Does the foundation community ignore 62 million Latinos in the United States?
That’s a hell of a statement, isn’t it? A big generalization, I would say. Or is it?
According to Hispanics in Philanthropy, less than 2% of foundations give to Latino-focused nonprofits. That would qualify as being “ignored.” I’m in a unique position because I know and work with hundreds of Latino-focused nonprofits across the country. I see how they struggle with fundraising and reaching out to foundations, especially with national foundations.
I recently attended a conference of 545 people who were all foundation staff: program officers, learning officers and executive directors. I met many interesting people who were surprised and supportive about our work at Somos El Poder.
One morning, we had breakfast tables assigned by topic, advertised weeks in advance. Happily, I hosted “Empowering and Strengthening Latino Focused Nonprofits.” Now granted, not a lot of people go to those early sessions, and there were 16 other table topics available. I watched the other tables get crowded and overflow. Nobody came to mine for the first hour. Finally, one nice program officer did.
I knew in advance that my table would not attract a lot of attention just from my four years of experience of talking to foundations about the Latino nonprofit sector. And please know this isn’t sour grapes. But it’s always striking to me how little interest the Latino community generates. We’re projected to become 30% of the U.S. population – and equates to the fifth largest economy in the world. And yet foundations seem to look past us. Even in discussions of racial justice, we are often an afterthought or footnote. Even in the commonly used term “BIPOC” there is no Latino.
How many foundations do you know that have criteria or guidelines that focus on the Latino community specifically? Go ahead and look. In four years, I have seen three. How many foundations give to Latino-led nonprofits? You can look for that too. You’ll find that term used once by one funder. You’ll find it for other groups of people in this country, but not for Latinos.
I live in a country now where the Supreme Court says my very appearance is reason to detain me. I don’t have to behave suspiciously, just “look Latino.” I hear foundations concerned about the immigration situation and the assault on immigrants. Let’s say that clearly. But what about the larger Latino community as well? We need to fund and support both. Is that happening?
Latinos suffer tremendous racial injustice. Now it’s much more open and in public and institutionalized. But yet I haven’t seen foundations respond.
I lead Somos El Poder, the only Latino fundraising institute in the US. We have over 200 member organizations. We recently surveyed our community and 55.2% of them lost grants because funders said they no longer support racial justice. To be fair, some 29% of them indicated that they received new grants or increased funding from a funder because of the crisis. Nevertheless, funding for Latino-focused nonprofits was already insufficient. Any retreat is unacceptable.
There have been countless atrocities on Latinos and Latino immigrants beyond putting our children in cages: police brutality, having our homes invaded and being deported for no crime. However, the public outrage or outrage in philanthropy just isn’t there. There’s something about Latinos suffering and dying and having their lives ruined by deportation, that funders shrug, or look past it. People care of course but it doesn’t change funding or discussion. Not to even talk about the tidal wave of lies about Latinos in the news. Many people, including some of our country’s leaders, would tell you we were an invasion of disease-ridden criminals looking to abuse resources. Philanthropy has been largely quiet on this subject.
Latino people are suffering right now. They are afraid and anxious for good reasons. They are being persecuted in a country that says it’s about freedom. This is just the beginning. To be Latino in this country is to have a mark on you. We need to counter the lies with the truth and their power with our own beautiful power.
The next time you see a panel discussion on racial justice, and there are no Latinos on the panel, raise your hand and ask why. We’re not putting down our other sisters and brothers of color. We just want a seat at the table. Our stories are not BIPOC. They are different and they are unique. We need our voices heard.
Foundations should ask themselves this simple question. What percentage of their grants go to Latino-focused nonprofits? There are a couple of definitions of this. One definition says that the nonprofit serves a population/constituency of at least 75% Latinos. At Somos El Poder we use 51%. If you are giving to a geographic region this is simple. For example, if your grantmaking in Los Angeles County, 48% of the population is Latino. Does your grantmaking reflect that? If you’re giving nationally to “public health” or “racial justice,” do 20% of your grants go to Latino-focused nonprofits? If not, why? You can create your own method of measurement but at least start looking and asking the question.
Will you join me in this? Will you stand up and do the brave things that are required to disrupt the current dynamic that ignores our people?
The nonprofit sector and foundations can be powerful catalyst to resist racism and oppression. Retreat and/or silence aren’t options.
Armando Zumaya founded Somos El Poder because of his experiences in his long career in development, his success in fundraising of over 40 years and a deep pride in his Chicano heritage. Somos El Poder has grown to over 250 member organizations nationally.