GCIR's 2024 Highlights

Tuesday, December 17, 2024
2024 was a challenging year in the fight for immigrant and refugee justice. GCIR, movement leaders, and our partners in philanthropy have been preparing for an incoming presidential administration that poses an unprecedented threat to our immigrant communities. In the face of these challenges, GCIR doubled-down this year on developing programming, resources, and partnerships that reflect our dedication to moving money and power to migrant communities and resourcing a robust migrant justice infrastructure.

In October, we held our 2024 National Convening in Detroit, Michigan, coming together to connect and strategize at a pivotal moment for our nation and for immigrant justice. Over three days, we explored how to leverage philanthropic resources in support of people who move, enjoyed meaningful and joyful performances, experienced first hand the terrific work happening on the ground in Detroit, and heard inspiring stories from directly-impacted leaders. By gathering at such a consequential moment, we hope the sense of community cultivated at our convening will help fortify us for the challenges, but also opportunities, that lie ahead.

In addition to our webinars and programming - which highlighted a diverse range of issues, communities, and leaders - in 2024 we launched new communities of practice with the aim of cultivating a transnational strategy for resourcing migrant justice, resourcing the intersection of economic justice and immigrant justice, and increasing immigrant belonging in rural communities. California funders continued to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to migrant justice through the California Immigrant Inclusion Initiative (CIII), and we convened funders in the U.S. Southeast and Michigan to explore opportunities for coordination and collaboration. 

In February, GCIR led a funder delegation to Foundations on the Hill in DC to advance our values-based policy agenda by bringing the most pressing immigrant and refugee issues of our time directly to those in power. Through our Undocumented in Philanthropy Network (UPN), immigrant leaders in the philanthropic sector were able to cultivate their leadership and share their work with peers in the field. In May, we traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border with our partners at Hispanics in Philanthropy to provide funders with a first-hand perspective of the groups working to bring justice and dignity to border communities. 

As GCIR continued to roll out our ambitious Im/Migration Timeline project, we delved into the many ways U.S. policies and practices have intersected with migration to understand the historical roots of people on the move today. The first timeline explored the evolution of American citizenship and how the United States has determined who belongs in this country and who does not. Our second installment shed light on how U.S. intervention in the Americas has shaped the migration flows and patterns we see today, allowing for a more nuanced analysis and deeper understanding of this topic. As part of our convening in Detroit, we helped tell the city's migration story by featuring the history of BAMEMSA communities in Detroit, in Michigan, and across the United States.

As we expanded the state and local strategy we launched in 2023, our state and local democracy project invested in democracy-focused organizations in Texas, Michigan, Louisiana, and Nevada partaking in civic engagement work - including organizing, combatting disinformation, advancing narrative change, and political education work. We also gathered for scenario planning that helped us collectively prepare for a highly consequential election. During these sessions, we emphasized the significance of investing in the infrastructure needed before, during, and after elections so that frontline efforts to strengthen our democracy and advance immigrant and refugee rights can be sustained outside of election cycles.

No matter what the coming months and years bring, GCIR remains steadfast in our dedication to advancing justice and belonging for all. As we head into 2025, we in philanthropy must be in active solidarity with movement organizations by demonstrating a long-term commitment to this work and the flexibility needed to respond to a rapidly changing world.

At GCIR, we like to think of ourselves as network weavers, and we are immensely grateful to the leaders, partners, and collaborators who have made all that we have done in 2024 possible. In that spirit, we are proud to share with you today a sampling of our programming, communications, resources, and actions from this year. We hope you find them useful.

 

gcir's national convening: mobilizing philanthropy shifting power

Detroit, Michigan, October 28th-30th

exploring the history of migration

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

pushing philanthropic practice

ADVOCATING FOR JUST POLICIES

STRENGHTENING STATE AND LOCAL NETWORKS

working in a networked way