When Hispanic Federation was founded more than 25 years ago, one of the key challenges facing the Latino nonprofit sector in New York City was the lack of fair funding from the city’s philanthropic establishments. In an effort to address this gulf between Latino needs and philanthropic support, Hispanic Federation created the Latino CORE Initiative, a grantmaking program that provided support for essential needs to nonprofits in our communities. Today the Latino CORE Initiative is one of the nation’s most important and largest Latino-run philanthropic programs. Last month, our Allocations Committee gathered to review grant applications and awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to fourteen member agencies.
“We had great applications for funding this cycle,” said Hispanic Federation President José Calderón. “A number of grants went to address some of our groups immediate capacity-building needs, but we also saw some important proposals from member agencies looking to ensure their long-term sustainability and success. We feel very fortunate to be able to make these investments and we are only able to do that because of the support we receive from corporate and individual donors. Our Gala this year, which is our main source of funding for CORE, was more successful than ever before and that has allowed us to make really significant investments in our member agencies.”
Applications for the next round of Latino CORE Initiative grants are due by November 10th. Below is a full list of agencies receiving support in the most recent round of allocations:
• Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education: A grant in the amount of $17,500 to support the agency’s development team. • CASA, Inc.: A grant in the amount of $35,000 to support the agency’s capital improvements.
• Coalition for Hispanic Family Services: A grant in the amount of $25,000 to support the agency’s strategic planning.
• Community Resource Center: A grant in the amount of $25,000 to support the agency’s finance and information technology consultant.
• Hispanic Health Council: grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the agency’s marketing and communications project.
• I Challenge Myself: A grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the agency’s fund development.
• LatinoJustice PRLDEF: A grant in the amount of $25,000 to support the agency’s Southeast expansion and capital campaign.
• New Immigrant Community Empowerment: A grant in the amount of $10,000 to support the agency’s general operations.
• Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre: A grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the agency’s marketing and development.
• Puerto Rican Association for Human Development: A grant in the amount of $15,000 to support the agency’s fund development.
• Spanish Speaking Elderly Council – RAICES: A grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the agency’s general operations.
• Teatro Circulo: A grant in the amount of $30,000 to support the agency’s capital improvements.
• Voces Latinas Corp.: A grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the agency’s technological upgrades.
