Tempering the Immigration Debate: An Assessment of the American Dream Fund – Knight Foundation
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Tempering the Immigration Debate: An Assessment of the American Dream Fund

A "Reporter Analysis" Evaluation Feature by Tony Mecia for Knight Foundation

GRANT DESCRIPTION

Knight Foundation’s American Dream Fund awarded $6 million to 47 nonprofit grassroots organizations to promote greater civic involvement among new immigrants. This article reviews the effectiveness of the effort and evaluates Knight’s future grant-making direction for immigrant causes.

Approach: The reporter analysis involved interviews with Dream Fund Grantees, local partners, Knight Foundation staff, and document review.

Report Partners: This reporter analysis was produced by Tony Mecia.

ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS

  • Dream Fund Grantees have worked on a range of issues, including helping immigrants learn English, prepare for citizenship, develop leadership among young immigrants and engage in critical social and economic issues.

  • American Dream Fund grant recipients report that they have become very active in networking and collaborating with national and local groups. Creating such links was described as a “key component” of the program at its inception. Grant recipients say their greatest need is for assistance in fund raising and other sustaining technical help.

  • Knight Foundation and Public Interest Projects underestimated the amount of staffing needed to oversee so many grants and to help grantees.

  • The report highlights the shifts in Knight Foundation’s approach from broader advocacy and immigration integration efforts to a focus on naturalization.

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