CIRA - Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement

What CIRA - Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement does

CIRA (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, formed in 2022 through the merger of the Immigrant Legal Center and the Refugee Empowerment Center — two predecessor organizations with more than 25 years of independent service history. It delivers an integrated service portfolio built on three pillars: Legal Representation (immigration cases including asylum, family petitions, naturalization, bond hearings, habeas corpus, and detainee defense), Refugee Services (resettlement support covering housing, employment, medical coordination, and school enrollment), and Social Work (therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and mental-health-first-aid training). The organization operates six offices spanning Nebraska from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, plus a statewide Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline (NILAH), a dedicated Detainee Hotline, and mobile legal clinics that reach rural communities and detention facilities; it reports 2,000+ legal clients served annually and a 95% case success rate. CIRA also runs the MyCity Greater Omaha civic-leadership program, English Language Classes, and a paid Immigration Law Externship with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln School of Law following the closure of UNL's 28-year Immigration Clinic.

The business model is nonprofit fundraising: services are provided free of charge to clients regardless of ability to pay, and revenue is sourced from individual donations, monthly giving, and grants (including emergency bond funds via Prairielands Freedom Fund). The go-to-market motion is community-led — outreach, partner referrals through the Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities (70+ organizations), and rapid-response mobilization to events such as the June 2025 Glenn Valley Foods ICE raid. CIRA holds IRS 501(c)(3) status (EIN 74-3195841), employs 83–100+ full-time staff including multiple DOJ Accredited Representatives, and partners with the ACLU of Nebraska, the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry on workforce and immigrant-inclusion initiatives across Nebraska and parts of southwest Iowa.

Name

CIRA - Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement

Legal name

Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement

Website

https://ciraconnect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CIRA is a Nebraska-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free immigration legal representation, refugee resettlement, and social work services across six offices statewide, serving immigrants, refugees, and detained individuals through hotlines, clinics, and rapid-response programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CIRA operates as a 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 74-3195841) funded primarily through donations from individuals, monthly donors, and fundraising efforts. The organization emphasizes that all services are provided free of charge to clients and never turns any family away due to inability to pay.
2. Grants: The organization receives grant funding to support its operations, including emergency bond funds for detained individuals, general operations, and specific programs like the MyCity Greater Omaha leadership initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Nebraska that provides direct legal representation, social work support, refugee resettlement services, and rights-based education to immigrants and refugees. It operates programs such as the NILAH hotline, unaccompanied children's services, know-your-rights presentations, and a community resource platform serving immigrants across Nebraska.

Product overview

CIRA (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement) is a nonprofit organization offering an integrated service portfolio across three core pillars: Legal Representation, Refugee Services, and Social Work. The organization operates as a unified service organization rather than a technology platform, providing direct client services including immigration legal representation, refugee resettlement, unaccompanied children support, and community mental health services. Additional programs include the MyCity Greater Omaha leadership initiative, the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline (NILAH), Mental Health First Aid training, and a law student externship program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Representation
• Refugee Services
• Social Work Services
• Unaccompanied Children Services
• Know Your Rights Presentations
• Legal Assistance for Detainees
• NILAH Hotline
• Immigration Law Externship
• MyCity Greater Omaha
• Mental Health First Aid Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% case success rate for legal representation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Omaha ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026CIRA and the Greater Omaha Chamber collaborated to create MyCity Greater Omaha, a leadership development program for immigrant and refugee changemakers. The partnership focuses on developing leadership skills, civic engagement, and professional networks among 25 participants in the first cohort. Daniela Rojas Florez from the Chamber co-leads the program with CIRA's Director of Community Engagement Khenda Mustafa.
• Nebraska Alliance for Thriving CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025CIRA is part of the Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities, a coalition of over 70 organizations across sectors including chambers of commerce, agriculture, healthcare, education, hospitality, construction, business, faith, labor, and community perspectives. The alliance calls on Congress to fix outdated federal immigration laws and advocates for Nebraska families affected by immigration enforcement.
• Restoring DignityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestoring Dignity staff attended Mental Health First Aid training led by CIRA's Director of Social Work Monica Meier. The partnership extends MHFA certification training to community partners serving immigrant and refugee populations.
• Prairielands Freedom FundcoreOthersPrairielands Freedom Fund assists organizations like CIRA by providing emergency funding to post bonds for detained immigrants. Donations to the fund help families reunite by covering bond fees for those impacted by ICE raids.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of NebraskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRA worked with ACLU of Nebraska to reunite Jorge Calderon Rivera with his family. ACLU filed a federal habeas corpus petition while CIRA represented Calderon in immigration bond proceedings. The combined advocacy led to Calderon's release after two months in ICE custody despite never being convicted of a crime.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing the closure of UNL's Immigration Clinic after 28 years, CIRA launched an externship program for UNL law students. The paid program offers hands-on immigration law experience while supporting CIRA's growing caseload. Students work 15-20 hours weekly at CIRA's Lincoln office earning 3-6 academic credits.
• My City LincolnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMy City Lincoln is a similar leadership program in Lincoln, Nebraska that served as a model for CIRA's Director of Community Engagement when developing MyCity Greater Omaha in Omaha. Mayme Myint, CIRA Resettlement and Placement Supervisor, graduated from My City Lincoln before helping establish the Omaha program.
• Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRA partnered with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry to host the Nebraska Immigration and Workforce Summit addressing workforce shortages. The event brought together over 220 attendees to discuss immigrant inclusion in the workforce, inclusive workplace practices, and creating welcoming communities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal aid, and integration services across the U.S. and worldwide. Comparable to CIRA's core service mix but operates at substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Catholic Charities USA: Largest U.S. nonprofit network providing immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and social services. Comparable to CIRA in offering wraparound immigration/refugee support, but operates nationally across all 50 states with far broader scope.

Direct peers

• World Relief: Christian humanitarian nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and community integration programs across multiple U.S. offices. Closely comparable to CIRA's full-service model and office-based delivery approach.
• HIAS: Jewish-American nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and advocacy for forcibly displaced people. Directly comparable to CIRA's three-pillar model (legal, resettlement, social services) with similar mission and service structure.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): Faith-based nonprofit offering refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and foster care for unaccompanied minors. Directly comparable to CIRA's refugee services and unaccompanied children programs.
• Church World Service (CWS): Faith-based organization operating refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and advocacy programs nationally. Directly comparable to CIRA's service pillars and target population.
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and advocacy for forcibly displaced populations. Comparable service portfolio to CIRA across all three core pillars.
• Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON): Faith-based network of volunteer-driven immigration legal clinics providing free/low-cost representation. Comparable to CIRA's pro bono legal representation model and free services approach.

Regional players

• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based nonprofit providing refugee resettlement and immigration services. Comparable service model to CIRA but operates in a different geographic market (Illinois rather than Nebraska).

Emerging players

• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing pro bono legal representation for unaccompanied children in immigration proceedings. Directly comparable to CIRA's specialized Unaccompanied Children Services program and focus area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ciraconnect
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciraconnectfb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciraconnectli
• Instagraminstagram.com/cira_connect

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CIRA - Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement