Translation for Nonprofits and NGOs
Translation for community organisations, legal services nonprofits, foundations and NGOs: client materials, case documents, grant reports and outreach.
The short answer
Nonprofits that receive federal funds must not exclude people because of national origin, which includes language (Title VI; Lau v. Nichols). Executive Order 14224 (2025) removed a federal language-access order, but not Title VI. Immigration legal services nonprofits need certified translations for every foreign document filed (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)). Foundations granting abroad often need foreign grantee reports in English.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| No person may be excluded from a federally funded program on the ground of national origin. | Title VI, 42 U.S.C. 2000d |
| Denying meaningful access because of limited English can be national-origin discrimination. | Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974) |
| Executive Order 14224 revoked Executive Order 13166 on federal language access (March 2025). | Executive Order 14224, 90 FR 11363 |
| Foreign-language documents filed with USCIS need certified English translations. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
| Private foundations making grants to foreign organisations that are not equivalent to US charities must exercise expenditure responsibility, including reports from grantees. | 26 CFR 53.4945-5 |
Client-facing documents
For a community organisation, the documents that matter are the ones clients act on: intake and consent forms, eligibility notices, rights and grievance information, appointment letters, and program rules. If the program receives federal funds, Title VI applies, and failing to provide meaningful access in the languages clients speak can be discrimination. State and city funders often add their own language requirements in grant agreements. Translate the vital documents first and keep them on the same revision as the English.
Legal services and immigration programs
Legal services nonprofits and DOJ-recognised organisations send us the documents behind asylum, family, U-visa, T-visa and DACA cases: civil records, police and court documents, letters and medical records. Each foreign-language document needs a certified translation for USCIS or immigration court. We price each file on its own by word count, keep names consistent across a family's documents, and schedule large packets around filing deadlines.
International programs and foundations
Foundations granting to organisations abroad receive proposals, budgets, financial statements and reports in other languages. Where expenditure responsibility or an equivalency determination applies, the foundation must be able to read what the grantee submits. Budgets and financial statements are translated with amounts in the original currency; narrative reports are translated in full.
Fundraising and outreach
Appeals, newsletters, annual reports and websites in community languages build trust. They are adapted for tone rather than translated word for word, while program facts, figures and donor disclosures stay exact.
After the 2025 policy change
The federal executive order on language access was revoked in 2025, and some federal guidance was withdrawn. Title VI and many program regulations still apply to federal funding recipients, and New Jersey's language-access law covers state agencies, which often pass requirements on to grantees.
Plain language for clients
Many clients of community organisations have limited formal education in any language. A translated notice that keeps the English sentence structure and legal phrasing does not help them. Before translating, we flag passages that would benefit from a plainer English source, and we write the translation for the actual reader, keeping names of programs, offices and deadlines exact.
Working on a budget
Nonprofit budgets are tight. Translate vital documents first, reuse translated paragraphs across documents (we count repeated text once when files are sent together), and keep a term list so later documents need less review. For recurring legal-services volume, ask about a regular arrangement.
What we don't do
We translate; we do not give legal advice, interpret at client meetings, or write grant applications.
Documents we translate for this
Birth Certificate translation
Certified birth certificate translation accepted by USCIS, courts and universities, with the certificate of accuracy included.
Financial Statement translation
Certified translation of balance sheets, income statements, audit reports and notes for banks, investors, the SEC, USCIS and auditors.
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Can you translate documents for a refugee resettlement case?
Yes: civil records, medical and school documents, each with a certified translation where it will be filed with an agency.
Do you count repeated text once?
When files are sent together and share text, such as a standard notice paragraph, we count the repeat once.
Do you translate fundraising appeals?
Yes, adapted for tone in each language, with program facts and donor disclosures exact.
Can you translate intake and consent forms?
Yes, with field order kept so staff can read completed forms against the English version.
Do nonprofits still have to translate after the 2025 executive order?
Federally funded programs remain subject to Title VI, and grant agreements and state laws often require translation. The order revoked a federal policy, not the statute.
Do you work with legal services nonprofits?
Yes. Each file is priced by word count; ask about regular arrangements for recurring volume.
Can you translate a foreign grantee's financial report?
Yes, with amounts in the original currency and a certificate of accuracy if your files need one.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
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