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The Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund

The City of Dallas Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs (WCIA) has partnered with the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and Communities Foundation of Texas to establish the Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund, a public-private effort that will distribute $500,000 to nonprofits that provide direct financial assistance to immigrant/refugee individuals and families who are otherwise ineligible for federal COVID-19 relief programs.

Grant funds are to be used to distribute one-time financial assistance to immigrant and refugee families who are the most vulnerable and have been most impacted by COVID-19. Funds should be distributed as a one-time support of $500 directed to smaller families or families with more access to resources, and up to $1,000 in one-time support to larger families or families with less access to additional resources. Priority should be given for immigrant families who have been severely financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who are out of reach of federal relief programs, as well as for immigrant workers who play a vital role in the city’s economy. Nonprofit grantees will submit a report that includes the number of families served, country of origin, residency in Dallas, languages spoken, occupation/employment industry demographics and zip codes served.


The application period is now closed.

The Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund application opened on Monday, August 3rd, and closed on Friday, August 21st. 

To apply for Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund grant funding, organizations must meet the following eligibility requirements:
  • have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Service
  • at least 75% of the population served must reside in Dallas County
  • already manage programs that are providing assistance to immigrants and refugees during the pandemic
Church and religious organizations’ programs that are focused on evangelism are not eligible.

Requests will be reviewed by CFT staff as well as a subcommittee of members from the City Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs and community advisors. Applicants will be notified if more information is needed regarding their funding request. 

Update as of 10/15: The community-based organizations that were selected for funding include: Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc., Center for Survivors of Torture, Children's Food Ministry, Community Action Organizers, Family Independence Initiative, Heard That Foundation, ImmSchools, International Rescue Committee, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Open Arms, Inc. dba Bryan's House, Rosa Es Rojo, Inc., The Concilio, The Stewpot of First Presbyterian Church, UNT Dallas Foundation, Wilkinson Center and Workers Defense Project.
 

Information on more programs are accessible from DallasCityHall.com/covid19. 

About The Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund
The Emma Lazarus Resilience Fund is named after the American poet, whose words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” appear inscribed in bronze plaque on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.  Click here to learn more about The City of Dallas Office of Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs (WCIA).

If you have questions about the application process, please contact grants@cftexas.org or 214-750-4216.
 

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