Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: The Partnership for a New American Economy Action Fund
Amount: Updated to $200,000 in 2021 — originally approved as $100,000 in 2020
What is the New American Economy Action Fund?
New American Economy Action Fund (NAE) is a bipartisan research and advocacy organization founded in 2010 to educate, empower, and support business leaders, policymakers, and citizens across the country who see the economic and social benefits of immigration. Since their founding, they have built a network of business, civic, and cultural leaders spanning both sides of the political aisle and active across all 50 states.
Their current work focuses on creating better immigration policies, changing the narrative of immigrants in the United States throughout all types of communities, and leveraging their bipartisan network to decrease polarization.
NOTE: As of January 2022, this organization has merged with the American Immigration Council. It no longer exists as a separate legal entity.
Why do we think this organization is important?
Democracy Fund Voice supports NAE’s efforts to empower local leaders to promote pluralism and overcome polarization to find solutions that benefit their communities. As polarization has dramatically increased in the United States, the broad issue of immigration has been used as a tool to further divide Americans. NAE’s work is centered around more than just changing immigration policy; they foster tough conversations among people of all ideologies around identity and values. Their approach creates a space among conservatives for dialogue around immigration as well as the values of diversity, inclusion, equity, and pluralism.
In addition to the national conversation, NAE works with local leaders to collaborate and make progress on issues that national policymakers are unable to. These initiatives fight polarization by uniting communities around tough issues like immigration, and NAE provides guidance through customized research, storytelling, coalition-building, and technical assistance in dozens of communities across the country.
How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the New American Economy Action Fund?
In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $100,000 to the New American Economy Action Fund. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $100,000 for a total of $200,000.