Partnering with Building Community in New Hampshire to Support New Americans

Building Community in New Hampshire (BCNH) works with refugees and other new Americans, helping them navigate their way to safe, healthy, prosperous, productive, and connected lives in New Hampshire. They are based in Manchester but work statewide to serve refugees who live throughout the state.

Why BCNH Was Created

BCNH was created by a group of Bhutanese refugees in 2009. They arrived with very little, but knew they needed to help each other. So, they created the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire and did remarkable work.

The community thrived as they found ways to support each other, secure jobs and housing, and care for one another. They were so successful that in 2017, they decided to change their name to Building Community in New Hampshire and opened their doors to refugees from other parts of the world.

Challenges Refugees Face in NH

Language barriers pose the biggest challenge for BCNH's clients. While some arrive with basic English skills, many have none at all.

BCNH has strategically designed their model to overcome this challenge by employing case managers who are former refugees themselves. These managers speak their clients' languages, understand their challenges firsthand, and have deep connections to the communities they serve.

Beyond communication, their clients also struggle with housing, transportation, and employment - all areas where BCNH provides assistance.

Funding Challenges

Funding a grassroots nonprofit can be challenging. Over the past few years, BCNH has relied largely on state contracts and federal funding because reaching out to individual donors and foundations requires substantial time and effort.

Without a dedicated grant writer or development director, BCNH seeks out local grant application processes - like Granite United Way's - that are simple and straightforward.

Real Impact

BCNH provides personalized case management services to help clients overcome practical challenges like finding housing, securing employment, obtaining driver's licenses, connecting with medical providers, and navigating legal processes.

Most importantly, BCNH provides all these vital services for free. They rely solely on grants, philanthropy and community partnerships with organizations like Granite United Way to connect with the broader philanthropic community.

In our 2022 funding cycle, BCNH received a $10,000 grant that funded a case manager's work for several months and helped six people find new jobs. They also helped to distribute toys, winter coats and backpacks all collected through donation drives organized by Granite United Way.

Thanks to their community connections, BCNH has grown into a diverse, multicultural refugee service organization. Today, they have seven full-time and two part-time employees representing six different nationalities and a budget approaching $575,000.

Donate in Support of Organizations like BCNH

If you would like to support local nonprofits in your community, like Building Community in New Hampshire, click here to make a donation.