The American Dream Fund (ADF) supported community-based organizations working to foster naturalization for immigrants.
ADF funding has helped to support local, and often newly established organizations, in new gateway communities, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast. Although locally focused, ADF grantee organizations participate in regional and national efforts around naturalization-related activities. Many of the groups play critical leadership roles as part of the wider national immigrant network. Additionally, grantee organizations participated in the national Immigrant Participation and Immigrant Reform (IPIR) evaluation project.
Funded activities included:
- Assisting with naturalization applications and screenings,
- Providing citizenship preparedness and English-language classes, tutoring, and workshops in preparation for the naturalization exam,
- Providing legal support for naturalization filings,
- Conducting community outreach and referral to citizenship services to encourage naturalization,
- Conducting community citizenship drives, clinics and workshops.
- Participating in efforts to reduce the barriers to naturalization,
- Coordinating with local, regional, and national citizenship efforts.
Grantmaking and Projects
During the course of its life, the ADF invested more than $4.5 million in grants and technical assistance to 47 local citizenship and civic engagement organizations, located in 19 Knight communities in 14 states. The ADF provided multi-year general and project support, in grants of $25,000 to $75,000 per year.
Key Donor
The ADF was the local component of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s National Immigrant Integration Initiative.
