In November 2025, the Foundation contributed £150,000 over three years towards the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) for their advocacy, communication and campaign programmes. JCWI challenges injustice and campaigns in the UK for fairer immigration, asylum, and nationality laws. They provide legal advice and holistic support; develop policy alternatives based on casework insights; and seek to shift migration conversations in the media.
We committed to this grant because of the organisation’s demonstrable record of changemaking to date. It was also clear to us that JCWI is a key organisation in the migration ecosystem, playing a leading role in networks and coalition for the sector and other stakeholders. They coordinate the Migration Coalition of 180 civil society organisations, and the Migrant Champions Network, connecting 350+ councillors across all major parties. In this way they lay the groundwork for national change and help to disrupt harmful and polarising narratives around migration.
On their experience of applying to us, Rose Bernstein, Head of Grants and Fundraising at JCWI, said: “Applying to John Ellerman Foundation was brilliant. There was a clear process, and they were available to answer questions throughout. The initial conversation and advice was really helpful in steering the application, and then the two-stage process allowed us to give a clear overview of our organisation and the work we do, so that we felt like we’d given an honest picture and done ourselves justice. Ellerman are now funding our most crucial work – the fight for the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants has never been more critical than it is in the current environment, and a multiyear grant like this ensures we can be committed to it for the long term.”
