SMI - Scholarships for Maine Immigrants

04/28/2026

Thank you for supporting your local immigrant-owned grocery store!

03/27/2026

02/06/2026

https://maineimmigrantrights.org/mirc-resource-hub/

01/30/2026

12/02/2025

This is your chance to stand with New Mainers who are starting over in a new home country.

SMI’s scholarship program offers a financial life-line for our new neighbors. Starting over at any age is full of challenges. Nearly all of SMI’s scholarship recipients fall into the category of non-traditional students – which means they are older, usually in their 20s, 30s or 40s – and chances are they already had a professional career in their home country.

SMI is proud to be one of the pillars supporting New Mainers seeking to reclaim some part of that career they gave up to come here. And we are also proud to pass the hat once again for what is SMI’s 25th year anniversary and invite you to make a gift of scholarships.

After a quarter century, the times have changed dramatically, but we know from our steady stream of applications and requests for support that this work is still fulfilling a vital need. What SMI can do:

· Help fund the translation of transcripts to clear the way for submitting a college application.

· Offer funding for college classes and textbooks.

· Offer financial support for English language programs where New Mainers feel safe attending.

· Help to cover the new $550 fee for a work permit because how do you begin your job hunt if you can’t afford that work permit?

Big Thanks to our steadfast and generous donors who make these scholarships possible and for our hardworking network of community partners. Thank you for considering a gift to SMI’s scholarship program!

Please visit our website’s “Donate to SMI” page, or the link in our Bio for details about tax-deductible donations.