Immigrant Family Emergency Response (IFER) Fund

A pooled fund providing direct financial assistance to immigrant families during times of crisis, including hardship due to immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant policies.

Geographic Scope: St. Louis region and surrounding counties (10 counties across Missouri and Illinois)

Focus Areas:

• Direct cash assistance to immigrant families
• Emergency financial support during crises
• Support for families facing economic hardship due to immigration enforcement
• Pandemic-related hardship (original focus in 2020)
• Current focus: heightened immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant policies

Eligibility: Immigrant families in the St. Louis region and surrounding areas facing financial hardship

Background:

• Launched in 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic
• Evolved in 2025 to address increased financial toll of heightened immigration enforcement
• Led by the Immigrant Service Provider Network (ISPN) with local partners
• Ashrei Foundation serves as lead partner organization
• 2025 Goal: $1,000,000 in direct support
• All donations go directly to families; no administrative overhead

2025 Round 1 Distribution Results:

• $100,000 distributed to 200 families
• 996 applications received in March 2025 in just two weeks
• Applications received in 6 languages (50%+ Spanish, 44% English; additional needs: Farsi, Pashto, Kinyarwanda, Dari)
• Geographic reach: 10 counties in Missouri and Illinois, 91 unique zip codes
• 89% of applicants reported current financial hardship due to immigration enforcement
• 40 volunteers across 19 delivery teams coordinated in-person cash delivery

What They Fund: Direct financial assistance/cash to families

Contact Information:

• Housed at: YouthBridge Community Foundation
• YouthBridge phone: 314-985-6778
• YouthBridge website: www.youthbridge.org
• Ashrei Foundation main: 314-252-0717
• Email: info@ashreifoundation.org
• ISPN updates: www.ispnstl.org

How to Apply

Application Process:

1. Submit application through official channels (application portal specifics vary by round)
2. Applications accepted in multiple languages

2025 Round 1 Details (reference for process):

• Application period: Opened March 2025
• Received overwhelming response: 996 applications in 2 weeks
• In-person cash delivery conducted by volunteer teams

How to Contribute:

Check:

• Payable to: YouthBridge Community Foundation
• Memo line: "IFER Fund"
• Mail to: YouthBridge Community Foundation, 12977 North Forty Drive, Suite 368, St. Louis, MO 63141

Credit or Debit Card:

• Visit: www.youthbridge.org
• Access secure online donation form
• Note: ~3% processing fee will be deducted by processor

Other Asset Transfers:

• Contact YouthBridge at 314-985-6778 before initiating
• Provide: fund designation (IFER Fund), description of securities, name of financial institution

Get Involved:

• Volunteer: Email info@ashreifoundation.org for upcoming training opportunities
• Donate: Contribute directly
• Stay Informed: Visit www.ispnstl.org for updates and FAQs