named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Asylum Pride House
Partners with grassroots shelters and legal teams to secure swift exits from detention and provide long-term welcome and housing for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in cities like Philadelphia.
Communities of Care
Provides direct support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, including stipends, basic needs assistance, and coordinated referrals to legal, housing, and mental health services.
LGBTQ Safe House
Launches and operates safe housing facilities for LGBTQ+ migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, starting in Portland, Oregon, to provide stability and community.
Nation of Welcome Storytelling Project
Amplifies the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers through exhibitions, public storytelling panels, and creative works to build empathy and shift public understanding.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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LGBTQ+ Immigrant and Asylum Support Services 3 activities
- Facilitating community integration and belonging through Communities of CareBuilds and operates Communities of Care initiatives that connect LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers with housing, legal support, community sponsors, emotional support, and social events to foster belonging and rebuild lives in the U.S.
- Operating safe housing and shelter programs for LGBTQ+ migrants and refugeesOperates an LGBTQ Safe House in Portland, Oregon, providing shelter, safety, stability, and community support for LGBTQ+ migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Partners with grassroots shelters to secure long-term housing and integration in cities including Philadelphia and New York.
- Providing direct support and basic needs assistance to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekersProvides stipends, basic needs assistance, and post-release support to LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, including those in immigration detention, through programs such as the Rainbow Relief Fund and Welcome Program. Coordinates housing, legal advocacy, and community integration for individuals released from detention.
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LGBTQ+ Legal and Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocating for inclusive refugee policies and protection systemsEngages in legal and policy advocacy to prevent deportation of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers to countries with state-sponsored homophobia, advocates for durable protection systems, and promotes community sponsorship and legal advocacy at national and international levels, including participation in the UN General Assembly.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Amplifying lived experiences through public storytelling and creative worksHosts public storytelling panels, cultural events, exhibitions, and film screenings—such as "Until Further Notice"—to amplify the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, humanize migration, and build empathy within broader communities.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$63K
Contributions & grants$63K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$63K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$16K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$165
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$165
1 years on record · 2025–2025
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 6
- Daniel Friedman — Co-Founder Board Member
- Rachel Einbund Esq — Board Member
- Rodrigue Shimwe — Board Member
- Ryan-Ashley Maloney — Board Secretary
- Steven Muleme — Board Member
- Tim Ceci — Board Member
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Asylum Pride House Partner — Grassroots shelter partner providing safe housing and support services for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in Philadelphia.
- Asylum Pride House Partner — Network partner organization in Philadelphia.
- Bronx Defenders Partner — Legal partner that refers cases and collaborates with Refuge America to secure release of asylum seekers through housing verification.
- Catholic Charities Partner — Collaborated during an event on immigrant heritage, with representative participation in shared programming.
- Chicago Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Partner — Co-organized World Refugee Day Chicago 2026 at Daley Plaza.
- Church World Service Partner — Collaborated during an event on immigrant heritage, with representative participation in shared programming.
- Community Support Team Partner — Volunteer group providing community integration support to LGBTQI+ asylum seekers with technical and financial backing from Refuge America staff.
- Creflo Partner — Asylum seeker who shared his story at the Long Table gathering to ground the conversation in lived experience.
- Eat Off Beat Partner — Provided food for the Long Table gathering event.
- Edafe Okporo Partner — Refugee advocate and speaker who shared personal experience and a call to action for LGBTQ refugee inclusion at a World Refugee Day event in Chicago.
- First Friends of NJ & NY Partner — Collaborates on storytelling initiatives and events for recently arrived immigrants.
- HBO Partner — Produced "The Legend of the Underground," a documentary featuring Edafe Okporo that facilitated the connection between Refuge America and Thato Mwosa.
- Immigration Equality Partner — Network partner organization in New York.
- LGBT Asylum Task Force Partner — Network partner organization in Massachusetts.
- LGBT Community Center in NYC Partner — Co-hosted a Pride event featuring photos of LGBTQIA+ immigrants.
- Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival Partner — Site of initial collaboration between Refuge America leadership and filmmaker Thato Mwosa; venue for upcoming screening of "Until Further Notice."
- MassResistance Partner — U.S.-based anti-LGBTQIA+ hate group reported to have collaborated with Senegalese organizations on legislation criminalizing same-sex relations, indirectly linked to the persecution of clients served by Refuge America.
- New York City Immigrant Resettlement Initiative Partner — Partnered with NYC-IRI, hosting representatives from member organizations in a public event on immigrant heritage.
- Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement Government — Government office partnering with Refuge America to advance support for immigrants and refugees in Portland.
- Oregon Department of Human Services Government — Government agency collaborating with Refuge America to support displaced LGBTQ individuals in Oregon.
- Pride NW Partner — Partner organization involved in supporting the launch and mission of the Portland Safe House.
- Q Center Partner — Collaborates with Refuge America in supporting LGBTQ displaced people in Portland.
- Refugee One Partner — Co-organized World Refugee Day Chicago 2026 at Daley Plaza.
- Thato Mwosa Partner — Collaborated on the promotion and sharing of the film "Until Further Notice," stemming from a prior connection at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.
- The LGBT Asylum Project Partner — Network partner organization in California.
- United Nations Partner — Engaged in the UN General Assembly to influence global refugee response policies for LGBTQI people.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Sponsorship and Collective Care Modelmethodology: community_sponsorshipBy mobilizing volunteer Community Support Teams and building Communities of Care, the organization fosters relational networks that provide integration, protection, and belonging, because sustained human connection and collective responsibility are more effective than transactional services in supporting long-term refugee resilience.
- Coordinated Care Network for Systemic Navigationmethodology: coordinated_care_networkBy building partnerships with grassroots shelters, legal teams, and support networks, the organization converts systemic barriers into actionable pathways to safety, because integrated, cross-sector collaboration accelerates release from detention and improves long-term integration outcomes.
- Housing-First with Integrated Supportmethodology: housing_firstBy providing stable housing as a foundational platform, the organization enables LGBTQ+ displaced people to access services, rebuild their lives, and integrate into community, because safety and belonging are prerequisites for long-term stability and engagement.
- Lived Experience-Driven Systems Changemethodology: lived-experience-driven advocacyBy centering the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers in all programs and advocacy, the organization ensures relevance, dignity, and effectiveness, because those most impacted are best positioned to lead solutions and transform systems that affect them.
- Storytelling-Centered Advocacy for Cultural Changemethodology: storytelling-for-advocacyBy using personal narratives, public panels, and exhibitions to center the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, the organization drives empathy, shifts public attitudes, and influences policy, because humanized stories are more effective than data alone in catalyzing cultural and systemic change.