The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA), also known as Justice for Our Neighbors-Nebraska, is a Nebraska-based charitable nonprofit organization that provides legal representation and resettlement services to refugees and other foreign nationals. Headquartered in Omaha, the organization operates ten offices across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. CIRA’s activities include providing pro bono legal services for unaccompanied children and survivors of domestic violence and administering federal refugee resettlement contracts. The organization employs a staff of approximately 100 individuals to manage a caseload focused on the legal and social integration of foreign-born residents into the region. ^{1  2  3}

Background

The Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement was formed in 2022 through the merger of the Immigrant Legal Center (ILC) and the Refugee Empowerment Center (REC). The ILC was created in 1999 as a legal clinic under the name Justice for Our Neighbors–Nebraska, while the REC began in 1997 as the Southern Sudan Community Association. ^{4  5  6}

The CIRA functions as a specialized law firm and refugee resettlement agency. It holds subcontracts to provide legal counsel to illegal aliens and unaccompanied minors navigating federal immigration proceedings. Key programs include the Pathway to Stability and the Unaccompanied Children Program. In September 2024, the entity officially rebranded as the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. As of March 2026, the organization continues to manage state and federal funding to facilitate the transition of refugees from initial arrival to permanent residency through workforce integration and legal advocacy. ^{3  6  7}

Financials

For the 2024 fiscal year, the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement reported total revenues of $20,389,967. Contributions accounted for $20,011,788, or roughly 98 percent of the group’s total incoming funds. Total expenses for the period reached $15,057,512. Other salaries and wages totaled $6,663,702 (over 44 percent of total expenses), while executive compensation was reported at $319,862 (approximately two percent). The organization ended the year with a net income of $5,332,455. The CIRA reported $23,502,161 in total assets and $1,915,110 in total liabilities, resulting in net assets of $21,587,051. ⁸

The Sherwood Foundation, founded by investor Warren Buffett’s daughter Susan Buffett, utilizes a “social justice lens” to prioritize “equitable power” and “access” in Nebraska. In 2024, the foundation awarded CIRA five grants totaling $4,057,952. This total includes $1,870,871 for Immigration Legal Services, $1,421,182 for the Unaccompanied Children Program, and $503,714 for general operations, alongside smaller allocations for refugee services and community events. These combined contributions account for approximately 20 percent of CIRA’s total 2024 revenue. ^{9  10}

In 2024, the Hawks Foundation awarded $950,015 to the CIRA and an additional $124,985 to the Immigrant Legal Center (ILC), the name for CIRA’s legal services branch. These combined funds are designated for immigration and refugee legal aid in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. ¹¹

In 2024, the CIRA served as a subcontractor for the Acacia Center for Justice (ACJ), a nonprofit managing a $963.2 million federal award for the Unaccompanied Children Program. While the ACJ distributed $291 million to subgrantees nationally that year, the CIRA’s specific portion was not itemized in public disclosures. ^{12  13}

In 2024, the Woods Charitable Fund distributed $1,625,500 across 48 regional organizations, providing recurring support to the CIRA for its UPLIFT program. This initiative is a collaborative partnership between the CIRA, Legal Aid of Nebraska, and the Center for Legal Immigration Assistance (CLIA). The program places legal experts directly into community centers to help immigrants and refugees overcome legal barriers and integrate into the Lincoln workforce. For the 2024 to 2026 cycle, the fund committed a total of $390,000 to the UPLIFT partnership. ^{14  15}

Leadership

As of March 2026, the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement is led by executive director Erik Omar, who oversees the organization’s legal and resettlement operations. The executive team includes Kelsey J. Moore as chief operating officer and Maha S. Ghori as chief development officer. The leadership structure manages a staff of over 100 professionals across ten regional offices. The board of directors, comprising professionals from the legal, financial, and nonprofit sectors, provides fiscal and strategic governance. ^{16 17}

1. Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. “About Us.” Accessed March 29, 2026. https://ciraconnect.org/about-us/ 
2. United Way of the Midlands. “CIRA (Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement) Agency Profile.” Accessed March 29, 2026. https://uwmidlands.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=63736 
3. Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. “Legal Representation.” Accessed March 29, 2026. https://ciraconnect.org/legal-representation/ 
4. Nebraska Public Media. “Refugee and immigrant support organization changes name to reflect its mission.” September 17, 2024. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/refugee-and-immigrant-support-organization-changes-name-to-reflect-its-mission/ 
5. Strictly Business Omaha. “Immigrant Legal Center Merged with Refugee Empowerment Center on October 1.” November 1, 2022. https://strictlybusinessomaha.com/news/non-profit/immigrant-legal-center-merged-with-refugee-empowerment-center-on-october-1/ 
6. Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. “Introducing CIRA: A New Chapter for ILC+REC.” August 14, 2024. https://ciraconnect.org/immigrant-legal-center-refugee-empowerment-center-becomes-cira/ 
7. Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. “Our Journey: 2017 Annual Report.” Accessed March 29, 2026. https://ciraconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2017-ILC-Annual-Report.pdf 
8. “Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska,” ProPublica Nonprofits Explorer, accessed March 27, 2026, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743195841. 
9. Internal Revenue Service. “The Sherwood Foundation: Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF).” 2024. Part XIV, line 3a. Accessed via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/470824755 
10. The Sherwood Foundation. “Our Mission and Priorities.” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://sherwoodfoundation.org/ 
11. Internal Revenue Service. “The Hawks Foundation: Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF).” 2024. Part XIV, line 3a. Accessed via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/476194021 
12. Internal Revenue Service. “Acacia Center For Justice: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990).” 2024. Part VIII, line 1e. Accessed via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/874099467 
13. USAspending.gov. “Award Summary: Acacia Center for Justice (Contract ID 75P00122C00035).” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_75P00122C00035_7590_-NONE-_-NONE- 
14. Woods Charitable Fund. “Grants Awarded 2024.” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://woodscharitable.org/grants-awarded-2024/ 
15. Legal Aid of Nebraska. “UPLIFT Program Partners.” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://legalaidofnebraska.org/what-we-do/programs/uplift.html 
16. Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement. “Our People.” Accessed March 29, 2026. https://ciraconnect.org/our-people/ 
17. Internal Revenue Service. “Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990).” 2024. Part VII, Section A. Accessed via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743195841