Request for Interest – Rapid Response Funding

This is Our New York Campaign

Overview

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is pleased to announce a Request for Interest (RFI) process for its This is Our New York Campaign, which was created to coordinate response efforts to protect and promote the interests of immigrants in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.

About The NYIC

The New York Immigration Coalition was created in 1987 as a coalition of immigrant-led and immigrant-serving organizations. We envision a New York State that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, Members, and allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We:

  • represent the collective interests of New York's diverse immigrant communities and organizations, and devise solutions to advance them;
  • advocate for laws, policies and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and
  • build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people's lives and to strengthen our state.

This is Our New York Campaign

This is our New York. After the recent presidential election, it is more important than ever for immigrant communities, friends and allies to band together to promote our shared interests. The campaign envisions work throughout the state on each of five following issues over the next 18 months and beyond:

  • Outreach & Community Education - with training and resources from the NYIC, carry-out community action forums, intensive community outreach, and linkages to additional services, including legal services.
  • Legal Services - provide time-sensitive services including consultations for those fearful of deportation including current DACA recipients and legal permanent residents seeking to naturalize, as well as developing innovative strategies to help more immigrants with limited resources to prepare for providing necessary services once the new landscape becomes clear.
  • Combat Hate Crimes & Intimidation - support a tracking system for hate crimes, engage in community outreach and education, and work closely with law enforcement to ensure they enforce protections for immigrants across the state through the coordination of the NYIC.
  • Advocacy & Organizing - collaborate to hold large-scale actions, build a base of immigrants and allies across the state, and fight to protect DACA, welcome refugess, push-back against deportations, and more.
  • Soft Power - build bridges with non-traditional allies and with communities not traditionally sympathetic to immigrant concerns.

NYIC Member organizations participating in the This is Our New York Campaign will also receive a number of capacity-building opportunities around training, coordination, and data security.

It is anticipated that grant sizes will range from $5,000 to $50,000, subject to the availability of funds. Funds permitting, the Rapid Response RFI will remain open in the event of future emergencies that may occur requiring rapid response beyond the first 100 days of the new administration. NYIC Member organizations may opt to modify their submissions and/or submit an additional expression of interest in the future as the landscape evolves.

It is anticipated that funds will be divided between (1) rapid response and (2) ongoing support throughout the 18-month campaign, and organizations may choose to apply to one or both. An announcement will be made in 2017 about how to submit applications for ongoing support.

Application Process

The NYIC invites expressions of interest in the form of proposals from Member organizations for rapid response work related to the issues listed above. Proposals may be brief, approximately 3 - 6 pages, and should include a description of the organization, summary of the isseus to be addressed including noting which of the five issue(s) above they respond to, proposed activities, expected outcomes (including the number of people to be served, if applicable) and the amount of funds requested. Proposals should also include a budget.

Expressions of interest should be submitted to OurNewYorkRFI@nyic.org.

Selection Process and Criteria

The NYIC is engaged in conversations with a number of funders to support This is Our New York, and is poised to make awards quickly as soon as funds come in. Funding decisions will be made by a selection committee made up of NYIC staff, board, funders and independent experts.

In order to be considered for funding, an organization must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit in New York and renew or apply for NYIC Membership for 2017. NYIC Members are dues-paying nonprofit organizations that are committed to advancing the NYIC's mission.

Selection criteria will include:

  • Relevance, timeliness, and urgency of proposed activities
  • Organizational capacity or track record for doing similar work
  • Cultural competence and experience with the targeted community/ies
  • Engagement with the NYIC and its Member organizations
  • Availability of funds

The selection committee reserves the right to request additional information from certain applicants before making decisions.