Private Sponsor Organizations includes:
- Orientation and Review of Application Process for Prospective PSOs
- Onboarding and Training Sessions
- Access to training and resource materials and tools
- Periodic expert-led and/or peer-facilitated technical assistance opportunities
- Real-time, peer-to-peer experience sharing
- PSO Council to support onboarding and mentorship of new PSOs and inform ongoing design
- Individualized support based on location and need
- Funding opportunities to support ongoing and capacity-building work
My organizations is interested! How can we get started?
Staff from interested organizations that meet the minimum requirements are invited to register for PSO Orientation and Review of the Application Process. These sessions are held regularly, and you can sign up here.
To register, you’ll be asked to answer some initial questions about the PSO requirements.
Private Sponsor Organizations
Private Sponsor Organizations leverage their expertise to support Welcome Corps sponsors welcoming refugees.