Faith, Veteran, and Service Organizations Join Welcome.US to Mobilize Americans to Serve as Citizen Guides

Veterans groups, faith communities, and civic organizations unite on Citizenship Day to help aspiring Americans prepare for U.S. citizenship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Welcome.US, a nonpartisan national initiative that mobilizes American volunteers to help welcome immigrant neighbors in their new communities, officially launched its Citizen Guide program alongside a cross-sector coalition of faith, service, and veteran groups. Rooted in a call to community service and civic engagement for our nation’s 250th anniversary, Citizen Guides are trained volunteers matched one-on-one with eligible lawful permanent residents preparing for American citizenship.

Rotary International, The National Association of Evangelicals, GoFundMe.org, GivingTuesday, Blue Star Families, Braver Angels, No One Left Behind, Combined Arms, Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network, Church World Service, World Relief, Be The People, and More Perfect will help recruit volunteers, bringing the Citizen Guide opportunity to their communities in ways aligned with their missions–through employee volunteer programs, civic education and engagement initiatives, and outreach to members, veterans, military families, and congregations. Together, these organizations represent millions of Americans in all 50 states, inspired to assist aspiring Americans on the final leg of their journey to becoming American citizens.

Over the next three years, nearly 13 million immigrants are or will be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. The process is complex and difficult to navigate without personal support. The citizenship interview itself–a test of English language proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history, culture, and civics–can be among the most intimidating steps. The naturalization process is rigorous, and personalized preparation remains out of reach for many aspiring citizens.

“Choosing U.S. citizenship is one of the most consequential commitments a person can make to this country, and helping someone prepare for that commitment is a profoundly American act,” said Nazanin Ash, CEO of Welcome.US. “Partners are joining for reasons rooted in their own values. Civic and service organizations know that participation and personal connection make communities stronger. Veterans are committed to service and recognize the dedication of noncitizen service members who have defended this country. Faith communities are called to welcome the stranger and love their neighbors. Businesses recognize the contributions of people who work, build, and put down roots. And Citizen Guides themselves embody the idea that citizenship is not just something we possess, it is something we practice. What we share in common are love of country, its founding ideals, and its promise to new generations of Americans. We are honored and deeply proud to partner with organizations from every corner of American life to give Americans across the country a way to put those values into action–and help aspiring citizens write their own American story.”

Rotary International is collaborating with Welcome.US in this initiative, building on its longstanding commitment to service and strong communities. “Rotary has always believed that strong communities are built on welcoming and supporting newcomers, values my family has experienced firsthand when my parents came to this country as Ukrainian refugees,” said John Hewko, General Secretary of Rotary International. “Helping a neighbor under these circumstances is exactly the kind of meaningful, personal service that defines what it means to be a Rotarian. This new initiative is simple, practical, and relational—qualities research shows make Americans most likely to volunteer—so anyone with time and a willingness to show up can make a difference.”

“For evangelicals, welcoming the stranger is not just an idea. It is a biblical calling of hospitality and a reflection of how God has welcomed us. Citizen Guides create opportunities for ordinary Americans to come alongside their immigrant neighbors with encouragement, friendship and practical support,” said Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. “This is what people of faith are good at doing: building relationships, walking alongside others, and helping them thrive. These neighbors have an extraordinary loyalty to and affection for our nation and have followed the rules leading to their pursuit of citizenship. We believe many evangelicals will embrace this opportunity to put their faith into action.”

“Welcoming newcomers is both an act of kindness and a deeply American tradition,” said Margaret Richardson, Chair of the Board of GoFundMe.org. “Since 2021, GoFundMe.org has been proud to serve as a charitable partner to Welcome.US, hosting several funds that support newcomers and their sponsors in communities across the country. We are pleased to play a role in this next chapter of Welcome.US’s work helping lawful permanent residents prepare for citizenship.”

"More than 700,000 veterans are immigrants themselves, and all four of my grandparents immigrated to the United States, so this is personal for me,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Blue Star Families is honored to join Welcome.US as a national launch partner for the Citizenship Initiative, especially given its dedicated support for veterans, service members, and military families pursuing naturalization. We are a nation made great by immigrants."

“Reds and Blues in Braver Angels' Common Ground Workshops on Immigration are finding broad agreement that immigrants following the legal process of becoming a U.S. citizen should have the opportunity to learn English and understand America’s history, government, and civic traditions,” said Sam Rechek, Braver Angels Director of Strategic Partnerships. “Braver Angels is glad to encourage courageous citizens everywhere to consider volunteering as a Citizen Guide. It’s a positive and practical way for Americans who love their country to contribute constructively and to help an aspiring citizen take an important step toward becoming an American.”

"Our Afghan and Iraqi allies risked everything alongside American troops, and thousands of them are now green card holders preparing for the citizenship interview," said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind and a U.S. Army veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. "Getting them to safety was the first mission; citizenship completes it. No One Left Behind is joining Citizen Guides because veterans do not leave their people behind."

"The United States asked these men and women to serve before it made them citizens, and 115,000 of them served honorably without ever finishing the process. Combined Arms and Welcome.US are closing that gap," said Combined Arms CEO and Army veteran Mike Hutchings. "This is civic after service: for some veterans, the next chapter is becoming a citizen. For others, it is sitting down with a fellow veteran or an aspiring American and helping them get there. Both are service.” Together, Combined Arms and Welcome.US will use Combined Arms’ technology platform and veteran network to connect military-connected green card holders—including veterans, active-duty service members, and military spouses—with citizenship resources and Citizen Guides, while recruiting veterans to serve as volunteer mentors.

“Foreign-born military spouses cross borders to stand beside the uniform, often navigating military life, a new culture, and the path to citizenship all at once,” said Lydiah Owiti-Otienoh, Founder and CEO of the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network. “Joining the Citizen Guides initiative allows us to connect more military spouses with the practical guidance, personal encouragement, and community they need to move from uncertainty to confidence. When foreign-born spouses can thrive and participate fully in American life, their families, the military community, and our country are stronger.”

"From the very beginning, the story of our nation has been one of newcomers finding home and building community together. By pairing trained volunteers with lawful permanent residents on their path to citizenship, Welcome.US's Citizen Guide honors this history and the values this country was built on,” said Rick Santos, President and CEO of Church World Service. “At a moment when so many of our immigrant neighbors feel abandoned, this initiative is a tangible statement of welcome, providing important support and reestablishing a sense of unity."

"As Christians, we believe we are called to welcome the stranger, and as Americans, we embrace the privilege of walking alongside our newest neighbors as they get to journey through the citizenship process," commented Myal Greene, President and CEO of World Relief, a refugee resettlement agency and Christian humanitarian organization. "We're grateful to partner with Welcome.US to implement the Citizen Guide programming and witness firsthand the transformative relationships that come out of supporting a new American during such a crucial season."

“Be The People is proud to partner on this important initiative,” said Brian Hooks, a founding co-chair of Be The People’s National Leadership Council. He added, “By giving Americans the opportunity to support those who have come here to build a better life for themselves and their families, they’re bringing out the best in our country – showing that as Americans, we succeed by helping others succeed.”

"Since the founding of the United States, newcomers have enriched our democracy and helped create a more perfect union," said John Bridgeland, Founder & CEO of More Perfect. "We are thrilled to join with Welcome.US to support their Citizen Guide campaign, given their track record of helping to mobilize 2 million Americans across 26,000 zip codes to sponsor and support refugees and newcomers. Together, we can offer Americans a new way to serve -- by helping aspiring citizens take the final steps toward full participation in our democracy.”

After completing orientation and training, Citizen Guide volunteers are matched with an aspiring citizen for a structured series of at least 10 virtual sessions. For about an hour a week, they serve as an English Conversation Partner, Citizenship Test Prep Tutor, and/or Citizenship Interview Prep Mentor—practicing English, studying civics, preparing for the naturalization interview, and providing the steady encouragement that can make a complex process feel possible.

The initiative is also supported by foundation and private-sector partners whose investments are helping Welcome.US build the tools, training, and outreach needed to bring Citizen Guides to communities nationwide.

To volunteer as a Citizen Guide or seek support as a green card holder, visit welcome.us/citizenship.

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit rotary.org.

About the National Association of Evangelicals

Founded in 1942, the National Association of Evangelicals includes 40 denominations and thousands of churches, schools and nonprofits, and serves a constituency of millions. The NAE provides resources, connection and influence to help evangelicals foster thriving communities and navigate complexity with biblical clarity. For more information about the NAE, visit NAE.org.

About GoFundMe.org

A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, GoFundMe.org launched in 2017 with a mission to quickly mobilize and distribute donations for individuals and communities impacted by crises, natural disasters, and social inequalities. Since then, GoFundMe.org has worked with partners and organizations to raise nearly $190 million for more than 250 programs, delivering over 55,000 grants to people with urgent needs, and organizations and programs driving critical social change. GoFundMe, Inc. supports GoFundMe.org by sharing resources, funds, tools, and employees so that GoFundMe.org can raise and distribute cash grants for individuals and nonprofits in a low-cost and effective manner.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest military and veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. A “blue star family” is the family of a currently serving military member, including active duty, National Guard, reserve forces, and those transitioning out of service. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $336 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually through an expansive network of chapters and outposts.

About Braver Angels

At Braver Angels, we envision an America where Courageous Citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic culture and building trust across political differences. We inspire and equip Americans to practice Courageous Citizenship across these differences through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action. Join the movement and build with Braver Angels, America's largest cross-partisan, grassroots organization renewing our civic culture and strengthening our democratic republic. Learn more at BraverAngels.org.

About No One Left Behind

No One Left Behind is the nation's oldest charitable organization dedicated to America's wartime allies, the interpreters and U.S. government employees from Afghanistan and Iraq eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa program. Founded in 2013 by Janis Shinwari, an Afghan interpreter who saved the lives of five American soldiers in combat, No One Left Behind helps allies reach safety, resettle in communities across the United States, and build new lives as Americans, and advocates on their behalf before Congress and the White House. Learn more at nooneleft.org.

About Combined Arms

Combined Arms is the nation's most effective closed-loop referral network for veterans, service members, and military families. Using our technology platform, we link the military community with hundreds of vetted organizations. Operating in all states and U.S. territories, we ensure quick access to the right resources. As a nonprofit founded and led by veterans, this mission is not only our work, it is our calling. Learn more at combinedarms.us.

About the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network

The Foreign-Born Military Spouse Network (FMSN) is a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering foreign-born spouses of U.S. service members and veterans to belong, thrive, and strengthen the military mission. FMSN connects military spouses from more than 100 countries with resources, transition education, career and credential support, immigration navigation, and culturally informed community support—helping military families navigate the unique challenges of building a life in the United States while supporting their service member. Learn more at fbmnetwork.com.

About Church World Service

Church World Service is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. We believe every family has the right to live in safety and dignity. Whether through the U.S. asylum system or refugee resettlement program here at home, or by aiding communities overseas, we help the vulnerable build lives free from fear. Learn more at cwsglobal.org.

About World Relief

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the displacement crisis in war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across more than 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish. Since the 1970s, World Relief has partnered with local churches to welcome and serve hundreds of thousands of refugees and other immigrants throughout the United States. To learn more, visit worldrelief.org.

About Be The People

Be The People puts a name to a nationwide movement to reignite the American spirit and help ensure the next 250 years are even better than the last by helping Americans do what they do best – roll up their sleeves and solve problems in their communities. Supported by a broad coalition of organizations, businesses, philanthropies, artists, athletes, and faith and cultural leaders, Be The People is bringing together thousands of proven, community-led solutions into a shared problem-solving platform that shows Americans how to contribute and make a difference where they live. Sign up, share your story, find your role at BeThePeople.org and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

About More Perfect

More Perfect is an American alliance of 44 Presidential Centers, National Archives Foundation, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, and more than 100 organizations working together to advance five foundational Democracy Goals: 1) Universal Civic Learning; 2) Expanding National Service & Volunteering; 3) Bridging Divides & Building Trust; 4) Trusted Elections & More Representative and Responsive Governance; and 5) Access to Trusted News & Information.