Funding Area
Immigrant Justice
Our work in this area is driven by the belief that our country was built by and for immigrants, and that anyone seeking a better future deserves to have access to basic human needs, including food, housing, healthcare, and legal representation.
Schreiber Philanthropy hopes to galvanize a world that treats immigrants with dignity and empowers them to contribute, enriching all of society.
Grantee Spotlight
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center
Since 2019, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center has been a critical partner for Schreiber Philanthropy on immigrant justice work in Lake County and beyond. Mano a Mano, which is focused on empowering immigrant families to become full participants in their communities, has been in invaluable resource for families and other community-based organizations. In addition to their community-centric programming, which focuses on health education, democracy in action, and productive parenting, Mano a Mano has stepped up during times of crisis to support community members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mano a Mano launched the TANDA fund, focused on providing immediate assistance to empower people to take care of their families and meet their basic needs. They’ve also been a critical resource in the wake of the Highland Park 4th of July parade shooting, and they recently stepped up to coordinate support services for recent arrivals. Mano a Mano’s focus on human dignity and empowerment through education is deeply aligned with Schreiber Philanthropy’s mission.
Grantee Spotlight
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
Since 2009, the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) has been a key partner in Schreiber Philanthropy’s immigrant justice work. NIJC, which is focused on ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, has been providing direct legal services and advocating for vulnerable populations since 1984. NIJC provides legal services to more than 10,000 people each year, and has a 90% success rate in obtaining asylum for people fleeing persecution in their home countries. In recent years, after discussing the urgent need to build the pipeline of attorneys interested in doing this difficult work, NIJC and Schreiber Philanthropy launched the Schreiber Legal Fellowship Program. The goal of the program is to identify and invest in the next generation of diverse legal advocates. The fellowship encourages applicants who have lived experiences in immigrant communities, members of marginalized communities, and individuals from communities that are underrepresented in the legal profession.
Grantee Spotlight
RefugeeOne
RefugeeOne became a Schreiber Philanthropy’s grantee in 2019. Their work to create opportunities and welcoming communities for refugees fleeing war, terror and persecution, and their focus on supporting individuals as they build new lives of safety, dignity and self-reliance, resonates deeply with Schreiber Philanthropy’s mission and values. In 2020 and 2021, Schreiber Philanthropy partnered with RefugeeOne and several other funders to build out a dental clinic in memory of Monsignor John “Jack” Egan, who was a lifelong champion of affordable dental care. The clinic, which is supported by a combination of staff and professional volunteers, provides refugees with free, essential on-site dental care, which supports their sense of wholeness and overall wellbeing.
Impact
As the immigrant justice landscape has gotten more divisive, John and Kathy felt the need to overtly state their commitment to this work, particularly in Chicagoland. These investments range from direct legal services to workforce efforts designed to build a pipeline of attorneys to serve the unique needs of immigrants, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.
Since 2005
$11M in Grants
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