Moving Forward by Giving Back

“atinos around the country are finding new ways to use their personal success to make a difference in their communities.

A new report from the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers finds Latinos are changing the traditional definition of a donor in the world of philanthropy. Latinos have raised millions of dollars for education, youth programs, social services and other urgent needs.

“Latinos have a long tradition of giving generously to help family and friends,” says Daria Teutonico, Director of New Ventures in Philanthropy at the Forum. “Our new report finds Latinos are engaging in more formal types of philanthropy and are leveraging their personal success to drive change in the community.”

In Kansas City, Kansas, the Hispanic Development Fund has raised $1.2 million from donations by local businesses and community members. Each year, the fund gives $80,000 in grants to organizations that serve Latinos in Kansas City. A separate education fund has awarded 2,000 college scholarships to Latino students.

“We’re grateful to be playing a role in trying to craft solutions that we feel are best for our community,” says Ramon Murguia, co-founder of the Fund.

A similar fund in Chicago, the Nuestro Futuro Initiative, has pooled over $2 million in donations from Latino business and civil leaders. This spring, the Initiative distributed $200,000 in grants to organizations providing support to Latino parents with special needs children and recent immigrants.

“What is unique about these funds is that they’re not the result of a single wealthy individual’s donation,” says Teutonico at the Forum. “They’re community efforts that encourage everyone to give a little to make a big difference.” “

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