Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education

What Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education does

UURISE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on May 8, 2007, and headquartered in Vista, California, that provides no-cost and low-cost immigration legal services and related social services to immigrants, refugees, and mixed-status families across Southern California. The organization operates three core service lines: Legal Services (immigration legal representation including DACA renewals, naturalization, green card processing, family petitions, consular processing, waivers, TPS, and protections for crime victims under VAWA, U-Visa, and T-Visa); CARE Services (Connections, Advocacy, Resource Navigation, and Emergency Safety Planning for Immigrants, a differentiated program launched in 2012 and expanded into the broader CARE framework in 2021); and Justice Services (community education forums, partner trainings, the Educators Toolkit, and the Faithful Justice program for Unitarian Universalist congregations). Service delivery spans four physical locations — Vista (headquarters), Chula Vista (satellite), San Luis Obispo (Justice Portal), and San Marcos (North County Family Justice Center) — supplemented by virtual delivery via Zoom and a JotForm-based intake system.

The organization is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of approximately 13 members including licensed immigration attorneys, DOJ Accredited Representatives, advocates, and coordinators, many of whom have personal immigrant backgrounds and multilingual capabilities. UURISE has been a Department of Justice Recognized Organization since 2018, enabling DOJ Accredited Representatives to provide authorized legal representation — a federal credential that provides a regulatory moat.

UURISE's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven as a tax-exempt nonprofit (Federal Tax ID 26-0212489), with some supplemental revenue from low-cost legal services on a sliding scale. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer delivery (office visits, phone, online forms, Zoom) with community-led outreach through partnerships with Unitarian Universalist congregations, nonprofits, educational institutions, and grassroots organizations. The organization reaches underserved areas via the Justice Portal / Ventanilla de Justicia model, which delivers services through partner congregations. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or investor capital are disclosed.

Name

Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education

Legal name

Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education

Website

https://uurise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UURISE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides no-cost and low-cost immigration legal services, emergency safety planning, and community education to immigrants, refugees, mixed-status families, and crime victims across Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Legal Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAHAE

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

SECONDARYBPAGAEAI

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Refugee assistance programs
• Asylum legal aid
• Immigrant advocacy services
• Nonprofit legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: UURISE operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily funded through donations from individuals, congregations, and supporters. The organization relies on financial gifts to provide no-cost and low-cost legal and social services.
2. Grant Funding: UURISE receives funding through grants to support operations and service expansion, as evidenced by their Guidestar profile and references to grant opportunities in their history.
3. Low-Cost Legal Services: The organization provides low-cost immigration legal services on a sliding scale or reduced fee basis, generating some revenue while maintaining accessibility for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UURISE provides low-cost and no-cost immigration legal services, no-cost CARE (Connections, Advocacy, Resource Navigation, and Emergency Safety Planning for Immigrants) social services, and justice services including community education, partner training, and the Faithful Justice program for congregations. Their multidisciplinary team delivers these services to immigrants and refugees across Southern California through in-person offices, Justice Portals at partner congregations, and virtual Zoom-based delivery.

Product overview

UURISE is a nonprofit organization offering three interconnected core service lines: Legal Services (immigration legal representation and counseling), CARE Services (Connections, Advocacy, Resource Navigation, and Emergency Safety Planning), and Justice Services (community education, partner education, and Faithful Justice programs). Services are delivered through multiple channels including in-person offices, Justice Portals, and virtual delivery via Zoom. The organization serves immigrants and refugees across Southern California with a multidisciplinary team approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Services Comprehensive immigration legal services providing one-on-one counseling and representation starting with consultation, plus group workshops for naturalization and DACA renewals. Services include DACA renewals, work permits, naturalization, green cards, family petitions, consular processing, waivers, TPS, and services for victims of domestic violence and crimes (VAWA, U-Visa, T-Visa). Available at low-cost or no-cost rates.
• CARE Services No-cost Connections, Advocacy, Resource Navigation, and Emergency Safety Planning for Immigrants (CARE) services. Starts with screening for food security, housing, safety, and health needs, then provides connections to organizations, advocacy support, resource navigation, and emergency safety planning. Available regardless of immigration status.
• Justice Services Justice services including community education forums on Know Your Rights, Pathways to Green Card, ESPI, and Naturalization; partner education and resources (no-cost and low-cost trainings, workshops, technical assistance, Educators Toolkit, Train the Navigator); and the Faithful Justice program helping congregations develop immigrant justice programs from an anti-racist/anti-oppressive perspective.
• Services for Victims Specialized services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, including immigration protections such as VAWA, U-Visa, and T-Visa, plus emergency safety planning and resource navigation. Available at the North County Family Justice Center / One Safe Place location in San Marcos.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• Local and National Partners in Phoenix, ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership during the 2012 Unitarian Universalist Justice General Assembly for naturalization workshops.
• San Diego Citizenship Collaborative (formerly San Diego Naturalization Collaborative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007UURISE is a founding member of the San Diego Citizenship Collaborative, which provides naturalization assistance and citizenship resources to the San Diego immigrant community.
• Dreamer Assistance NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007UURISE is a founding member of the Dreamer Assistance Network, supporting DACA recipients and undocumented immigrants with services and resources.
• Unitarian Universalists San Luis ObispocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for the Justice Portal / Ventanilla de Justicia, bringing immigration-related services to the San Luis Obispo area through technology and UURISE's expertise.
• North County Family Justice Center / One Safe PlacesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner location for providing services to victims of domestic violence and other crimes, added in 2022.
• First Unitarian Universalist South Bay CampussecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for UURISE's Chula Vista satellite office since 2015.
• Partner Organizations (Nonprofits, Grassroots, Educators, Faith Communities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of partner organizations receiving no-cost and low-cost trainings, technical assistance, and access to community support tools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Large international humanitarian organization with U.S. refugee resettlement and immigration programs, including offices serving refugees and asylees in California. Overlaps with UURISE on refugee resettlement, case management, and immigration legal services, but at far greater scale.
• HIAS: Jewish American nonprofit that resettles refugees and provides immigration legal services across the U.S., including family reunification, asylum, and naturalization. Overlaps with UURISE's service categories but operates at national scale.
• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): National advocacy organization focused on immigration law and policy affecting low-income immigrants. Adjacent to UURISE's Justice Services work (Know Your Rights, partner education) but operates as an advocacy/policy shop rather than a direct legal services provider.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): National nonprofit that supports a network of immigration legal services programs and accredited representatives — directly adjacent to UURISE's DOJ accreditation model and capacity-building approach. Operates as an umbrella rather than a direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Just Neighbors Ministry: Virginia-based faith-rooted nonprofit providing low-cost and no-cost immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, with an emphasis on education and accompaniment. Comparable to UURISE in mission, fee model, and faith-rooted community partnerships.
• Pangea Legal Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing sliding-scale immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, with practice areas covering asylum, DACA, naturalization, and family-based immigration. Directly comparable service model to UURISE.
• Casa Cornelia Law Center: San Diego-based nonprofit immigration legal services organization providing pro bono legal representation to immigrants and refugees in Southern California. Most directly comparable to UURISE in geography, scope (immigration legal aid plus social services), and client base.
• Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, including unaccompanied children. Directly comparable service mix (immigration legal services plus community education and accompaniment) to UURISE.
• Catholic Charities of San Diego: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate operating the San Diego Rapid Response Network and a Refugee & Immigrant Services program providing legal aid, resettlement, and social services to immigrants in the same Southern California market as UURISE.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing immigration legal representation and social services to unaccompanied children and separated families. Comparable in combining legal services with social support and partner-driven delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uurise
• Facebookfacebook.com/UURISE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uurise
• Instagraminstagram.com/uurise

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education