The Sponsor Circle Program is a privately funded community-led initiative that empowers small groups of friends, neighbors, colleagues, and campus communities to welcome refugees and newcomers in need of support.

Campus Sponsor Circles are groups of five or more adults who offer refugee students a softer landing by providing the necessary academic, logistical and integration support as they pursue a higher education degree. With the support of institutional leadership, Campus Sponsor Circles include a variety of campus leaders and stakeholders—staff, faculty, students, and community members—to provide refugee students with holistic supports during the 12-month support period.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, including the Welcome Corps on Campus, was suspended in January 2025. At this time, the Sponsor Circle Program is serving institutions that committed to welcome refugee students through the Welcome Corps on Campus before the program was suspended. Using the same community-led model, institutions support the integration and academic success of newly arrived refugee students. We are not accepting applications from new institutions.