Who we are
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Founded at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC is now at work in over 40 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas. We deliver a lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always seeking to address the inequalities facing women and girls.
Program Overview
Community Navigator Pilot Program
Part of a $100 million federal American Rescue Plan Act initiative to support small business economic recovery, the Community Navigator Pilot Program will help small business owners build back resilient, thriving companies. The program utilizes a “hub and spoke” model from public health care federal programming, leveraging partnerships with trusted community-based organizations to help small businesses navigate government resources and critical resources. In the two-year Community Navigator Pilot Program initiative, the IRC will work with over 21 community-based partners across Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, and Utah to support up to 3,000 diverse small business owners. With a specific focus on refugee and immigrant business owners, the IRC will help these businesses recover from the impacts of COVID by providing counseling, technical assistance, and support accessing up to $30 million in small business relief. This program is funded (in part) through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration.