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Sponsored by: Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
Updated: September 23, 2019 2019 Giving Guide

Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

2020 Goals

In 2020, ILAP’s main priority will be providing high-quality immigration legal guidance and representation to 3,000 Mainers and their families at a time when cases are more complex and challenging to resolve. In addition, we plan to:

1. Provide more asylum legal assistance to the growing number of individuals with asylum cases in immigration court, including those who arrived in Maine in large numbers over the summer;

2. Continue to expand services at our Lewiston office, which we opened in 2018 to provide more robust supports in the Lewiston/Auburn area;

3. Make our “Rural Maine Project,” which we piloted in 2018, permanent to bring ILAP’s services closer to where the state’s rural immigrant communities live, work and study; and

4. Respond to unjust laws and policies at the local, state and federal levels as they arise and scale up related outreach and advocacy as needed.

Fundraising events/Opportunities

ILAP is proud to host our signature fundraising event – CeleSoirée – each year in March. We gather hundreds of supporters for an unforgettable evening that has been dubbed “Portland’s Best Fundraiser,” featuring a buffet catered by local immigrant-owned restaurants and a performance that highlights diverse cultural traditions.

Corporate sponsorship is critical to the success of this event, and businesses have the opportunity to show their support for immigration legal services in Maine and receive recognition for their generous partnership. Donors may purchase tickets for themselves or members of Maine’s immigrant communities.

Giving Opportunities

Because ILAP is ineligible for federal funding, we rely on the support of our community to advance our mission and work. You can:

  • Join ILAP in welcoming our immigrant neighbors and strengthening Maine communities with an unrestricted gift to the Annual Fund. Contributions can be made by check, online or over the phone throughout the year.
  • Start an easy monthly gift to ILAP and become an Advocate for Justice. Your sustained commitment bolsters due process, access to justice and civil rights protections for immigrants in Maine, and helps us respond nimbly to emerging immigration legal needs as they arise.
  • Contribute $300 or more in a calendar year to become a member of the India Street Society, an informal association of individuals and families who provide crucial financial leadership in helping ILAP sustain and enhance its mission.
  • Make a lasting and permanent impact on social justice in Maine and create a smart financial plan through a planned gift to ILAP’s Emma Lazarus Legacy Society. We accept a range of gifts from securities to bequests.

Businesses, groups and individuals looking to provide a more robust level of support can fundraise on behalf of ILAP’s mission by hosting a house party, planning a benefit event, or launching a personal campaign. Please visit ilapmaine.org/donate for a full list of giving opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers support all aspects of ILAP’s work through their dedication and commitment to our mission. We are actively recruiting volunteer attorneys to our Pro Bono Panel to provide life-saving representation to individuals seeking asylum. We are also looking for individuals who are fluent in English and another language to assist with interpretation and translation. Find out more at ilapmaine.org/volunteer.

Leadership

Susan Roche, Esq.: Executive Director
Leslie Silverstein, Esq.: Board President, Partner, Maine Immigration Attorneys

Board officers

Gloria Aponte Clark: Board Vice President; Senior Program Officer, Maine Community Foundation

Amy Donahoe Bruning: Board Treasurer; Consultant

Alicia Curtis, Esq.: Board Secretary; Attorney, Berman & Simmons


Board Members

Eben Albert-Knopp, Esq.: Shareholder, Bernstein Shur

Thomas Douglas, Esq.: Attorney, Douglas, McDaniel & Campo

Kenneth Farber, Esq.: Senior Counsel, Avangrid

Lindsay Kay: Manager - Research & Grant Accounting, Maine Medical Center

Anne Kemper: Retired, Lewiston Adult Education

Rebecca Gray Klotzle, Esq.: Attorney, Curtis Thaxter

Peter Landis, Esq.: Attorney, Landis, Arn & Jaynes

Robyn March, Esq.: Attorney, Law Office of Robyn G. March

Diane Mutagoma: Receptionist & Administrative Coordinator, CIEE

Priya Natarajan: Math Teacher, Portland Public Schools

Adele Ngoy: President & Founder, Women United Around the World

Shafaat Qazi: Head of Engineering, Lateral Flow, Abbott

Blanca Santiago: Multilingual & Multicultural Center Social Worker, Portland Public Schools

Lisa Scali: Director of Sales & Marketing, Ocean’s Balance

Ron Stegall: Retired

Caroline Teschke, M.D.: Retired, Portland Community Free Clinic

At a glance

Established: 1993
Employees: 14.7 FTE
Annual revenue: $1,339,184

Top funding sources

Foundations: 45%
Private donors: 40%
State funds: 10%
Special events: 5%

Contact

P.O. Box 17917
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 780-1593

www.ilapmaine.org
www.facebook.com/ILAPMaine
www.twitter.com/ilapmaine

Awards/Accolades

Department of Justice Recognized Organization

GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

Maine Liaison to the American Immigration Lawyers Association

Maine Women’s Fund 2019 Leadership Award

Mission Statement

ILAP helps low-income immigrants improve their legal status and works for more just and humane laws and policies affecting immigrants. We assist 3,000 Mainers annually as they navigate an immigration system under attack to find safety from violence and persecution, reunite or remain with family members, and advance towards economic security.

Service Location

Maine, state-wide