6 March, 2026
PRSN
In 2021, the Private Refugee Sponsor Network (PRSN) was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization founded by private sponsors to create its own sponsor voice about what is needed to achieve best practice for private sponsors of refugees. Its broader aim is to empower sponsors and build relationships with those in the sector, share information, problem-solve and offer trainings to sponsors on post-arrival issues and topics they identify. To achieve these goals, PRSN is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with representatives from the sponsor community, settlement agencies and the business community. Its mission is to “connect, learn and share”. PRSN is now a registered charity.
William Croson explores how PRSN’s initiatives aim to bridge relationships between sponsors and Sponsorship Agreement Holder organizations and identify best practices for effective sponsorship.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees in Canada
For nearly fifty years, Canada has welcomed newcomers from areas of war, violence, famine, earthquakes, floods, among other challenges with private refugee sponsors playing a pivotal settlement role. There are a multitude of research studies conducted by Ontario universities that demonstrate the successful role of private sponsors in settling newcomers.
The Government of Canada signs sponsorship agreements with organizations that help refugees resettle in Canada, called Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs). These organizations are often religious, ethnic, community or humanitarian organizations. SAHs support refugees they sponsor by working with other groups or individuals, called “constituent groups” (CGs) or “co-sponsors”.
PRSN’s Survey
The Partnership Committee of PRSN, in collaboration with the Knowledge Exchange Committee, sought to gain a better understanding of the relationships that exist between Sponsors and SAHs. This led to a survey of both groups with a goal to learn more about existing sponsor relationships with SAHs to gain insights into how PRSN might be able to facilitate building better relationships between them. On the sponsor side, this would include those who have or are sponsoring refugee newcomers through private sponsorship as well as Blended Visa Office-Referred cases (BVOR).
What we hoped to understand was:
- – The challenges sponsors and SAHs face
- – Opportunities to address post-arrival issues
- – Promising practices and experiences in the current environment
- – Ways PRSN could partner more effectively on behalf of sponsors
- – Areas where PRSN could fill gaps in preparing sponsors to meet the challenges of sponsorship and to solidify the organization as a legitimate voice for sponsors in the refugee sponsorship space
The survey was conducted in two parts: one for sponsors and one for SAHs. Separate questionnaires were drafted to reflect the position of each group in these relationships, while at the same time maintaining close parallels in content to facilitate comparison of responses from each group. Specific areas explored in the survey included:
For sponsors, their:
- – Involvement of sponsorship
- – Knowledge of sponsorship
- – Perceptions of sponsorship
- – Experience with SAH organizations
- – Experience with PRSN, its programs and its role
For SAHs, their:
- – Capacity as a sponsoring organization
- – Experience with constituent groups
- – Experience with PRSN, its programs and its role
Analysis, Findings and Insights
The analysis of the responses reveals that while the sponsorship process is generally successful, there are areas for improvement to enhance the experience for both sponsors and SAHs, and ultimately, newcomers. Key areas for improvement include communication, training, and resource management.
Effective communication is critical in managing expectations and fostering collaborative relationships. Regular feedback sessions and digital platforms that facilitate real-time updates can enhance communication and ensure that both sponsors and SAHs are aligned in their responsibilities.
Standardized training programs are essential to ensure that all sponsors receive the necessary guidance and support. These programs should cover both pre-arrival and post-arrival phases, providing comprehensive training on financial management, application processes, and post-arrival support.
Leveraging experienced sponsors to mentor new sponsors can provide valuable peer support and share best practices. SAHs can provide ongoing support to mentorship programs to ensure that sponsors are well-prepared to manage the sponsorship process.
By addressing these challenges and leveraging the strengths of both sponsors and SAHs, PRSN can strengthen its role as a support network, advocate for private refugee sponsors and ensure successful newcomer settlement.
Recommendations
Building on the insights into the experiences of sponsors and SAHs identified from the survey, the following six recommendations have been offered to address specific issues related to the sponsorship process. These recommendations do not assign responsibility to any particular party but are crafted specifically to reflect that work should proceed as co-creation between the parties.
1. Enhance Communication
Objective: Improve communication between sponsors and SAHs to ensure timely and accurate information flow.
Recommendations:
- – Establish clear expectations for communication
- – Utilize multiple channels for communication
- – Develop training on effective communication strategies
2. Develop Equitable and Robust Training Programs
Objective: Ensure that all sponsors receive comprehensive preparation for their roles and responsibilities in the process.
Recommendations:
- – Develop comprehensive training opportunities
- – Offer regular updates and refresher courses
- – Enable training and feedback mechanisms
3. Improve Equitable Access to Resources
Objective: Ensure that all sponsors have equitable access to comprehensive and up-to-date resources, acknowledging limitations based on geography and other factors, like language and culture.
Recommendations:
- – Centralized resource portals
- – Develop resource libraries in multiple formats
- – Translation and localization
4. Provide Financial and Fundraising Support
Objective: Alleviate some of the financial burdens on sponsors by making available the necessary resources to support their fundraising efforts effectively and helping sponsors with techniques to support financial literacy among newcomers.
Recommendations:
- – Detailed fundraising guides
- – Explore additional funding avenues
- – Financial management training
5. Increase Emotional and Psychological Support
Objective: Ensure the well-being of both sponsors and refugees by providing access to emotional and psychological support services.
Recommendations:
- – Access to mental health resources
- – Support networks for sponsors
- – Regular check-ins and monitoring
6. Strengthen Feedback Mechanisms
Objective: Ensure continuous improvement in sponsors’ efforts toward the settlement of refugee newcomers.
Recommendations:
- – Regular feedback mechanisms
- – Transparent reporting and accountability
- – Continuous improvement mechanisms
Implications and Directions for PRSN
Sponsorship relies on interpersonal relationships involving a number of principal actors, namely refugees, sponsors, SAHs, settlement agencies, RSTP and IRCC. The findings offer some guidance that could enhance the sponsorship process, improve the support provided to sponsors, and ultimately aid the successful integration of refugees. Ultimately, the work toward improving the process will be achieved through dialogue, collaboration and partnerships between the various constituents.
The timing of this report coincided with a changing landscape in Canada with respect to refugee sponsorship and immigration as a whole. Recent government policies reflect the shift in the public’s receptiveness to accept newcomers, reduced limits on immigrants and refugees for several years. This provides an opportunity for PRSN to take a more active role in promoting the value and benefits of sponsorship, and through advocacy and training efforts, strengthen and possibly grow a stronger cohort of sponsors in future.
https://refugeesponsornet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Sponsor-SAH-Survey-Report.pdf
