Funders Need Now, More Than Ever Need to Strengthen the Latino Nonprofit Sector

Has there ever been a time to support growing individual giving and fundraising than right now? We are in a radically new funding atmosphere where government grants may vanish quickly. Where some funders may retreat from stated priority goals of the past.

We all know that 78% of giving comes from individuals. The most powerful and resilient form of philanthropy comes from our own communities. From the people who know our work. This is especially true for organizations focused on people of color.

We have seen a historic decline in small and medium individual donors. If you have read my preaching in the past, I point to the decline in fundraising as a prime reason.

There have been some talks and discussions of supporting “everyday donors,” which is great, but what is needed now is a change in how we support our nonprofit community—how we support organizations helping marginalized communities.

As the Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder I have had the privilege of working with Latinx-focused nonprofits today. Nonprofits focused on diverse communities with a large percentage of Latinx. We have made major gains in helping those organizations improve their fundraising, especially from individuals. In fact, 80.5% percent of our active member organizations have improved their fundraising. We have done this through providing training, counsel, mentoring, and community unique to the Latinx familia.

What is needed now is for the institutional giving community to step up and realize that funding an organization with a grant isn’t enough. You also need to invest in strengthening that nonprofit organization. Especially those organizations who serve people of color in the US today. In this climate of open racism. There has been a lot of talk about “resilience” in nonprofits, but surprisingly it's rarely tied to fundraising.

Speaking for the Latinx Nonprofit Sector. Thousands of nonprofits across the nation need funders to see a common cause. This sector works on every issue you fund. There is a common misperception that our organizations only are immigration organizations. Not true. If your funding climate change, movement building, racial justice, public health, STEM education, Women's rights and much more….our organizations support that work.

If this appeal is ignored, I fear organizations serving communities all over the nation will have to close their doors. I can only imagine the hardship, suffering, and injustice that will result.

If you like what you're reading here please share this with a funder you know!

Let me end by quoting Cesar Chavez's famous saying “Si Se Puede”! Yes, we can strengthen our nonprofits, and yes we can teach and support organizations to strengthen themselves through improved fundraising. Now is the time.

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