Your story matters
A guide to supporting sponsorship
Across the country, private sponsorship has transformed communities, creating lasting bonds that benefit both Americans and the newcomers they’ve welcomed. The work of welcoming can take many forms, and every conversation, social media post, and story you share can make a difference.
Whether you have five minutes or five hours, this guide will help you find meaningful ways to share your support for sponsorship programs. We developed this resource with you in mind because whether you are a sponsor or a Welcomer, you have a story and your story matters.
How to support sponsorship
Have 5 minutes?
Spread the word
Follow Welcome.US on social media—and if you're moved by a particular story, share it! Sharing stories of sponsorship can help educate others about the impact of private sponsorship. Join our online community:
Donate
Donate to support hundreds of community organizations and thousands of sponsors and the newcomers they have welcomed. Your donation will help us continue to provide sponsors with key resources and newcomers with essential needs.
Have 10 minutes?
Contact your representative
Your elected officials represent their constituents on issues related to sponsorship, humanitarian parole, and refugee resettlement programs. We have created a guide to help you express your support for these individuals and the legal programs through which they arrived.
The goal of this outreach is for your representative to know that one of their constituents cares enough about private sponsorship programs and the individuals who have benefited from them to contact them and to influence the future directions of these policies.
Inform your donors
If you raised funds to support your sponsor journey, reach out to your donor base to inform them of recent policy changes and how they can help. Consider sharing our stories of welcome and other resources, including policy updates for humanitarian parole or private refugee sponsorship and frequently asked questions about sponsorship.
Have 15 minutes or more?
Engage your community
Who would you consider to be part of your community? Whether you’re involved in a place of worship, civic club, alumni group, business association, or another like-minded community, consider requesting time or space to share your story of welcoming newcomers. You can use these talking points to get started, and incorporate your personal story to share in a newsletter article or during a potluck meal, club meeting, or prayer gathering.
Connect with our storytelling team
If you are a sponsor and want to share your story publicly, connect with our storytelling team at [email protected]. We offer a 15-minute consultation and resources to help you draft and share your story—whether it's support using our letter to the editor template, local media engagement, or other outreach opportunities. Please note that Welcome.US does not have access to specific case information or the ability to answer case questions.
Tips for storytelling
Identify key themes
What about your experience was most meaningful or transformative?
Message with clarity and urgency
Write or speak in a way that is easy to understand, conveys the significance of your work, and connects with your audience emotionally.
Strike the right tone
Authenticity makes your story more relatable and impactful, so share both the joys and challenges of sponsorship. Make it personal, and let the individuality of your experience shine.
Keep it concise
Be conscious of attention spans and avoid complicated terminology. Use direct language your audience will remember.
Respect privacy
Be mindful of how you share the personal details of the newcomers you’ve sponsored. There are many ways you can communicate your message without revealing personal information about your newcomers. This could mean letting a journalist know before the interview begins that certain topics or information are off limits.
Make it impactful
The most compelling stories start with explaining the problem you’re working to address and how it personally impacts you, providing enough context to understand without overwhelming the reader. Finally, include specific examples to show impact and lay out a call-to-action, or what you want readers to do.
See the value in your story
Even if you don’t have direct sponsorship experience, your story matters!
Here are just a few Welcomer inspirations from across the country that make the connection to their “why”:
Keeping America's promise
Veterans who are eager to keep America’s promise to our Afghan allies
JOIN OUR WELCOMING COMMUNITY
Sign up for updates about Welcome.US, policy changes impacting newcomers and how you can get involved.
