Funding and Operations of Religious NGOs

Religious non-profit organizations involved in immigration work, such as Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services, receive the majority of their funding from federal grants and contracts, using taxpayer money. In 2018 alone, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops received $48 million for refugee resettlement, while World Relief received $215 million. These NGOs partner with the government to distribute funds to smaller organizations that assist immigrants across the country. The extent of their funding and operations is difficult to track, with contracts being more challenging to monitor than grants. Overall, these religious NGOs play a significant role in administering assistance to both legal and illegal immigrants.