New OIRA Funding Opportunities

New Funding and Opportunities to Support Seattle’s Immigrant and Refugee Communities 

Funding Will Expand Legal Defense Services and
Help Communities Meet Basic Needs 

In 2025, immigrant communities and leaders advocated tirelessly for a vital and timely investment of $4 million toward the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), which has been supported by the City, Mayor Katie Wilson, and the City Council, all in recognition of the mounting challenges facing immigrants and refugees in Seattle.  

The Mayor’s Office and OIRA are pleased to announce the first areas of funding for the new investment, making up almost half of the $4 million budget increase for OIRA. 

2026 Legal Defense Network Expansion (LDN)  

Recognizing the increasing number of immigrant residents who have been detained in the last year, OIRA will double its current investment in the Legal Defense Network (LDN) by increasing it by $1.25 million per year, reinforcing the City’s commitment to help our immigrant community members remain rooted in Seattle with their families.  

As part of this funding, OIRA is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations to provide legal representation to low-income immigrants who are in detention, facing removal, or in danger of loss because of their immigration status and who live, work, or go to school in the City of Seattle, or have been detained or are subject to legal removal proceedings in Seattle.  

Find out more about this opportunity and apply for funding  

2026 Rapid Response Small Community Grants 

OIRA is seeking to enter into one-time contracts with community groups and organizations to offer resources, education, and tools to empower communities in Seattle.  Successful applicants shall be responsible for developing a proposal designed to address an urgent need for their community as they prepare for increased enforcement and/or support community members who have been impacted by immigration enforcement and federal immigration policy changes.    

Specifically, grantees are expected to fulfill one or more of the following activities:    

Community Aid for Basic Needs: Groups assisting community members impacted by immigration enforcement and/or federal immigration policy changes with accessing basic needs, resources, and paying for fees.   

Know-Your-Rights Training or Community Education Event: Host and deliver education on topics that are relevant and timely to immigrant communities in Seattle.  

Immigrant Family Safety Planning: Assistance with creating plans for care of children or dependents and legal preparations in case of detention or deportation.    

Capacity Resiliency: Community groups creating a response plan, alert system, training or partnership/network for their group, community, or neighborhood to prepare for increased ICE enforcement. 

Funding Details 

Total Funds Available: Up to $280,000.    

Awards: Each application may be awarded up to $10,000. Funding decisions may be for no award, partial, or full request amount.   

Application Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis, with funding decisions announced within six-weeks of application submission, for as long as budget is available or until funds are exhausted.    

Contract Period: All funded activities must occur within the calendar year 2026. 

Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) status OR have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) status and, show that they are significantly composed of and/or would significantly benefit the Seattle community.  

Find out more about this opportunity and the full eligibility criteria.  

View the Community Small Grant RFP and application.