Announcing the 2024 Fund to Foster Belonging grantees

Welcoming America is pleased to announce the recipients of the third round of funding from the Fund to Foster Belonging, which will continue supporting and expanding the work of local leaders and projects that build meaningful connections between immigrants and non-immigrants:

  • ECHO Collective, Lincoln, NE
  • One World, One Love NJ, Summit, NJ
  • Rural Women's Health Project, Gainesville, FL
  • West Central Initiative/The Youths, Pelican Rapids, MN

This year's recipients will each receive grants of up to $30,000, complimentary Premium membership in the Welcoming Network for 2024, one-on-one coaching, peer learning opportunities, and travel to and complimentary registration for the Welcoming Interactive in Dallas next month.

Recipients were selected from a competitive process in which projects were assessed for how effectively they bring immigrants and non-immigrants together to work on a project of shared interest, with the ultimate goal of developing a stronger sense of belonging.

The projects selected this year include bringing together members of the aging community and immigrant residents to participate in shared creative arts activities; immigrant and non-immigrant teens working together on service projects to benefit their local community; facilitating the co-creation of healthy, culturally-significant meals and development of a recipe collection and art display by immigrant and non-immigrant residents of all ages; and nonprofit capacity building and leadership development for immigrant and non-immigrant youth living in a rural community.

Rachel Perić, executive director of Welcoming America, said: “We are thrilled to support this latest round of community-driven projects through the Fund to Foster Belonging. By bringing neighbors of different backgrounds together with a shared purpose, these projects underscore the continued need for communities to work better for everyone and for strong, multiracial democracies to thrive.”

The Fund to Foster Belonging is part of Belonging Begins With Us, a multi-year campaign to foster a more welcoming nation where everyone — regardless of their background – belongs.