irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $38KRoad to Independence (R2I) Grants. We provide grants directly to individual refugees and refugee families who have been in the U.S. for some time, typically more than one year. Grants (typically up to ~ $1,200) are intended to help a family or individual get over a financial hurdle or get a step up to help them thrive on their path to independence. Generally, recipients are no longer being assisted financially by another organization or agency, and the grants typically help with classes, childcare, training, uniforms, household supplies or medication, school supplies, emergency rent, moving expenses etc. In 2025, we awarded 38 grants.
- #2 $15KFood & Housing Insecurity Grants. We provide grants of $100 to $500 per family or individual that specifically target the food and housing insecurity or our refugee families. Some grants are made directly to refugee families, but the bulk of the grants are given to families that are identified by partner community organizations, who handle the distribution of the funds, and report the amounts and recipient names back to us.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy & Education
Engages in policy advocacy at all government levels; organizes postcard campaigns (e.g., Third Thursdays @ 3) to influence legislation like the GRACE Act and No Ban Act
Business Incubator Program
Supports refugees in launching small businesses through mentoring, business planning, and funding assistance; recent participants include Afghan caterers, a Syrian seamstress, and an Afghan auto repair entrepreneur
Economic Support Committee
Evaluates and responds to requests for emergency food and housing assistance when families lose income or public benefits
Economic Vulnerability Relief Initiative
New 2026 initiative providing financial aid for housing, food, and medical needs when families lose jobs, face detention, or lose access to Medicaid, Medicare, or ACA coverage
Medical Support Committee
Allocates funds for basic healthcare and partners with providers to expand access to preventive and maintenance care for refugee families losing public health benefits
Refugee Resettlement
Co-sponsors refugee families with agencies like HIAS and Catholic Charities; provides furnished housing, rent and living expense support for 12 months, transportation, employment assistance, and ESL during initial resettlement period
Road to Independence Grants
Provides $500–$800 grants (sometimes more) to refugees beyond their first year in the U.S. for expenses like job training, medical bills, education, legal costs, and business investments
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 2 activities
- Fund medical support for refugeesAllocates funds through a Medical Support Committee to cover basic healthcare needs for refugee families, including emergency medical bills and access to care.
- Provide financial assistance to refugee familiesOffers financial support for housing, food, medical needs, transportation, and living expenses through targeted initiatives and emergency relief, including a $200,000 Economic Vulnerability Relief Initiative. Assesses needs through an Economic Support Committee and provides aid to families facing job loss or benefit disruptions.
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Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 2 activities
- Resettle refugee familiesProvides comprehensive resettlement services to newly arrived refugee families during their first 12 months in the U.S., including housing setup, rental support, household furnishings, clothing, and orientation to local communities. Supported nearly 100 families (approximately 350 individuals) since 2017, primarily in Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
- Support refugee economic independence through grantsAwards grants to individual refugees and families to overcome financial hurdles and achieve self-sufficiency. In one year, awarded 38 grants; funding supports housing, employment, education, and other critical needs.
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Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 1 activity
- Advocate for pro-refugee policiesEngages in advocacy by meeting with and writing to elected officials at local, state, and federal levels to influence refugee-related policies. Organizes public advocacy events such as monthly postcard-writing sessions and Zoom discussions to educate communities and correct misconceptions.
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School-Specific Educational Support 1 activity
- Build capacity of youth refugee support groupsSupports student-led initiatives such as the Students For Refugees group at Mamaroneck High School, which engages in tutoring, childcare, fundraising, event planning, and advocacy outreach for refugee families.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Coordinate volunteer teams for refugee supportOrganizes family teams, resource teams, and occasional volunteer teams to provide direct support including apartment setup, transportation, employment searches, ESL tutoring, and social integration. Administrative volunteers support operations such as grant-writing, fundraising, and database management.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Prepare refugee families for emergenciesAssists refugee families in creating emergency preparedness plans, including powers of attorney and guardianship arrangements for minors, to protect against risks of detention or deportation.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Provide legal representation and defense for refugeesProvides legal support including representation for ICE check-ins, visa applications, immigration status amendments, and habeas petitions. Allocates funds for legal defense, partners with law firms for risk assessments, and maintains a secure database of legal documents. Provided legal aid to multiple families, preventing detentions and supporting case preparation.
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Small Business Technical Assistance 1 activity
- Support refugee entrepreneurship and employmentProvides mentoring, business planning assistance, and technical support to help refugee families launch and grow small businesses, including catering, seamstress work, and auto repair. Supported four families in launching businesses in the past year.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$504K
Contributions & grants$499K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$347K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$313K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$403K
Cash$403K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$401K
Liquid reserves13.9 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +61.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 15
- Bob Glass — Director
- Elaine Wanderer — Secretary and Director
- Ellen Dupuy D'Agneac — Director
- Frank Pierson — Treasurer and Director
- Jane Klein — Director
- Jmel Wilson — VP and Director
- Linda Riefberg — Director
- Marc Morgenstern — President and Director
- Matthew Metz — Director
- Michael Reichgott — Past President and Director
- Pam Bolton — Director
- Richard Berry — VP and Director
- Robert Klein — Director
- Ruth Gyure — Director
- Yvette Gorovich — Director
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- #AfghanEvac Partner — Collaborated on advocacy efforts by submitting a joint letter to Congress in support of Afghan allies.
- Anderson’s BookStore Partner — Collaborates on the “Third Thursdays @ 3” postcard-writing advocacy program
- Catholic Charities Partner — Approved partner agency for refugee resettlement
- Catholic Charities Partner — Co-sponsorship partner in refugee resettlement efforts in New York
- Catholic Charities Partner — Partner organization through which newly arrived refugee families are welcomed and supported.
- HIAS Partner — Approved partner agency for refugee resettlement
- HIAS Partner — Co-sponsorship partner in refugee resettlement efforts
- HIAS Partner — Partner organization through which newly arrived refugee families are welcomed and supported.
- ICE Government — Interacts with ICE regarding check-in meetings and enforcement actions involving refugee families.
- ICNAW Partner — Sister organization welcomed by Neighbors for Refugees to support refugee services.
- Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) Partner — Co-sponsorship partner in refugee resettlement efforts in Connecticut
- Lions Clubs Partner — Neighbors seeks support from civic organizations such as Lions Clubs to assist with refugee resettlement efforts.
- Mamaroneck High School Partner — Supports the Students For Refugees student group through collaboration and programmatic engagement
- Rotary Club Partner — Neighbors seeks support from civic organizations such as Rotary Club to assist with refugee resettlement efforts.
- Too Scary; Didn't Watch Partner — Podcast hosts promoted support for Neighbors for Refugees during their December 22 episode, encouraging listeners to contribute.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Government — Engages with USCIS as part of the immigration process for refugee families.
- care providers Partner — Collaborates with care providers planning to expand "open door" medical clinics for refugee clients.
- law firms specializing in immigrant law Partner — Collaborates with specialized law firms to provide legal risk assessments and case preparation support for asylee families.
strategies · 4
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.
- Defend & Thrive Legal Protection Strategymethodology: Defend & ThriveBy proactively prioritizing legal defense and preparing preventive legal actions like habeas corpus petitions, the organization prevents unlawful detention and protects at-risk refugee families from deportation, because early legal intervention significantly increases the likelihood of favorable immigration outcomes.
- Direct Financial Support for Sustained Independencemethodology: direct_cash_assistance_for_independenceBy providing direct cash assistance to refugees who have aged out of initial resettlement programs, the organization enables continued progress toward self-sufficiency, because targeted financial grants bridge critical gaps in access to housing, food, and other essentials when no other support is available.
- Holistic Resettlement for Self-Sufficiencymethodology: comprehensive_first-year_supportBy providing comprehensive first-year support—including housing, education, employment, and cultural navigation—the organization enables long-term integration and self-sufficiency, because coordinated, wraparound services address systemic barriers more effectively than fragmented assistance.
- Refugee Entrepreneurship as Economic Integrationmethodology: refugee_entrepreneurship_supportBy supporting refugee-led business development through mentoring, planning, and funding access, the organization promotes economic self-sufficiency, because entrepreneurship allows refugees to leverage skills, achieve financial independence, and contribute to local economies.