“What if we invested in nonprofits the way we do in startups? What big impact could we make?”

It’s time to stop asking and to start doing. That’s why the Latino Community Foundation launched the first-ever Latino Nonprofit Accelerator, an incubator that gives grassroots nonprofits the boost they need to grow into strong anchor institutions. Our unique recipe is a focus on branding, fundraising, and opening doors of opportunity for visionary Latino nonprofit leaders.  We’ve already learned that when we truly invest in our gamechangers – we can change the game.

Our groundbreaking Accelerator has been featured in: UnivisionABC7TechCrunch, GeoFunders and many more.

VIEW PITCH DECKDOWNLOAD ONE PAGERSEE OUR IMPACT

WHAT IS IT

Through the Latino Nonprofit Accelerator, the first-ever 16-month incubator for Latino nonprofits, LCF invests money, provides marketing training and fundraising mentorship, and a loving community to amplify the voice and accelerate the impact of grassroots organizations.

WHY WE NEED TO ACCELERATE LATINO NONPROFITS

Latino-led nonprofits working on the frontlines of social change are the engines of cultural, economic and civic opportunity that our communities need. Yet, nationally only 1.1% of philanthropic dollars are invested in Latino-led organizations– despite the fact that Latinos are 18% of the nation and 40% of California.

It is difficult for organizations to meet the unprecedented and growing need for their programs without more resources and stronger funding partners. At the same time without a strong foundation in fundraising and marketing most organizations struggle to secure investments. At LCF, our Accelerator is about unleashing the powerful assets of each organization and building their self-determination and skills for long term power and economic sustainability. Over the course of 16 months, we stand alongside our cohort of Latino-led organizations and equip them with the fundraising, marketing, storytelling and evaluation skills and tools they need to thrive.

UNIQUE. PEOPLE POWERED MODEL

At LCF, we put love, relationships, and people at the center of our work.  Using the power of culture, we challenge each other to think big, to be bold, and to lead from a place of strength. We infuse all of our trainings and retreats with “La Cultura Cura” (Culture Cures) teachings and philosophy. Our approach allows our Acceleration Lab participants to:

Increase their confidence to tell their story and own their impact

Strengthen their brand equity and marketing capacity

Grow unity and camaraderie among and between Latino nonprofits and leaders

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST ACCELERATOR ONE PAGERS

MEET OUR COHORTS

  • 2022-2023

    ALAS – Ayudando Latinos A Soñar

    Brown Issues

    CBDIO – Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño

    Gente Organizada

    Líderes Campesinas

    OCCORD – Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development

    Youth Alliance

  • 2019-2020

    99 Rootz

    DevMission

    Dolores Huerta Foundation

    Fresno Barrios Unidos

    La Luz

    North Bay Organizing Project

    Nuestra Casa

    Prospera

    TODEC

  • 2017-2018

    Chicana Latina Foundation

    CURYJ

    Digital NEST

    Faith in the Valley

    Fathers and Families of San Joaquin

    HOMEY

    ODAT

    Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos

    SIREN


ACCELERATOR LAB

LCF expanded our Accelerator model. We launched our first-ever Accelerator Lab in Silicon Valley! 

The Lab is a three month branding pilot that equips leaders with world-class tools to share their stories and strengthen their brands.

  • Silicon Valley Accelerator Lab

    Alliance for Youth Alliance

    Bay Area Gardeners Scholarship Foundation

    School of Arts & Culture

    Siena Youth Center

    SOMOS Mayfair

    Valley Verde

OUR TEAM

Diana A. Otero
Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation,
Latino Community Foundation

Masha Chernyak
Confidence & Strategy Coach

Shiree Teng
Evaluation

Miguel Gavaldon
Fundraising
Coach

Joel Valencia
Fundraising
Coach

Juan Carlos Velten
Branding Expert
iLab San Francisco

Bryan Patrick
Photographer

Meredith Fenton
Communications Strategist

Ivy Climacosa
Graphic Design
Osige Creative

SNAPSHOT OF MENTORS

Judith Bell
The San Francisco Foundation

Elena Chavez Quezada
The San Francisco Foundation & Chavez Family Foundation

Janeen Cruz
Tipping Point

Jimmy Ramirez
Google

Amanda Renteria
CEO, Code for America

Julia Ritchie
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Refugio “Cuco” Rodriguez
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Allistair Mallillin
Bay Area Justice Funders Network

Lydia Villarreal
The James Irvine Foundation

Elizabeth Washburn
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation

Daniel Zingale
The California Endowment

Are you interested in being a mentor?
Contact Us >

OUR FUNDERS

DEMO DAY FUNDERS