Veteran Sponsor Fund
Welcome.US Veteran Sponsor Fund
Welcome.US will award up to $14,550 in funding to eligible veteran/active duty sponsor groups submitting a Welcome Corps application to sponsor Afghan refugees they know. Funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from Nov. 13 through Dec. 10, 2024.
How it works
The Welcome Corps program requires sponsor groups to raise $2,425 per refugee by the time they arrive in the United States to ensure basic financial support for their initial months of resettlement. To submit a Welcome Corps application, sponsors must prove they have already raised 60% of this amount ($1,455 per refugee).
The Welcome.US Veteran Sponsor Fund is designed to provide veteran sponsor groups with 60% of the required funding to ensure a timely Welcome Corps application submission and a foundation of financial support for the arriving refugees. These funds will support the efforts of veteran sponsor groups in aiding Afghan allies during their initial months in the U.S., including helping to cover housing and basic needs.
Sponsor groups approved for this Welcome.US funding will receive a certificate of funding letter from Welcome.US to submit alongside their Welcome Corps application. Funds will be disbursed once sponsor groups raise the remaining funds, and have received notification that the Department of Homeland Security has approved refugees and are ready for travel.
Sponsor groups that are sponsoring refugees they don’t know may qualify for the Welcome Corps Sponsor Fund, managed by the Community Sponsorship Hub. Read more info here.
Applications for non-veteran/active duty sponsor groups will not be considered through this funding program.
Veteran Sponsor Fund application details
Applicants for the Veteran Sponsor Fund must include the following:
- Welcome Corps Sponsor Group: The applicant must indicate that they are a member of a Welcome Corps sponsor group sponsoring Afghan refugees. Learn more about how to form a group here. To qualify for this Welcome.US funding opportunity, at least one member of the sponsor group must be a U.S. veteran or active duty military member, and the group must be applying to sponsor Afghan refugees.
- Background Check: The applicant must include a copy of their Sterling Volunteer background check as part of the application process. This is the same Sterling background check applicants are required to complete for the Welcome Corps.
- GoFundMe Link: The applicant is required to share a link to their fundraising page on the GoFundMe platform as that is how awarded funds will be disbursed. The applicant must have the GoFundMe page linked to a bank account in the applicant’s name.
Funding dispersal
In order to qualify for a Veteran Sponsor Fund contribution, sponsor groups must submit their Welcome Corps application by Jan. 2, 2025. If an exemption form is needed, it should be submitted and approved by this date. If the exemption is not granted by this date, we will consider possible extensions or exceptions.
If refugees do not have a UNHCR card and require an exemption before completing the Welcome Corps application, your group will need to submit an exemption request. To initiate this process, the Private Sponsor Group coordinator should start the Welcome Corps application and follow the exemption instructions provided on this website. Once approved, the exemption form must be uploaded to the Welcome Corps application and submitted by Jan. 2.
Funds will be disbursed to the sponsor group’s GoFundMe account when the following conditions are met:
- Raise remaining funds: Sponsor groups must raise the remaining funds needed for sponsorship.
- Travel notification: Funds will be deposited after the sponsor group receives and forwards to Welcome.US notice that the refugee or refugee family is approved by the Department of Homeland Security and ready for travel. Forwarding instructions will be included when notified of the funding award.
- Note: If over 6 months pass between the funding application submission and receiving travel authorization, the primary applicant will need to submit a new background check in order to receive funds.
For inquiries or assistance, please contact [email protected].
