A total of $150,000 in grants from the Ford Foundation, JPB Foundation, and Open Society Foundations will support the work of PA is Ready! in fiscal year 2018/19. The funding is part of a program supported by The Philadelphia Foundation to match contributions received by May 31, 2018.
Local funders who have also supported the 2018/19 match include the S. Albert Fund (a component fund of The Philadelphia Foundation), Samuel S. Fels Fund, The Alfred and Mary Douty Foundation, The Patricia Kind Family Foundation and The Philadelphia Foundation.
Coordinated by Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC), PA is Ready! is a diverse coalition of organizations that was formed in 2015 as a vehicle to provide quality, high-volume immigration services across Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia Foundation partners closely with PA is Ready! as an anchor funder to pool funds, coordinate immigration-related funder education, and provide fundraising and technical assistance. PA is Ready!’s community-led grantmaking committee is made up of five members of the coalition, two funders, and a representative of PICC.
Over the past two years, PA is Ready! has reached 6,265 immigrants in 20 Pennsylvania counties through Know-Your-Rights Information Sessions, community organizing efforts, and legal clinics. The coalition’s work has resulted in close to 900 comprehensive legal eligibility screenings, 846 completed immigration applications, and 359 newly trained community volunteers from diverse immigrant communities across the state.
Ongoing dramatic changes to the immigration policy landscape have reinforced the value of a flexible statewide entity capable of addressing emerging needs.
For more information about the fund including how to support it please contact Ana Lisa Yoder at Yoder_initiatives@philafound.org.