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 Seattle City Council and Mayor Katie Wilson, 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 more than half of the $4 million budget increase for OIRA.
2026 ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) Education funding
For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.
The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 - Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL).
Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle. Applications may be submitted by individual nonprofit organizations, public community colleges or by collaborative groups operating based on a Memorandum of Agreement.
OIRA intends to award a total of $485,000 for 12-month contract periods in this RFP, and the submission deadline is Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00pm.
Examples of eligible proposals can include, but are not limited to:
- Vocational ESOL program, providing industry-specific English classes tied to employment pathways.
Supplemental ESOL class for ELL participants of workforce development programs (apprenticeships, career pathways, etc.). - Expanding existing ESOL program for ELL adults
- Workforce ESOL and digital literacy program for ELL adults, providing basic job skills training and ESOL with digital literacy.
- ESOL class for ELL parents and caregivers, helping parents to communicate with schools, support children academically, and navigate community systems.
- Refugee integration ESOL program, providing basic English and community integration support for newly arrived refugees.
- Combined conversational circle and ESOL class for ELL adults.
Learn more and apply for the ESOL RFP here.
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.
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. Note that all applications and emails submitted to OIRA are subject to public disclosure. To learn more please see Chapter 42.56 RCW and the City’s Privacy Statement.
Find out more about this opportunity and the full eligibility criteria.