Immigrants Belong Fund

Tides Foundation’s Immigrants Belong (I-Belong) Fund promotes a pro-immigrant future by investing in the storytelling power of immigrant communities and proximate leaders at the forefront of community change.

Two staff members from Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo. Photo credit: CIELO, a Immigrants Belong Fund grantee Justice Action Center Communications Coordinator Joan Agoh at a #SafeNotStranded rally in San Diego, CA, against the Remain in Mexico program. Photo credit: Justice Action Center, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund, photographer: Jeff Valenzuela A multiracial group of people standing outside of Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights' headquarters and raising their fists in solidarity. Photo credit: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Immigrants Belong Fund grantee
Two staff members from Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo. Photo credit: CIELO, a Immigrants Belong Fund grantee Justice Action Center Communications Coordinator Joan Agoh at a #SafeNotStranded rally in San Diego, CA, against the Remain in Mexico program. Photo credit: Justice Action Center, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund, photographer: Jeff Valenzuela A multiracial group of people standing outside of Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights' headquarters and raising their fists in solidarity. Photo credit: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Immigrants Belong Fund grantee

Be a Champion for Narrative Change

For decades, alarmists have spread pervasive and polarizing narratives that profile immigrants based in the United States as dangerous and harmful to our economy and way of life. As a result, xenophobia is being networked across a vast array of digital and media spaces. The I-Belong Fund supports immigrant and proximate leaders with practical tools to counter these narratives, including inoculation, sociological research on media usage, and a better understanding of common fear-based mis/disinformation tactics. The fund is also creating collaborative events and spaces for leaders to develop innovative, pro-immigrant media and storytelling content that can disrupt false and harmful narratives.

Amplify Immigrant Voices
A Latine woman passing out a leaflet at a community meeting. Photo credit: La Union del Pueblo Entero, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund grantee

Supporting the I-Belong Fund is an opportunity to invest in evidence-based, cutting-edge digital tools and rigorous training, so that immigrant and proximate leaders can reach movable middle audiences with narratives about immigrants that influence hearts and educate minds.

Our Impact

Based on research, data, and lessons learned, I-Belong is taking a rigorous approach to narrative change. The fund is creating a Community of Practice of 10 local and state-level organizations to collaborate in a learning curriculum and media productions led by Define American, a culture change organization redefining the immigrant story in the US.

10 Inaugural Grantees in our Community of Practice
A group of Black organizers from the Black Alliance for Just Immigration gathered together. Photo credit: Black Alliance for Just Immigration, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund grantee
$100K General Support Grants for Each of our 10 Grantees
A Black mother and son at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights' community hub's soccer field and playground. Photo credit: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund grantee
25 Additional Organizations Collaborating With our Community of Practice Grantees Through Network-Building Events
A Latine woman speaking into a microphone at a podium. Photo credit: Florida Immigrant Coalition, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund grantee

Funding Priorities

In partnership with an immigration rights advisor, I-Belong invited 10 organizations that align with our five funding priorities to be part of the Community of Practice pilot program.

  • A group of organizers from Aliento Arizona gathered in a half circle in a park. Photo credit: Aliento Arizona, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee

    Immigrant- or Proximate-Led Organizations

    We recognize that organizations led by proximate leaders and immigrant communities are often excluded from grantmaking priorities. The I-Belong Fund seeks to support organizations working with and alongside immigrant communities that are best positioned to meaningfully advance narrative change.

  • A group of Latine organizers marching with United Farm Workers flags which are red with a black Aztec eagle at the center. Photo credit: La Union del Pueblo Entero, a Tides Immigrants Belong Fund grantee

    Movement and Power-Building

    Tides’ I-Belong Fund centers immigrant and proximate leaders, partnering with organizations that are committed to and engaged in movement- and power-building.

  • Three Black women in a meeting room at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. Photo credit: Black Alliance for Just Immigration, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee

    Organizational Infrastructure

    I-Belong prioritizes organizations with the existing infrastructure to effectively absorb the fund’s capacity-building support.

  • Two young women having a conversation and laughing at a community event. Photo credit: Asian American Advocacy Fund, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee

    Engagement

    Our Community of Practice is a collaborative effort. The fund seeks to partner with groups whose leadership will be able to fully immerse themselves in this work.

  • Deya Garcia (DACA) shares what SCR. 1004 (later Prop. 308) passing means to her and the thousands of undocumented students at the Arizona Capitol. Photo credit: Aliento Arizona, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee

    Values Alignment

    We are partnering with organizations that share our values of equity, collaboration, transparency, and the belief in the power of narrative change to shift attitudes and counter disinformation.

Grantee Stories

A multi-racial group of organizers tabling for the Texas Civil Rights Project. Photo credit: Texas Civil Rights Project, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee A multi-racial group of organizers gathered together for the Texas Civil Rights Project. Photo credit: Texas Civil Rights Project, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee
A multi-racial group of organizers tabling for the Texas Civil Rights Project. Photo credit: Texas Civil Rights Project, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee A multi-racial group of organizers gathered together for the Texas Civil Rights Project. Photo credit: Texas Civil Rights Project, a Tides Immigrants Belong grantee

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) is working to build a border state where migrants and border residents have dignity and equal rights. They partner closely with other organizations and communities to share truths about the migrant experience and dismantle policies that perpetuate the harms caused by militarization, cultural erasure, imprisonment, and exclusion.

Meet More Grantees

Help Tides Ignite a New Immigration Conversation

For Funders

Xenophobic narratives become one of the primary ways extremists try to influence conflicted individuals against a pro-immigrant future, intensifying the need to counter harmful narratives during highly contested election cycles. While immigrant and proximate leaders are routinely outspent,  they also have a greater understanding of how to amplify culturally resonant narratives that can reach movable middle audiences. Our goal is to raise at least $6 million over the next three years to catalyze further momentum to reach millions of people. Help us strengthen local and state-level organizations in fighting disinformation, fear tactics, and chaos-based narratives. Together, we can move toward a pro-immigrant future of shared values and belonging.

Donate Now

For Grant Seekers

Tides’ I-Belong Fund has a closed-selection grantmaking process and does not respond to unsolicited proposals. We value the long-standing work and dedication of all partners in the immigration/narrative change ecosystem. We look forward to announcing future grantmaking updates. In the meantime we are setting the stage to engage community partners in shared learning, collaborative events, and opportunities to contribute to dissemination strategies. Sign up to receive our monthly emails and learn more about our work. 

Sign Up Now

The Latest