SV2 advanced more good through our Fall 2025 Advancing Immigrant Equity Grant Round.
Multicultural Institute and Oasis Legal Services are our new outstanding Grantee Partners! Each organization will get an unrestricted grant of $90,000 (given over three years), beyond-the-dollars support, and collaborative partnership from SV2. 28 SV2 Donor Partners and 1 Grantee Partner (Dr. Kelly Delaney with Ayudando Latinos A Soñar), and staff participated in our Grant Round.
A big shoutout to SV2 Partners Anne Abreu and Praneetha Manthravadi for their dedicated, humble, innovative, and persistent leadership of this Grant Round! We’re so grateful for all they did and the many ways they enabled a deep, robust, and inspiring learning process.
Multicultural Institute (MI): Mission: “To be a stepping stone that helps society transition immigrants from poverty and isolation to prosperity and participation.” Multicultural Institute does this through cultural enrichment, workforce development, job placement assistance, community workshops (e.g., life skills and financial stability), advocacy, and leadership development.
“Multicultural Institute helps us with documents in English or Spanish, they help us find jobs, support us with food, and assist with medical needs. They will surely help you, as they have helped many, not just me.” – Senior NFO Day Laborer
Mirna Cervantes, Executive Director, has an inspiring journey and accomplishments. Mirna first joined Multicultural Institute as a volunteer in the after-school program. Her vision and leadership expanded MI into a community center model. With Mirna’s leadership and the Multicultural Institute’s impact, MI got Nonprofit of the Year recognition for Assembly District 14 in 2023. Mirna’s skills include communication, development, team building, fundraising, and community service.
Oasis Legal Services: Mission: “To empower LGBTQ+ immigrants who have survived violence and persecution due to their sexuality, gender identity, and/or HIV status by increasing access to quality, culturally responsive legal representation and social services.” Oasis Legal Services does this through free or low-cost immigration legal services (e.g., affirmative asylum; residency/green cards, naturalization, family petitions), Violence Against Women Act protection (VAWA), wraparound social-services navigation (e.g., housing, employment, healthcare), training and capacity-building for mental-health providers and legal advocates, as well as an online legal resource portal.
“After receiving the first interview notice from USCIS, I felt completely supported and well represented by Oasis…their help, empathy, and mutual trust ultimately played a decisive role in the success of my case. I hope that, like me, many members of our community will benefit from the great opportunity that Oasis offers us to achieve our goal of obtaining citizenship in this great country.” – Jorge, former client
Adam Chang, Executive Director, has an impressive background and accomplishments. Adam is Second Generation: Asian, gay, positive, and a parent. Adam co-authored a children’s book: Miri’s Moving Day. Before Oasis, Adam held various positions, such as Resource Parent Training Facilitator at the County of San Mateo and Executive Director at Adolescent Health Working Group. Adam’s expertise also includes community outreach, project management, and youth curriculum development.
The Grant Round was an impactful learning experience for many of our Donor Partners.
Upon reflection on the experience, Steve Mazer, SV2 Partner and Grant Round Research Team member, shared:
“The extent of the need that’s out there was not necessarily a surprise, but was still an overwhelming realization. We had just one specific topic and very well-defined limiting criteria based on org size, location, etc. And yet we had around 60 organizations doing amazing work that would have been worthy of funding. If we had a billion dollars to give away, it wouldn’t be enough. It was humbling.”
We’re grateful to learn about so many inspiring and insightful examples of immigrant equity and look forward to continuing our changemaking as the SV2 community!