Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Project Title
As a final grant for core support of the New Americans Campaign
Date
Mar. 05, 2026
Duration
18 months
Description
Naturalization is a foundationalcomponentof successful immigrant integration and the gateway to full civic participation. It provides the right to vote, hold public office, and serve on juries, allowing millions of immigrants to make their voices heard and contribute to their communities and the country. However, of the over 11 million legal permanent residents who qualify for citizenship in the United States, less than 1 million apply for naturalization each year. Since itsinceptionin 2011, the New Americans Campaign (NAC) has been funding and building the capacity of local nonprofits offering affordable naturalization support. Fiscally sponsored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, theNAC, and its more than 200 local and national partners, have completed more than 700,000 naturalization applications and 255,000 fee waivers for immigrants, to date. The total estimated value of the fee waivers and free and low-cost legal services provided by NAC partners exceeds $785 million. The NAC is also a leading advocate for making naturalization more accessible to those who qualify. With renewed Carnegiesupport, the NAC will continue its efforts to educate immigrants about the importance of naturalization and strengthen the capacity of its network.
Website
Project Title
For support to increase naturalization rates of legal permanent residents
Date
Sep. 11, 2025
Duration
12 months
Description
According to the Department of Homeland Security, over 10 million Lawful Permanent Residents are currently eligible for naturalization, yet less than 10 percent apply annually. Barriers such as cost, legal complexity, and lack of accessible support disproportionately affect low-income immigrants and immigrants of color. This grant will support the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) in increasing U.S. naturalization rates through additional support to one of its key founding partners, the NALEO Educational Fund. NALEO Educational Fund will use these funds to provide direct assistance to approximately 3,000 aspiring citizens—both Latino and non-Latino—which includes application preparation, bilingual support via its hotline, and education about the application process. About half of all applications submitted will include requests for fee waivers. With Corporation support, ILRC will also increase support for the NAC’s national policy advocacy efforts through its stewardship of NAC’s Naturalization Working Group, providing up-to-date analysis on immigration policy changes, engaging with USCIS, and building national awareness.
Website
Project Title
For core support of the New Americans Campaign
Date
Jun. 08, 2023
Duration
36 months
Description
Naturalization is a foundational component of immigrant integration. It brings significant social, economic, and civic benefits not only to immigrants and their families, but also totheir communities, their states, and the country. However, of the 9.2 million legal permanent residents (LPRs) who qualify for citizenship in the United States, less than 1 million apply for naturalization each year. Since its inception in 2011, the New Americans Campaign (NAC) has been funding and building the capacity of local nonprofits offering affordable direct immigration services. Fiscally sponsored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the NAC, and its more than 200 local and national partners, have completed more than 580,000 naturalization applications and 195,000 fee waivers for immigrants, to date. The NAC is particularly focused on one segment of the eligible to naturalize population: the 3.1 million who are unlikely to pursue naturalization without significant help, particularly due to the cost. The total estimated value of the fee waivers and free and low-cost legal services provided by NAC partners exceeds $636 million. The NAC is also a leading advocate for more inclusive naturalization policies. With renewed Corporation support, the NAC will continue its efforts to educate immigrants about the importance of naturalization and strengthen the capacity of its network.
Website
Project Title
For support of a national citizenship campaign
Date
Jun. 03, 2021
Duration
24 months
Description
Naturalization is a foundational component of immigrant integration. It brings significant social, economic, and civic benefits not only to immigrants and their families, but also to their communities, their states, and the country as a whole. In recent years, the federal government has implemented more stringent vetting procedures, limited eligibility for fee waivers, and worked to increase overall application fees, with the goal of deterring naturalization. Since 2011, the New Americans Campaign (NAC) has been funding and building the capacity of local nonprofits offering affordable direct immigration services. Fiscally sponsored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the NAC, and its more than 200 local and national partners, have completed more than 500,000 naturalization applications and 169,000 fee waivers for immigrants, to date. Recently, the NAC has become a leading advocate for more inclusive naturalization policies. With Corporation support, the NAC will continue its efforts to educate immigrants about the importance of naturalization, strengthen the capacities of local and national organizations that provide legal services to immigrants, and advocate for equity-based naturalization policy reforms.
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Dec. 05, 2019
Duration
18 months
Description
Naturalization is a foundational component of civic integration. It brings significant social, economic, and civic benefits not only to immigrants and their families, but also to their communities, their states, and the country as a whole. Despite the federal government erecting new barriers to citizenship, the demand for naturalization services remains high as immigrants look for greater security and opportunities to more fully integrate into civic life. Since its inception in 2011, the New Americans Campaign (NAC) has helped complete more than 420,000 naturalization applications for legal permanent residents from dozens of countries around the world. Fiscally sponsored by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the NAC now has more than 169 local and national partners and sixty-nine affiliates based across the country. With renewed Corporation support, the NAC will continue its efforts to engage eligible immigrants about the importance of naturalization and strengthen the capacities of local and national organizations providing legal services to immigrants.
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 07, 2017
Duration
24 months
Description
Naturalization is a foundational component of immigrant civic integration. It brings significant social, economic, and civic benefits not only to newcomers and their families, but also to communities, states, and the country as a whole. Today, nearly 9 million legal permanent residents (LPR) across the United States qualify for citizenship, but less than 10 percent of eligible people apply each year, for reasons ranging from lack of information to misperceptions about requirements and concerns about costs. Since 2011, the New Americans Campaign (NAC) has been increasing the number of LPRs applying for citizenship through cutting-edge research, advocacy, outreach and communications, services, and innovative approaches and technologies. With Corporation support, the NAC will continue to engage legal permanent residents about the importance of naturalization and strengthen the capacity of local and national organizations to provide naturalization and legal services to immigrant constituencies.
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 17, 2015
Duration
24 months
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
36 months
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
36 months
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
36 months
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
36 months
Website
Project Title
For a national citizenship initiative
Date
Jun. 09, 2011
Duration
15 months