The European Programme for Integration and Migration was launched in 2005 by the leading philanthropies of Europe, playing a pioneering role in shaping a coordinated philanthropic response to migration across Europe. EPIM enabled foundations to pool resources and support civil society across the continent working on integration and human rights, as EU migration policy became more centralised. It fostered collaboration both across borders and between grassroots and EU-level actors, amplifying local voices in Brussels policymaking.

Over the years, EPIM achieved several notable wins: it helped secure more inclusive EU migration policies, supported advocacy efforts that led to improved protections for migrant children, and strengthened the capacity of emerging CSOs across Europe. It also provided a platform for foundations to take bold steps—such as funding pilot projects and supporting advocacy groups—under a shared, flexible governance model. While its focus remained largely Eurocentric, EPIM occasionally addressed issues at the EU’s external borders, reflecting shifts in EU migration strategies. Ultimately, EPIM contributed significantly to the emergence of a continental European civil society sector working on migration and integration.

In 2022, as part of its transformation, EPIM adopted a new moniker, and rethought its pathway to change, taking an ecosystemic approach and pivoting to a focus on reimagining migration, democracy and belonging in Europe.