Collaborative Partner
Leading funder collaborative nurtures, coordinates, and funds the immigration field at the local and state levels
The Four Freedoms Fund (FFF), a project of NEO Philanthropy, is the leading funder collaborative working toward the full integration of immigrants as active participants in our democracy. Its grantmaking is rooted in grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and civic engagement. In 2022, FFF distributed more than $18.7 million to 115 organizations across 26 states and the District of Columbia.
FFF achieves its mission in four ways: First, it builds and strengthens a coordinated infrastructure of state and local organizations that protect, promote, and defend the self-determination, rights, and opportunities of immigrant communities. Second, FFF seeks to reduce harsh enforcement policies, and fosters alliance with other movements, such as criminal justice reform. Third, FFF seeks to expand immigrant civic engagement, investing in groups that are carrying out nonpartisan campaigns to motivate first-time, low-propensity voters in immigrant communities to vote. And fourth, FFF provides rapid response resources, helping the field respond to crises or take advantage of opportunities. FFF also offers significant capacity building to its grantees, including in areas such as communications, fundraising, and advocacy training.
FFF works with many groups in the American South and Mid-West that are building alliances between new immigrant communities and long-settled communities, including African American and progressive Whites. FFF supports groups such as Nebraska Appleseed, which seeks to build alliances with long-settled communities in Nebraska—which has a rapidly growing immigrant population—particularly among faith-based and business communities, such as the Cattleman’s Association.
As the most comprehensive table for funders concerned with immigration, FFF offers an important space for learning, sharing of information, and collaboration, including among funders who don’t identify immigration as a primary funding priority but who work on overlapping issues areas. FFF helps to inform funders and offers advice on opportunities for increased resources to the field.
The Four Freedoms Fund advances our Strengthen Belonging strategy; our funding of FFF is the primary way in which we support immigrant rights advocacy at the state and local levels. Unbound has been a member of the collaborative since 2009. Taryn Higashi, then at the Ford Foundation, and Geri Mannion at the Carnegie Foundation, co-founded the Four Freedoms Fund in 2003.
Year Founded
2003
Collaborators
The Barr Foundation, Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust, The Beacon Fund, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Ford Foundation, Grove Foundation, The Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation, JPB Foundation, Luminate, The Kresge Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Overbrook Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Schusterman Foundation, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, An anonymous donor
Dr. Tom Wong's data analytical work has had a powerful impact on Four Freedom Fund grantees’ non-partisan voter outreach campaigns. As a result of Dr. Wong’s assistance, voter engagement organizations are able to target infrequent Latinx and AAPI voters, who are rarely engaged by other campaigns, significantly improving voter turnout.
Anita Khashu, Former Director, Four Freedoms Fund
FFF is building a national infrastructure of state and regional immigrant justice groups advancing policy advocacy, increasing immigrant civic participation, and strengthening the capacity of organizations challenging enforcement and criminalization.
$18.7 million
Total grantmaking in 2022
Meet Our Other Collaboratives
Photos shared with permission by the Four Freedoms Fund
Photo 1: Border Network for Human Rights, Hugs Not Walls
Photo 2: LUPE’s canvassing work