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How do cities and local organisations build the capacity to support immigrants when national immigration policies change? This talk examines the role of local philanthropy in implementing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program across three U.S. metropolitan areas: Houston, San Francisco, and New York City. Drawing on 35 interviews with foundation leaders, it shows how different local civic and political contexts shaped foundations’ strategies and partnerships. In Houston, foundations addressed gaps in public support and service infrastructure. In San Francisco, they coordinated resources across a well-funded but fragmented organisational landscape. In New York, they complemented substantial public investment by strengthening grassroots organisations. These findings highlight how local foundations can help build institutional capacity, coordinate service delivery, and sustain immigrant-serving organisations. The talk concludes by considering what these U.S. experiences reveal about the opportunities and challenges of building local support systems for immigrants in European cities.

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