Immigrant Families Together General Fund
NONE of the IFT volunteers are paid.
We are NOT a 501(c)3 organization.
In the meantime, GoFundMe.org is proud to act as fiscal sponsor to Immigrant Families Together, given the important charitable services it is providing to an important charitable class of people. GoFundMe.org is a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN #81-2279757) and solely responsible for the collection and management of your donations in support of the charitable services described here. All donations may be eligible for tax-exemption, and GoFundMe.org will issue donation receipts on a quarterly basis.
ALL of your funds will go directly to rapid response needs.
(To date, July 17. 2019, we have paid 74 bonds.)
We no longer use Amazon wishlists to support our families.
We cannot accept donations of any kind earmarked for an individual family.
We have applied for 501c3 status, the application is pending authorization.
Support Our Work with In-kind Donations
We recognize some donors have an interest in supporting certain needs of our work.
We've partnered with Give In Kind to facilitate this special giving.
How We Use Your Donations
The Gift of Freedom
To date we have reunited more than 65 families totaling well over $500,000 to give immigrant families the gift of freedom from detention prisons and foster care across the country.
Bonds typically range from $1500 - $30,000 per person. We have freed mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers, adult children.
We also try to find pro bono or deeply discounted immigration specialists to represent our families in their lengthy and complicated asylum proceedings.
Now that freedom from detention is secured for these families, donations are essential in helping them survive until they are eligible for work permits.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Gift of Reunification
In special cases we need to purchase reunification bus and airline tickets when we cannot find donors with miles and it doesn't fall under the parameters of our partner, Miles4Migrants.
There is also a need to provide transportation to legal and medical appointments when our volunteers cannot assist.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Rent & Utilities
Housing and utilities are the most expensive budget item each month outside of the payment of bonds. The average rent is $1500 per month, plus utilities.
In addition to rent there are also monthly expenses:
- electricity
- heat
- water.
Most of our families are not eligible for work permits for nearly a year. They need stable and safe housing.
Your gift provides just that!
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Healthy Food
Each family grocery budget is a minimum of $400 per month. Your gift towards groceries provides nutritious food every day, something families were denied while in detention.
- We provide assistance to over 65 families each month in one form or another.
- Occasionally we will have a special food drive for a new family or for holidays.
With this gift you ensure no one goes hungry.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Gift of Legal Counsel
Legal counsel is vital to navigate the complicated asylum process. While we do seek pro bono counsel, most immigration attorneys have more than exhausted their budget for giving free counsel.
Your donation also provides the costs associated in obtaining:
- birth certificates
- copies of affidavits and other legal documentation required
- passports
With this gift you give a real chance of a successful asylum case.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Clothing
Our families are, more times than not, released with only the clothes on their backs. We provide the basics for their immediate needs.
Each family has different needs depending on their circumstances. When needed we provide:
- underwear and socks
- jeans and shirts
- shoes and boots
- coats, gloves and hats
- pajamas
- sweatshirts
- blankets and bedding
- basic kitchen supplies
- school supplies
With this gift you give the gift of more than just the clothes on their backs.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Medical Care
The care in detention is extremely poor. Often we see recently released detainees who are sick with colds and flu. We provide over the counter medications for these symptoms and cover the cost of medical care when we cannot obtain free services.
Examples of some of your donations cover:
- X-rays
- prescriptions
- back to school appointments for physicals and required vaccinations
- dental and vision care
- Many families require counseling to overcome the tremendous trauma of separation and being held in the hieleras (“icebox”) detention prisons.
With this gift you give the gift of health.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Urgent Needs
We partner with and support various social service groups to help meet their urgent needs.
- In December 2018 we pledged to cover the cost of 100 hotel rooms at the border. This provided recently released detainees a place to stay while waiting for their cross country bus journey.
- We purchase and fill backpacks to distribute to families at bus stations. These backpacks contain blankets, fresh food, snacks, medicines, water, diapers, small toys and toiletries.
- We also use Visa gift cards to purchase fresh food and hot meals for traveling families .
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Infrastructure Expenses
We have no paid staff. NONE.
We do have normal operating expenses such as:
- travel related reimbursements
- fundraising platform fees
- website hosting
- office supplies
- accounting
- postage
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Vital Communication
Our families need to stay in touch with:
- us
- our volunteers
- ICE
- their attorneys
- their families
We provide cell phone service to each family. This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.