Application: The Rural Welcoming Initiative

Welcoming America is continuing its commitment in rural communities. Through a competitive initiative, we will engage ten new rural communities in strengthening welcoming. Through technical assistance and coaching; complimentary Welcoming America membership; and access to ongoing learning opportunities, participating communities will build inclusion and become part of the welcoming movement.

Immigrant community-based organizations and nonprofits of color are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due Wednesday, November 25 at 5 p.m. ET

What is “welcoming”?

Welcoming communities connect new residents to their neighbors and to local government, creating a climate where immigrants and refugees become deeply involved in their community and invest their time, money, and hopes. Being a welcoming community is about inviting new Americans to join in building strong and prosperous communities and resisting fear and division.

Rural Welcoming Initiative Benefits and Commitments

Information on benefits and commitments can be found here.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the Rural Welcoming Initiative, organizations must be:

A nonprofit or government entity working at the local, community-based level.
Population less than 50,000 in a city that is not considered a suburb of a metropolitan area.
Commitment to engaging immigrant and/or refugee populations in your work.
Intentionally using welcoming approaches to build community connections or understanding, including bridging divides between immigrants, refugees, and longer-term residents.

Application

Forms must be completed by 5:00 p.m. ET Friday, October 30.

Award recipients will be notified by Friday, November 19.

Questions

More information on Welcoming America and its programs can be found at welcomingamerica.org. Questions can be directed to Molly Hilligoss (molly@welcomingamerica.org).

General Information

Organization Name:

Website:

Name of Welcoming/Inclusion Initiative: (if different than organization name)

Mailing Street Address:

Mailing City:

ZIP Code:

State:

Are you applying as a government or nonprofit organization working at the local, community-based level?

GovernmentNonprofit organization

Contact/s

First Name:

Last Name:

Title:

Department:

Email:

Work Phone:

Mobile Phone:

You may add up to four more individual contacts from your organization

Social Media Contacts

Please list your social media handles below:

Facebook:

Twitter:

Instagram:

Describe your current welcoming/ inclusion efforts, including the goals or outcomes you hope to achieve through The Rural Welcoming Initiative (Web links welcome).

How are immigrant and/or refugee populations engaged in your current work?

What interests your organization about the Rural Welcoming Initiative?

Does your organization convene other organizations to advance welcoming? If so, how?

How did you hear about this opportunity?

(Please be honest - communities across the welcoming spectrum will be considered for the scholarship) Which of the following BEST describes your community’s overall attitudes/orientation toward immigrants and refugees? On average, newcomers in my community are currently:

Welcomed and integrated at a high level Welcomed and integratedWelcomed but not yet integratedNot welcomed and the community views newcomers with apathy/tolerance Not welcomed and the community views newcomers with disdain

Are there additional details you would like to be considered in your application?

Optional: Provide up to two letters of support from local partners who know your work. If you would like to submit letters of support, please send these to membership@welcomingamerica.org with the subject line “The Rural Welcoming Initiative” by the deadline of ) October 30 at 5 p.m. ET.

More information on Welcoming America and its programs can be found at welcomingamerica.org. Questions can be directed to Molly Hilligoss (molly@welcomingamerica.org).

Contact Information