Welcome Corps

Welcome Corps Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) commit to fundraising $2,375 per newcomer they wish to sponsor. Before application approval, PSGs must show that they have raised at least 60% of the required funds, with a commitment to raise the remainder by the time of newcomer arrival.

These funds will be used for the first three months of resettlement expenses, including rent, utilities, food, clothing, and other necessary items. Depending on the cost of living in the PSG’s area, additional funds may need to be raised beyond the $2,375/person minimum. Refer to the Welcome Corps Fundraising Guide for tips on raising the required amount for sponsorship.

Sponsors will not be responsible for booking or paying for newcomer travel. All travel will be coordinated through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and paid for via an interest-free travel loan issued to beneficiaries.

During Phase 1 of Welcome Corps, Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) will be matched with refugees already in the US resettlement pipeline. PSGs are not able to refer individuals for sponsorship during this phase. Instead, PSGs will complete a survey that will be used to match them with newcomers. The Welcome Corps matching process considers housing capacity, community resources, job availability, and other factors in determining which locations will be most suitable for a newcomer individual or family.

CWS Private Sponsor Groups commit to providing resettlement tasks to support newcomers for at least the initial 90 days. These tasks include airport pickup; finding and furnishing housing; connection to healthcare, employment, and English language services; help with completing necessary paperwork; and others. A complete list of PSG tasks can be found here.

For groups under the CWS Private Sponsorship Organization umbrella, CWS staff will provide remote technical assistance and support to PSGs for the service delivery period to ensure that groups are prepared for resettlement tasks.

Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) agree to support newcomers for at least 90 days after they arrive in the US. This period includes the bulk of service delivery and the majority of “checklist” items—completing forms, enrolling in school, finding jobs, and so on.

However, because 90 days is a very brief timeframe for acclimation to the United States, many newcomers still need social integration support for up to a year or more. Though all services are provided with the end goal of newcomer self-sufficiency, sponsors should be prepared to assist with more complicated aspects of life in the US, such as navigating the healthcare system or renewing public benefits, as needed for this longer duration. CWS staff work with PSGs to create a self-sufficiency plan that can guide service delivery even after hands-on staff support ends.