Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

What Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island does

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 and headquartered across two Providence campuses (220 and 645 Elmwood Avenue), operating as Rhode Island's largest refugee resettlement organization. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of social services to immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable Rhode Islanders, including Refugee Resettlement (wraparound support for the first 90 days, extendable up to five years), Citizenship & Immigration Legal Services (staffed by accredited representatives and attorneys), English language classes, Employment Services, Translation & Interpretation, the Clothing Collaborative (free professional attire across four locations), Unaccompanied Youth Services, and Education & Training programs (Citizenship Prep, Community Interpreting, Family Literacy, Direct Support Professional Training). The organization serves approximately 6,000 immigrants and refugees annually, supplemented by 400+ volunteers contributing 16,000+ hours per year.

The organization is differentiated operationally by its in-house interpretation and translation capacity, which eliminates vendor dependency and enables service delivery in any client language. Its go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, community partnerships, earned media (Boston Globe, NBC 10, ABC 6, Providence Business News), and active legal advocacy, including participation in federal litigation against USCIS policies affecting nationals of 39 countries. Revenue is generated through federal government grants (approximately half of the $11.5 million annual budget, channeled via the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants as a pass-through), philanthropic donations from individuals and foundations, and modest client fees for legal services. The federal funding stream was partially frozen in 2025, triggering staff reductions from 107 to 72 employees.

Name

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

Legal name

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

Website

https://diiri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 and headquartered in Providence, serving as Rhode Island's largest refugee resettlement organization. It delivers integrated wraparound services including refugee resettlement, immigration legal representation, English classes, employment support, translation, and youth services to approximately 6,000 immigrants and refugees annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Refugee Social Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Diaspora, Family Reunification & Case Management Services (BPADAHAM), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Refugee resettlement services
• English language instruction
• Employment case management
• Translation interpretation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Grants: The largest revenue stream, representing approximately half of the $11.5 million annual budget. Includes the Reception and Placement (R&P) program from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration ($1 million/year) and the Preferred Communities program ($1.5 million/year). Both programs experienced funding pauses/freeze in 2025. Funding flows to Dorcas through a national intermediary, US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).
2. Client Fees for Legal Services: The agency charges some clients a low fee for immigration legal services, including citizenship and green card applications.
3. Philanthropic Donations: Private charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and community members. Following the stop work order, Dorcas raised private funds to support 65 refugees who lost federal assistance. The organization has seen increased community support through donations and volunteerism during challenging periods.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers integrated social services to immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable Rhode Islanders. Its portfolio spans immigration legal representation, refugee resettlement with 90-day wraparound support (extendable up to five years), English language classes, employment case management, in-house translation and interpretation, the Clothing Collaborative for low-income job seekers, and unaccompanied youth services, all delivered across two Providence campuses.

Product overview

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island operates as a single unified non-profit service organization providing integrated social services to immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable Rhode Islanders. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs including Citizenship & Immigration Legal Services, Refugee Resettlement (with 90-day wraparound support extendable to five years), English language classes, Employment Services with resume and job placement assistance, Translation & Interpretation services (with in-house capacity), the Clothing Collaborative (providing professional attire for job seekers), Unaccompanied Youth Services, and various Education & Training programs including Citizenship Prep, Community Interpreting Training, and Family Literacy courses. The organization also partners with the City of Providence on an Immigration Legal Assistance and COVID-19 Recovery Program. Services are delivered across two campuses in Providence, Rhode Island, and serve approximately 6,000 immigrants annually with a staff of approximately 72 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clothing Collaborative: Program providing free work and professional attire for low-income individuals seeking employment, located at 100 Niantic Avenue in Providence with four participating locations.

Products and services

• Citizenship & Immigration Services Immigration legal services for immigrants and refugees, including assistance with green card applications, work permits (employment authorization documents), citizenship/naturalization applications, asylum petitions, status adjustments, and DACA renewals. Staffed by accredited representatives and immigration attorneys.
• Refugee Resettlement Wraparound resettlement support for newly arrived refugees in Rhode Island during their first 90 days in the United States, including housing assistance, furnishings, food, cultural orientation, English classes, school enrollment, employment assistance, and ongoing case management that can extend up to five years based on need.
• English Classes English language learning instruction designed to help immigrants and refugees develop language skills for daily life, employment, civic participation, and integration into the community.
• Employment Services Case management services assisting community members with resume development, job interview preparation, job training referrals, employment searches, and provision of appropriate professional attire for interviews and new positions.
• Translation & Interpretation Services In-house interpretation and translation services enabling assistance to refugees and immigrants across all programs regardless of the language they speak, supporting multilingual capacity across legal, resettlement, education, and case management functions.
• Clothing Collaborative Program providing free work and professional attire for low-income individuals completing job training, education programs, or seeking employment, including seasonal clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene products, available at multiple Rhode Island locations.
• Unaccompanied Youth Services Services for unaccompanied minors separated from families and seeking refuge in the U.S., including home visits, mental health supports, access to support groups, school enrollment assistance, referral to legal services, and support with medical appointments; clients are primarily Hispanic/Latinx youth from El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, and Guatemala.
• Education & Training Educational programming including citizenship preparation courses, community interpreting training, family literacy courses, and direct support professional training, supporting both workforce entry and family integration for immigrant and refugee communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 6,000+ immigrants per year across all programs
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Federal Court Litigation (Multiple Organizational Co-Plaintiffs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026On March 5, 2026, Dorcas International joined a federal court lawsuit alongside seven other organizations challenging new USCIS policies that suspended adjudication of asylum cases and immigration benefits for nationals of 39 countries. The litigation led to a June 5, 2026 victory vacating the policies.
• City of Providence / Mayor ElorzacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDorcas International was chosen by Mayor Elorza and the City of Providence to run the Immigration Legal Assistance and COVID-19 Recovery Program, a municipal initiative combining immigration legal services with COVID-19 recovery support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC): ECDC operates a national network of African refugee resettlement affiliate sites offering Reception & Placement, employment, and case management services. Comparable to Dorcas as a smaller, culturally focused refugee resettlement agency reliant on the same federal funding streams.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): LIRS is a national refugee resettlement and immigration services agency affiliated with Lutheran services, providing direct refugee resettlement, case management, and unaccompanied minor services. Closely comparable to Dorcas's full-service resettlement and legal aid offering.
• Refugee & Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES): RAICES is a Texas-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and education programs to immigrants and refugees. Comparable to Dorcas in integrating legal aid, resettlement, and education under one nonprofit brand, with a similarly advocacy-forward posture.
• HIAS: HIAS is a Jewish-American refugee resettlement agency operating across multiple U.S. states, offering refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and integration support. HIAS is a direct peer in service mix and federal funding model, with the same exposure to PRM-administered programs.
• Church World Service: Church World Service is a national faith-based refugee resettlement agency providing Reception & Placement, case management, and employment services through affiliates. It is directly comparable to Dorcas in terms of federal funding reliance, resettlement programming, and advocacy posture.
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): USCRI is Dorcas International's federal funding intermediary and a peer refugee resettlement agency operating direct service programs in multiple states. The two organizations share PRM funding flows and overlapping service portfolios, with USCRI providing pass-through oversight and accountability to Dorcas's programming.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee: The IRC is one of the largest global refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid organizations, directly comparable to Dorcas International in refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, employment, and education programming — but operates at national and international scale. Like Dorcas, IRC provides Reception & Placement services and wraparound support during the first 90 days.
• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities operates one of the largest U.S. networks of refugee resettlement and immigrant services through diocesan affiliates, offering an overlapping mix of legal, resettlement, education, and case management services. Comparable to Dorcas as a multi-service immigrant services provider, though operating at far greater scale and geographic breadth.

Regional players

• Refugee Services of Texas: Refugee Services of Texas is a large regional refugee resettlement agency providing reception and placement, case management, employment, and English classes across Texas. Comparable to Dorcas in service mix but operates in a different (and much larger) geography.
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Coalition (MIRA): MIRA is a statewide coalition in neighboring Massachusetts providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and advocacy. Most directly comparable peer given proximity to Rhode Island, similar service mix, and shared New England refugee-arrival pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dii_of_ri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYcB0oK8J3r6e5JxT3Hk7cQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/DorcasInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dorcas-international-institute-of-rhode-island
• Instagraminstagram.com/dorcasinternational

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island