GCIR - Joint Foundation Statement on Immigration

Since 1990, Grantmakers Concerned With Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) has sought "to influence philanthropy to advance the contributions and address the needs of the country's growing and increasingly diverse immigrant and refugee populations." In so doing, it seeks "to promote effective grantmaking that not only improves the lives of newcomers but also strengthens communities."

On Friday, the group issued a joint statement on immigration signed by more than thirty foundations and funder groups. The statement, in its entirety, is included below, along with the names of the signatories:

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Statement

The United States stands at a historical crossroads. Founded as a refuge from religious persecution and built by generations of immigrants, our country has been the standard bearer internationally for the assertion and protection of inalienable rights and freedoms, a beacon of hope for refugees facing oppression and persecution, and a land of opportunity for immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

As philanthropic institutions, we have built our missions on this proud and rich tradition. We have invested in creating healthy communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, building a vibrant democracy, and advancing equity and equality for all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, immigration status, and national origin.

The recently issued immigration executive orders compromise our nation's founding principles and the Constitution, our standing in the world, and our core values of liberty, justice, and due process. They weaken our moral leadership, fuel the efforts of those who wish us ill, harm our global competitiveness, and fray our social fabric.

Our foundations support diverse issues, strategies, and communities across the country, but we are united in the belief that immigrants and refugees are integral to every aspect of our society. Newcomers enrich our culture and tradition as artists, playwrights, and dancers. Naturalized citizens strengthen our civic life as voters, jurors, school-board members, and elected officials. Immigrant entrepreneurs and refugee-owned businesses revitalize neighborhoods, towns, and cities across America. Foreign-born scientists and engineers fuel innovations and help our country prosper. Farmworkers put food on our tables, and caregivers nurture our children, care for our elders, and nurse our ill. Young newcomers — including DACA beneficiaries — demonstrate their patriotism and enthusiasm for American ideals in schools, communities, workplaces, and the armed forces. Without the contributions of immigrants and refugees now and throughout our history, our collective well-being and economic vitality would be greatly diminished.

We, the undersigned philanthropies, join public officials, the faith community, business leaders, and the American public in supporting policies that protect our national security, strengthen our economy, and uphold core American values. We stand with our grantees — advocates, organizers, researchers, and service providers — in calling for policies that reflect our nation's founding principles, promote cohesion and inclusion, instill hope, and show compassion. Policies that recognize our global interdependence, that honor our tradition of welcoming those seeking refuge and a better life, and that keep families together will make our communities stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

We expect additional challenges in the weeks and months ahead on the immigration front, including expanded detention and deportations, and on policies affecting the rights of women, African Americans, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups. The issues, communities, and core values that our foundations have sought to advance are under serious and imminent danger. With history and morality as our guide, we reject discriminatory policies that target individuals based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender expression, and other grounds. We stand committed to the inherent value and dignity of every person at home and abroad. We stand together for the American Dream.

For more information or to sign the statement, contact Caleb Beaudoin (link sends e-mail). If joining, please provide the name of your foundation and the name and title of your signer (i.e., the CEO, the board chair, or both).

A special thanks to GCIR members and funders for their support in making this statement possible.

Signatories
Cora Mirikitani, President & CEO Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)	Maria Mottola, Executive Director New York Foundation
Audrey Yamamoto, President & Executive Director Asian Pacific Fund	Kevin F. Walker, President & CEO Northwest Area Foundation
Jerry Greenfield, President Ben & Jerry’s Foundation	Ken Zimmerman, Director of U.S. Programs Open Society Foundations
Antonia Hernández, President & CEO California Community Foundation	Pedro Ramos, President & CEO Philadelphia Foundation
Robert K. Ross, M.D., President & CEO California Endowment	Gillian Darlow, CEO Polk Bros. Foundation
Karen A. Simmons, President & CEO Chester County Community Foundation	Mary E. McClymont, President and CEO Public Welfare Foundation
Truman Collins, President Cynthia G. Addams, CEO Collins Foundation	Timothy P. Silard, President Rosenberg Foundation
Laura Livoti, CEO Common Counsel Foundation	Aixa N. Cintrón-Vélez, Ph.D., Program Director Russell Sage Foundation
Alicia Phillip, President Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta	Fred Blackwell, CEO San Francisco Foundation
Joe Goldman, President Democracy Fund	Fo-Ching Lu, President Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation
Jennie Lehua Watson, Interim President Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund	Amanda Cloud, President & CEO Simmons Foundation
Marcos Vargas, Executive Director Fund for Santa Barbara	Tom Keith, President Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
Ben Francisco Maulbeck, President Funders for LGBTQ Issues	Molly Gochman, Founder Stardust Fund
Dimple Abichandani, Executive Director General Service Foundation	Kriss Deiglmeier, CEO Tides
Eva Grove, Founder & Board Member Leslie Dorosin, Executive Director Grove Foundation	Taryn Higashi, Executive Director Unbound Philanthropy
Darren Sandow, Executive Director Hagedorn Foundation	Kate Kroeger, Executive Director Urgent Action Fund
Nat Williams, Ph.D, Executive Director Hill-Snowdon Foundation	Nancy Wiltsek, Executive Director van Löben Sels/RembeRock Foundation
Diana Campoamor, President Hispanics in Philanthropy	Rick Kinsel, President Vilcek Foundation
Don Howard, President & CEO James Irvine Foundation	William S. Goldman, President, Board of Trustees Pamela H. David, Executive Director Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO Latino Community Foundation	Fred Ali, President & CEO Weingart Foundation
Debora Ortega, Ph.d., Board Chair Carlos Martinez, Executive Director Latino Community Foundation of Colorado	Edward Kissam, Trustee Werner-Kohnstamm Family Fund
James S. Farley, Esquire, President & CEO Leichtag Foundation	Larry Kramer, President William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Helen Brunner, Foundation Director Media Democracy Fund	Donna P. Hall, President & CEO Women Donors Network
Charles Wilhoite, Board Chair Doug Stamm, CEO Meyer Memorial Trust	Grace Hou, President Woods Fund Chicago
Frank I. Sanchez, Executive Director Needmor Fund	Bob Uyeki, CEO Y & H Soda Foundation
Michele Lord, President NEO Philanthropy	Allison Magee, Executive Director Zellerbach Family Foundation
Lorie A. Slutsky, President New York Community Trust