The Indianapolis Immigrant Legal Services Fund was established in May 2021 by the City-County Council of Indianapolis in partnership with The Indianapolis Foundation, which administers and raises funds for the initiative. Since its launch, the fund has grown to nearly $1 million in support of equitable, accessible legal services for immigrant neighbors in Marion County.
The fund prioritizes grants to organizations that offer both prevention and intervention immigration legal services. Prevention efforts may include DACA renewals, naturalization applications, and work authorization filings. Intervention services may involve legal defense during deportation proceedings, bond hearings, asylum claims, and more.
The Indianapolis Foundation and The Clowes Fund continue to engage with legal service providers to strengthen the city’s immigrant legal services ecosystem, identify gaps, and collaborate on long-term strategies to increase capacity and impact. This fund invites broader community participation to help create a more just and inclusive future for all.
Grantmaking
Grantmaking will prioritize organizations providing prevention and/or intervention immigration services. Prevention services can include but are not limited to, filing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications, applications to naturalize as a U.S. Citizen (N400), applications for employment authorization (i765), etc. Intervention services can include but are not limited to providing removal defense before an immigration court, providing legal defense during bond hearings, providing assistance in seeking asylum or withholding of removal, etc.
Who Can Apply
- Registered 501(c)3 organizations.
- Organizations that have partnered with a registered not-for-profit fiscal agent.
- Priority will be given to organizations that demonstrate a strong record of providing high-quality legal representation to immigrant Hoosiers navigating USCIS processes, detained immigrants, and/or immigrants facing removal.
- Organizations must have licensed attorneys on staff with immigration law experience of at least two years or more.
- Organizations must demonstrate that all professionals (attorneys, social workers, etc.) involved in providing services have the appropriate professional licenses and are in good standing professionally.
- If serving detained individuals, the organization should demonstrate the ability to consult with and represent clients in area detention facilities.
- Commit to community engagement and to building power in communities impacted by immigration enforcement.
- For organizations looking to add an immigration department they must have a track record of serving Immigrant community members for the last 5 years.
Grant Range
Grant awards range from $50,000 to $100,000
Grant Focus
The Immigrant Legal Services Fund focuses on efforts including but not limited to:
- Providing assistance with USCIS applications. For example, supporting with DACA, N400, and i765 applications
- Providing removal defense before an immigration court
- Providing assistance in seeking asylum or withholding of removal (affirmative or defensive)
- Providing legal defense during bond hearing
Questions should be directed to Indianapois Foundation Senior Community Leadership Officer Fabio Yataco.
Apply for Immigrant Legal Services Fund Grant
Applicants must submit all application materials using our Grants Portal (powered by SmartSimple). If this is your first time submitting an application through this system, you will need to create a user profile for your organization.
More information including Frequently Asked Questions about using the Grants Portal can be viewed on the CICF Collaborative grants page.
For guidance on setting up your account and navigating your applicant profile, please refer to our Grants Portal 101 resource for guidance or reach out to GrantSupport@cicf.org.
Resources
For your convenience, the following links provide quick access to resources required for applying for Immigrant Legal Services Fund grants.