Nashville’s Belonging Fund Expands to Legal Services

A New Chapter for Immigrant Support in Nashville

In May 2025, Nashville launched the Belonging Fund to provide emergency assistance to immigrant families affected by immigration enforcement actions. What began as a way to cover urgent needs such as food, rent, childcare, and transportation has now grown into something bigger. As of August 2025, the fund also supports nonprofits that provide immigration-related legal services and advocacy.

This expansion is a significant step forward. Legal support is often the key factor in whether families are able to remain together and pursue their cases successfully.

Origins of the Belonging Fund

The Belonging Fund was created by city leaders in partnership with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) after an ICE operation deeply affected local immigrant communities. The fund was designed to be privately supported, with donations channeled through CFMT and distributed by trusted local nonprofits such as the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and Conexion Americas.

The original focus was simple: help families stabilize when emergencies hit. Since then, it has provided food assistance, helped with rental payments, and supported families in meeting basic needs.

Why Legal Services Were Added

As the program matured, organizers recognized that short-term aid alone was not enough. Families navigating deportation proceedings or asylum cases need legal representation to have a fair chance. Without an attorney, individuals often miss critical deadlines or fail to provide the necessary documentation for their case.

By directing part of the Belonging Fund toward legal services, Nashville is helping immigrant families move beyond crisis management and toward long-term stability.

Funding and Distribution

To date, the Belonging Fund has raised over $525,000, entirely from private donations. About $98,000 has already been distributed through Conexion Americas, reaching more than 130 immigrant families. The remaining funds—roughly $430,000—are earmarked for expanded support, including legal representation.

Importantly, while the fund was originally focused only on immediate aid, it now creates a pathway for nonprofits to cover the costs of attorneys, advocacy work, and potentially other humanitarian needs in the future.

How Families Can Access Support

The Belonging Fund is not open for direct applications. Instead, families seeking help are encouraged to contact partner nonprofits such as TIRRC or Conexion Americas. These organizations handle the intake process, determine eligibility, and connect families with both emergency and legal services.

The process generally involves:

1. Contacting a partner nonprofit for screening.

2. Nonprofit coordination with CFMT to secure funds.

3. Access to services, whether for rent, food, or now, legal representation.

This structure helps ensure that funds are distributed fairly and efficiently to those in greatest need.

Why It Matters

Expanding the Belonging Fund to include legal services marks a critical shift in how communities can support immigrants. It demonstrates that philanthropy can fill gaps left by public policy and that stable, long-term solutions often depend on legal advocacy as much as basic necessities.

For many immigrant families, this expansion means more than financial relief—it means access to justice.

Conclusion

The Belonging Fund’s evolution from crisis aid to comprehensive support highlights Nashville’s commitment to immigrant families. By pairing emergency relief with legal representation, the fund is giving families not just temporary help, but also the chance to navigate a complex immigration system with dignity and hope.

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