For over a century, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York has proudly served tens of thousands of immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and unaccompanied minors each year. Supporters who include Catholic Charities of New York in their estate plans, through wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, gift annuities, and other planned giving instruments, play a vital role in sustaining this life-changing work.

Why Planned Gifts Matter

• Long-term sustainability: Federal grants and reimbursements, once the foundation of resettlement and legal services, have recently been disrupted. In 2025, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the end of a decades-long partnership with the federal government for refugee resettlement, leading to staff layoffs and program cutbacks. Planned gifts help fill these gaps with dependable, unrestricted support.
• Flexibility and impact: Whether structured as bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, or charitable gift annuities, planned gifts can be directed toward areas of greatest need, from legal defense to housing support and job training, while offering donors estate tax and income advantages.

Programs Supported by Your Legacy

Catholic Charities of New York’s immigration and refugee services go far beyond basic resettlement. Each year, Catholic Charities of New York supports more than 30,000 individuals and families through a comprehensive suite of services:

• Legal and advocacy services: Immigrants and refugees receive pro‑bono legal representation and assistance for citizenship, work authorization, DACA, Temporary Protected Status, asylum, deportation defense, and family reunification, often facilitated through the Catholic Charities Pro Bono Project, which matches trained volunteer attorneys with low-income newcomers in need of high‑quality legal care.
• Refugee resettlement and case management: Through close coordination with USCCB/MRS, Catholic Charities of New York conducts post-arrival orientation, cultural adjustment, housing, employment preparation, and essential services to help refugees gain stability and independence.
• Education and integration: Newcomers benefit from English and citizenship classes, workforce readiness, and protections against wage theft.  Catholic Charities of New York’s hotlines and fraud-prevention initiatives have responded to tens of thousands of requests in over a dozen languages annually.
• Specialized care for minors and survivors: Unaccompanied children or trafficking survivors receive legal representation, mental health referrals via programs like Terra Firma, and guidance through the U.S. court system.

How Planned Giving Makes a Difference

1. Enduring support: Planned gifts, both unrestricted or designated, provide a long-range financial foundation to maintain and grow services, particularly in times when government funding is uncertain.
2. Responsive flexibility: Catholic Charities of New York can direct legacy gifts to high-impact programs (e.g., Pro Bono Project, refugee housing, education) as needs evolve.
3. Meaningful donor legacy: Individuals working with the Planned Giving office can tailor gifts that honor loved ones, reflect personal values, and set a legacy of solidarity with newcomers.
4. Tax-smart philanthropy: Tools such as charitable gift annuities and beneficiary designations allow donors to support Catholic Charities of New York while reducing estate tax liabilities and potentially increasing income during life.

Stories of Hope, Powered by You

Though grants may fluctuate, the generosity of planned givers ensures continuity of care:

• A newly arrived refugee family receives housing, cultural guidance, English instruction, and job placement support, all funded through long-term philanthropic commitments.
• Survivors of trafficking and asylum applicants benefit from case-management, legal advocacy, and therapeutic care under the Pro Bono Project’s umbrella.
• Unaccompanied children receive legal representation in immigration court and access to healing support, services made possible through legacy gifts designated for youth protection.

Plan Today. Impact Tomorrow.

The Planned Giving program at Catholic Charities of New York offers many options, like bequests, trusts, charitable gift annuities, IRA beneficiary designations to align with your life goals. These gifts not only preserve what you care about most, but empower vulnerable newcomers to build safe, hopeful futures in New York.

To learn more:

• Please visit the Planned Giving site at CatholicCharitiesNY.giftplans.org to explore giving options, download resources, and connect with staff.
• Include Immigration & Refugee Services in your legacy so the welcome that has sustained generations of newcomers will continue long into the future.

Catholic Charities of New York’s work in immigration and refugee assistance is built on faith, service, and partnership. Planned gifts ensure that spirit of welcome endures transforming lives today and securing compassionate care for generations to come.