Strengthening Our Network: Financial Investments and Technical Assistance
Hispanic Federation is always focused on its network of community-based nonprofits. The small and large nonprofit organizations that provide critically important services to Latino communities are why HF is here. “The truth is that we exist to make sure that our amazing network of Latino nonprofits are able to continue doing the important work our families and neighborhoods depend on,” said HF President José Calderón.
In an environment where financial support for nonprofits is more difficult than ever, HF was able to secure a third consecutive year of support from the New York City Council to continue funding the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (NSF), a signature program that strengthens the city’s diverse nonprofit network.
“New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the leadership of the Council have really made a long-term investment in the Latino nonprofit sector and their continued support for NSF is just the clearest example that they understand how valuable nonprofits are to the stability of our communities,” said Calderón. “This year we were able to work with our African-American and Asian sister organizations to distribute more than $2.5 million in grants to nonprofits in communities of color across New York City. That’s the kind of partnership that produces results for our communities.”
Hispanic Federation also awarded more than 1.7 million in grants to its network of nonprofits through discretionary funds and its long-running Latino CORE Initiative. Altogether, HF gave out a record $2.6 million in grants to 130 Latino nonprofits in 2016.
But providing funding to our network of grassroots organizations is only part of the story. Building human capital through training was also a big part of HF’s capacity building work this year. Here are just some examples of the work Hispanic Federation did to strengthen the Latino leadership capacity of our sector:
“Entre Familia” Nonprofit Learning Series: Entre Familia is HF‘s capacity-building learning series. In 2016, a total of 15 workshop trainings on cutting-edge industry practices on fund development, human resources management, public relations and other subjects were provided to 321 Latino nonprofit practitioners.
Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI): HF continued its leadership development professional certificate program with Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs in 2016. This year, 16 Latino nonprofit leaders completed our ten-week long nonprofit management certificate course.
Latina Leadership Circle (LLC): In 2016, HF launched a new nonprofit executive coaching initiative crafted to provide high-level advisory support to a select group of 10 dynamic Latina nonprofit executives. Funded in part by the New York Women’s Foundation, LLC included coaching on leadership issues, executive storytelling, leadership teaching and peer-to-peer learning. Participants engaged in self-reflection, journaling, and an optional “shadowing assignment” with the ultimate goal of strengthening their leadership and management capacities.
