During this season of Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to you. Thank you for helping LCF make tremendous strides in 2024 to uplift and empower Latino communities across California, Nevada, and Arizona. Whether as a partner, a supporter, a champion, or a member of the LCF staff or board, your dedication and commitment to our mission has made our success possible.
Below, you’ll find heartfelt messages of gratitude from some of our team members, each sharing their reflections on what has made this year so special.
Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving!
Sylvia Pérez Cash, Chief Innovation Officer
As the newest member of LCF, I am grateful to have joined a thoughtful, inspiring, and dedicated team. We are working together towards a vision of a just and equitable multi-racial democracy by investing in the power and impact of our nation’s Latino communities. Through our grantmaking, strategic programs, donor engagement, and national voice, we remain steadfast and resilient – committed to a bold vision for the future of our country.
Anais Amaya, Latino Giving Circle Network
The Latino Giving Circle Network (LGCN) proudly celebrated remarkable achievements, highlighting the strength and generosity of our community. In 2024, over $370,000 was invested into 46 nonprofits, bringing our total investment to $3.3 million across 179 organizations since 2012. We celebrated together at 12 joyful grants nights, expanded our network into new regions like Phoenix, Las Vegas, the Inland Empire, and San Diego, and even met with leaders like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. From the annual LGCN retreat to community socials and mixers, we strengthened connections and launched exciting collaborations, ensuring that LGCN continues to thrive as the nation’s largest network of Latino philanthropists. Here’s to a powerful year of impact and growth!
Christian Arana, Vice President of Civic Power and Policy
In 2024, we witnessed the incredible spirit and tenacity of Latino leaders fighting for a more just future for their families and communities. We are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts to educate, mobilize, and empower Latino voters throughout the year. Thanks to our Get-Out-the-Vote partners, thousands of first-time voters across the state were engaged and inspired to make their voices heard.
Diana Otero, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation
What a privilege it has been to welcome seven incredible nonprofit organizations from across California into the 4th cohort of the Latino Nonprofit Accelerator. Through our Accelerator, we’ve equipped leaders with essential tools in branding, storytelling, and fundraising, helping them grow stronger, more confident, and poised to make a lasting impact. More than a program, the Accelerator has become a supportive family where leaders lift each other, celebrate milestones, and stand strong together.
This year, we marked a milestone in supporting nonprofit leaders with the launch of the Rest is Power sabbatical program. Rest is not a luxury; it’s a fundamental right and witnessing the positive impact this program has had on our first cohort of nine outstanding leaders has been truly inspiring. When given the time to rest, reflect, and recharge, these leaders have experienced profound transformation, becoming even more equipped to drive meaningful, lasting change in our communities. It’s been an honor to hold this space for them.
Adriana Sanchez, Community Organizing Director
This year, the PoderArte Initiative showcased the transformative power of art and culture in building a more just and equitable future. We proudly concluded our first cycle of PoderArte, awarding over $2 million and hosting the largest convening of Latino-led nonprofits in our history at PoderFest in Los Angeles. Together, we celebrated the artists and projects that brought these investments to life, engaging 51,568 individuals across 29 organizations. Additionally, 17 partners leveraged our support to generate nearly $1 million in additional funding—a testament to the initiative’s impact.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the artists, culture bearers, creatives, innovators, and supporters who breathe life into this work. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Max Vargas, Vice President of Economic Justice
In 2024, LCF committed to working with local stakeholders, like our close partners Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition and Comite Civico del Valle, to support capacity building in the Imperial Valley region. This Activate Imperial initiative is a public-private partnership that will prepare nonprofits to advocate for, direct, and implement the millions of public and private dollars in investments that lithium extraction and renewable energy development will draw to the region. In October, LCF worked with the Governor’s Office on a first-of-its-kind convening of federal, state, philanthropic, nonprofit, and local government leaders in the Imperial Valley to highlight the region’s promise and the need to align public and private resources. Through Activate Imperial and our growing partnerships, we will center resident priorities and help ensure that communities that have been on the frontlines of climate change can now be at the forefront of climate change solutions.
Veronica Vences, Entrepreneurship Director
This year, we proudly supported the incubation of the FIRST Promotora Cooperatives in the Northbay in collaboration with our partners, UpValley Family Resource Centers and RAIZES Collective. By elevating Promotoras as worker-owners, we’re not only creating equitable opportunities for pay and healthcare access but also honoring the vital role they play in strengthening our communities. Seeing these Promotoras step into their power fills our hearts with gratitude and fuels our commitment to building systems that uplift everyone.
We also celebrated the launch of our Latino Capital Accelerator- our inaugural cohort includes six change-making organizations throughout the state who know their community and are committed to resourcing them. Their relentless belief in and support of our Latino entrepreneurs exemplifies the heart and dedication driving Latino entrepreneurship. Together, we’re not just building businesses—we’re building a future rooted in equity, opportunity, and hope.
By: Julián Castro, CEO
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