FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Welcome Corps and the Welcome Corps on Campus

Background
The Welcome Corps is an initiative by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) aimed at enhancing community involvement in refugee resettlement. This program complements PRM’s Reception and Placement Program by creating opportunities for individuals and organizations to engage directly in supporting refugees.

The program includes two specialized components: Welcome Corps at Work and Welcome Corps on Campus, which facilitate private sponsorship of refugees by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Grant Details
Eligible organizations are invited to develop, implement, and manage the infrastructure for the Welcome Corps. The operations include six key components:
1) Application and Screening - Develop a centralized application process for Private Sponsor Groups;
2) Assignment and Placement - Manage procedures for assigning refugee cases;
3) Sponsor Training and Support - Provide training for sponsors before refugee arrival;
4) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Collection/Analysis - Monitor activities of sponsors;
5) Program Communications and Public Outreach - Create public-facing materials;
6) Capacity Building of Organizations - Expand participation and provide technical assistance to Private Sponsor Organizations. Proposals should also address how to manage the matching process between sponsors and refugees.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), nonprofits without such status (overseas-based NGOs must demonstrate proof of registration), and international organizations (multilateral organizations should contact PRM directly). Cost sharing is not required but additional funding sources may be described in proposals.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for the grant is expected to be 12 months, with proposals considered for multi-year plans up to three years.

Grant Value
PRM anticipates awarding up to approximately $15,000,000 total per year through this NOFO for the Welcome Corps. The funding floor is set at $5,000,000 per year, while the ceiling is $15,000,000 per year.

Place of Performance
The grant activities will primarily take place within the United States as part of the refugee resettlement process.