RAICES Q1 2026 Update: Executive Update
This summary provides a high-level overview of RAICES’ performance, strategic progress, and cultural health following the Q1 2026 Board of Directors meeting.
Organizational Health and Culture
RAICES is experiencing a period of strong internal alignment and renewed energy. Key highlights from our recent Climate and Belonging Survey include:
High Engagement: We achieved an 81% survey completion rate and an "Excellent" Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 55—markedly higher than the median 10-12 nonprofit eNPS.
Mission Alignment: Staff reported a median score of 9.0/10.0 regarding RAICES fulfilling its mission and values guiding our daily work.
Retention: The median likelihood for staff to remain with the organization for the next one to five years is 10.0/10.0.
"One RAICES" Retreat: In March, 97% of staff gathered in San Antonio for our first-ever all-staff retreat, focusing on professional development, wellness, and team building—a positive experience referenced by several survey respondents.
Financial Performance
RAICES entered Q2 2026 in a fundamentally sound financial position, though we remain vigilant regarding landscape funding shifts.
Budget Stability: Our Q1 net operating loss was aligned with our FY2026 budget, which does not account for investment earnings—a critical safety net.
Fundraising Success: Donations exceeded our Q1 budget by 26%. This growth was driven by high public interest in our rights advocacy work, particularly in support of detained families.
Risk Management: Management is closely monitoring structural risks, including a shortfall in bond refund income due to federal government shutdowns, potential fundraising volatility resulting from economic uncertainty, and an unresolved $3.8M receivable from Acacia Center for Justice.
Programmatic Impact
RAICES served a total of 3,846 individuals across all program areas in Q1 2026, including new and continuing service recipients.
Removal and Community Integration Services (RCIS): Successfully launched the shared- cost service model in January, seeing 108% revenue growth over the quarter as the program moves toward financial sovereignty.
Refugee Services: Navigated significant federal policy disruptions, including new SNAP benefit restrictions for refugees. The team is currently developing a dual-funding model to sustain services beyond anticipated federal funding reductions in October 2026, the scope of which is not yet confirmed.
Rights Advocacy: Our "on-the-ground" presence at the Dilley detention center led to a major joint report with Human Rights First and significant national media coverage, positioning RAICES as a premier subject matter expert on immigration detention. Our habeas cases additionally yielded an 83% release rate.
Looking Ahead
Our "North Star" remains the One RAICES goal: an integrated, financially sovereign, and mission- driven organization. Upcoming priorities include:
Sustainability Planning: Presenting a formal FY2027 proposal to the Board in late summer with an updated programming and funding model for Refugee Services, in response to pending federal funding reductions.
Talent Optimization: Continuing to invest in professional development to build leadership and management bandwidth.
Strategic Advocacy: Maintaining legislative engagement and litigation efforts to challenge the administration's most harmful policies, including detention expansion and increased filing fees.
