How Current Political Climate Has Affected Funding for Oasis

Oasis Receives Donation from International Court System

The demand for LGBTQ+ immigration services in California remains at an all-time high, yet our ability to meet this growing need is increasingly threatened by funding instability. Unfortunately, the ripple effects of the current administration’s policies have been felt across so many of our foundation partnerships.

This past year alone, multiple funders have reduced their awards or sunset their partnerships with Oasis, (citing a retraction from DEI efforts), requiring us to quickly identify alternative sources of support. Most notably, after nearly five years of partnership, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative informed our Executive Director that they would no longer be funding Oasis, citing a shift away from supporting organizations focused on “social advocacy” and “racial equity,” core pillars of our mission.

These changes come at a time when our services are needed more than ever, especially by queer and trans immigrants facing increased legal and social vulnerability. To navigate these challenges, we’ve worked proactively to secure new funding relationships and expand existing ones. The California Wellness Foundation recently committed multi-year, unrestricted funding, a lifeline that allows us to plan with greater stability. We’ve also received additional support from key institutional partners including ViiV Healthcare and the California Access to Justice, each of whom responded to our funding gaps with increased investment.

While we are grateful for these new and renewed commitments, we cannot predict the volatility and uncertainty of funding for the remainder of the year. As we look ahead, increased and sustained fundraising is essential to ensure we can continue meeting the urgent and growing needs of LGBTQ+ immigrants across California.