Given former President Donald Trump’s elevation of bogus stories about Haitians in Ohio during Tuesday’s presidential debate, we thought it would be a good idea to provide our readers with a quick roundup of funders and nonprofits working to support these legal recent immigrants. In the face of misleading information spread by right-wing outlets, it’s important to note that immigrants as a whole are significantly less likely to commit crimes than people born in the United States, so these organizations are simply doing for Haitian refugees what nonprofits and individuals alike have always done for our country’s immigrants — helping them acclimate, heal from past traumas and eventually become contributing members of American society.
We were able to find three organizations that are either providing direct help to Haitian refugees in Ohio or that have funded organizations which have helped them — and presumably will continue to do so.
Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS)
This Columbus, Ohio, nonprofit’s mission is “to help refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, sustain self-sufficiency and achieve successful integration into the Central Ohio community.” In addition to refugee resettlement, its services include support with employment and family, legal and newcomer services. CRIS, which is an affiliate of Church World Service, has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State to receive and place refugees in the local community. It was founded in 1987 as an outreach service of the Buddhamamaka Society, which itself was launched in 1987 by refugees from Laos. CRIS reported net assets of $574,536 in 2022, and its funders include the Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, the Harry C. Moores Foundation, the United Way and several federal, state and corporate entities.
Haitian Community Help and Support Center
Founded last year in Springfield, Ohio, this organization works “to guide and assist refugees and immigrants, especially Haitian nationals residing in Clark County and surroundings, in the following areas: housing, interpreting, job search, welfare assistance and other services. We anticipate connecting the individuals in need of services to the institutions where those services are provided in any way possible.” A very new, very small grassroots organization, this nonprofit is the only one mentioned here that was founded and is run by Haitian immigrants themselves. It received $5,000 from the Clark County, Ohio, nonprofit Welcome Springfield and has been soliciting community donations via Paypal.
Ohio Access to Justice Foundation
This legal aid nonprofit, which was originally launched in 1993 as the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, works to “improve access to justice and ensure that legal aid societies and other resources, programs and services address the unmet civil legal needs of low-income and underserved Ohioans.” In other words, its remit goes well beyond supporting immigrants and refugees. However, IP readers, funders in particular, may want to check out this organization because, as an established entity in Ohio, it is well placed to vet and steer donations to smaller nonprofits on the ground; in fact, in 2023, three of its grantees were involved in supporting the area’s newest Ohioans. While there’s no guarantee that donations made to the foundation will go specifically to Haitian immigrants, the donation form includes an “Additional Comments” section where donors can potentially specify their preferences.
There’s no doubt that an influx of immigrants — like Springfield, Ohio, experienced — can potentially be destabilizing to a community, particularly given the weakened social safety net that this country offers to citizens and immigrants alike. There is also no quick and easy answer to these issues; instead, what’s needed is a coordinated, ongoing response from government, the private sector and philanthropy alike, and potentially a realignment of tax, legal and immigration policies. In the meantime, funders and individuals alike with an interest in issues including public health, education, transportation and more may want to consider adding grants and donations to immigrant-serving nonprofits to their giving portfolios. One thing is certain — spreading lies about any group of people, particularly those without the wherewithal to fight back, helps only those who rely on punching down as a political strategy.
Dawn Wolfe covers issues including criminal justice funding, LGBTQ philanthropy, and philanthropic reform. She can be reached at: dawnw@insidephilanthropy.com. Other than a brief interruption caused by two squabbling housecats, no pets were involved in the writing of this article.
