<![CDATA[SOMOS EL PODER - News & Articles]]>

<![CDATA[SOMOS EL PODER - News & Articles]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:09:07 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Somos El Poder Celebrates Major Milestone: 250 Members Strong and Growing]]>Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:24:47 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/for-immediate-release-somos-el-poder-celebrates-major-milestone-250-members-strong-and-growingSomos El Poder proudly announces that it has reached a new milestone, 250 members! Among our members include Latinx-led nonprofit organizations, individual professionals, and individual student members across the U.S

This growth marks a powerful moment for our community of fundraising professionals. We have gone a long way in 3 years since our first public announcement in March 2022, when we celebrated just 50 members. Somos El Poder was founded during the pandemic in late 2020 and has experienced tremendous expansion in both reach and impact since then. With less than 5 years in existence, Today, we are proud to stand as a key national organization dedicated to building fundraising capacity within the Latinx nonprofit sector.

“Reaching 250 members is more than just a milestone for us,” said Armando Zumaya, Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder. “It represents the continuous growth, commitment to the trainings, and the growth in leadership of Latinx fundraisers who are changing the face of philanthropy in the United States.”

Somos El Poder’s growing membership includes a wide array of grassroots, community-based, and national organizations, as well as development professionals working across sectors. With access to online training monthly and through our La Vanguardia cohorts, consulting, peer learning through our Juntos Podemos community, and national in-person events like Fundraising Con Ganas, members are helping to shape a stronger, more just, and more sustainable fundraising ecosystem for all our communities in need across the U.S.

Our 250 members are not just participants—they are partners in building a movement for resource equity, representation, and leadership development in philanthropy.

About Somos El Poder
Somos El Poder is a national nonprofit that builds fundraising capacity for Latinx-led and Latinx-serving nonprofit organizations. Through culturally responsive trainings, tools, and leadership development, SEP strengthens the power and voice of Latinx fundraisers across the country. Our mission is the advancement of disadvantaged social groups in the US today.

To learn more or to join, visit: www.somoselpoder.org

Media Contact:
Armando Zumaya
Armando@somoselpoder.org

]]><![CDATA[For Immediate Release: Somos El Poder Announces Two Exciting NEW Partnerships: Candid & Bloomerang]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:05:11 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/somos-el-poder-announces-two-exciting-new-partnerships-candid-bloomerangAt Somos El Poder, we’re always looking to provide more tools, support, and access to help Latinx-focused nonprofits thrive. That’s why we’re excited to announce two new partnerships designed to strengthen your fundraising, grant-seeking, and donor engagement strategies.

Partner Spotlight:
Candid
https://candid.org

Candid is a trusted leader in nonprofit data, training, and resources—known for platforms like GuideStar and Foundation Directory. Their mission aligns perfectly with ours: to equip nonprofits with knowledge and skills to increase impact, sustainability, and funding opportunities. Candid's Offering:

Free, live virtual workshops on topics like fundraising planning, proposal writing, measuring impact, and prospect research.
Access to the Foundation Directory, a powerful prospecting tool for grant seekers, with updated Guidestar profiles to Gold Seal.
Self-paced trainings & insightful articles via Candid Learning, covering topics like:
- Introduction to Fundraising Planning
- Measuring Your Impact
- Finding Grants
- Proposal Writing
- Corporate Giving
- Project Budgets & Letters of Intent
Free Guidestar profile updates to boost nonprofit visibility for funders.
Candid collects feedback—not fees—from attendees. You can create a free account to access these valuable tools here.

We’re also thrilled to collaborate with Candid in future Somos El Poder webinars and conferences, and we encourage all members to explore their knowledge base, including articles like:

Redefining Resilience in a Changing World
How to Communicate Nonprofit Impact
Best Practices for Budgeting

Partner Spotlight:
Bloomerang
https://bloomerang.co

Bloomerang is a leading provider of donor management and fundraising software, and we’re proud to welcome them as our first corporate partner from the fundraising services sector. They’re not only supporting our Fundraising Con Ganas Conferences, but also offering an exclusive 10% discount to Somos El Poder Organization Memberships Only!

What You Get:

10% off Bloomerang’s monthly/annual software packages for Organization Memberships only.
Discount on Qgiv donation tools and processing fees (some exclusions apply)
Sponsorship support to SEP for Fundraising Con Ganas Conferences
Training/Webinars from the team at Bloomerang on CRM/fundraising topics for all Somos El Poder members.
Personalized support from Emily Kelly at Bloomerang. Meet Emily in person at Fundraising Con Ganas and upcoming SEP events!

Interested in Getting Started? Contact Ana Patiño, ana@somoselpoder.org to get more details on this opportunity.

These are powerful tools designed to help you raise more funds, build stronger systems, and increase your impact. We’re proud to bring these partnerships to our community and look forward to the growth they will help you achieve.

Thank you for being part of the Somos El Poder community.

Armando Zumaya
Founder & Executive Director
www.somoselpoder.org

]]><![CDATA[Survey Results on Threats to our Funding and our Nonprofit Community Work]]>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:35:41 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/survey-results-on-threats-to-our-funding-and-our-nonprofit-community-workPart One

Some funders are backing away from Latino-focused nonprofits, wanting us to water down our work. They are NOT doing the right thing. None of this is new or should surprise you gente on the front lines. As you might imagine it's challenging news but there are bright spots.

38.6% of organizations have been asked, implied to, or recommended by funders (including federal) to remove or tone down "Latino", or racial justice messaging (including language about diversity, immigrants, undocumented, and communities being served).
55.2% have seen funding reductions due to retreat from racial justice funding
27.3% have experienced increased threats or verbal hostility since the election

The survey comments pointed out severe federal restrictions with one organization reporting a "three-page document with all the words we can't say," including basic terms like women, Latino, migrant, immigrant, and diversity. Organizations are creating alternative websites, canceling federal webinars, and consulting attorneys about legal defensibility while many refuse to compromise their mission. "We will not remove the wording we use to describe our services to the immigrant community. We are who we are and will not change," stated one respondent, while another respondent has being asked twice if they will change their name, but despite funding losses they say "With our name, Empowering Latino Futures, we are saying EXACTLY WHERE WE WANT TO BE". Despite the loses, there were funding gains as well from supporters.

The community impact is severe, with some clients stopping services due to fear, families being threatened and forced to leave the US, and organizations needing ICE raid protocols for events. One respondent even indicated that some non-Latino clients are questioning their Latino staff credentials and "about their accent, if they are allowed to work here, are they qualified to provide the services, and telling our staff they should leave." Even academic institutions like Stanford University are now charging fees for the first time after expressing concerns about Latino-focused programming, according to one respondent.

Despite all of this, not everything is bad news.

Part Two

With part two of our survey, you will also see that like 30% of organizations have received NEW or increased funding despite the political climate. Armando Zumaya, founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder, comments "it's my opinion that the open racism Latinos are experiencing is an OPPORTUNITY for raising money from new populations in the US. Lean into it. Raise the subject. Rally new people to our causes!"

29.8% of organizations received increased or new funding from current or new funders as a response to the changing racial justice climate
36.8% of organizations because of political situation implemented a new fundraising strategy/method that is successful now
56.1% of organization modified its language messaging, or materials (even slightly) in response to funder requirements or concerns from others
17.5% of organizations are at risk with immediate funding needs, may need to cut programs/staff (3-6 months of operations with current funding) and from this percentage 3.5% are in crisis - Already reducing staff/services due to funding shortfalls.

While some organizations report success with new "Rapid Response or Emergency funding opportunities" and supportive funders asking "how they can help in light of losses," the financial crisis is growing deeper across the sector. Organizations are already reducing administrative staff, postponing hiring, and anticipating program staff layoffs in 2026. As one respondent puts it will impact "hundreds of vulnerable rural youth". Academic researchers in disparities work are being defunded unless they "scrub 197 words from their proposals - which basically erases Latinos and their concerns."

The climate of fear is directly impacting service delivery, with one organization noting "enrollment is down which is directly due to the climate of fear in this community," while others report significant declines in students served and are proactively seeking funding for site ownership due to "increased risk of displacement." Safety concerns have prompted organizations to remove staff and board information from websites and modify communications to avoid drawing attention, while federal funding uncertainty and shifts poses major concerns for Latino-focused nonprofits.

Don't feel discouraged when you see this data. This information is key to know what's going on so we can adjust and act accordingly. Knowledge is power in this situation. Keep relying on your own community resources and Somos El Poder is here to help guide you in this time. Use this information to strengthen your resolve!

Armando Zumaya
Founder & Executive Director
Somos El Poder

]]><![CDATA[For Immediate Release: Somos El Poder Welcomes Three Distinguished Leaders to Its Advisory Board]]>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/somos-el-poder-welcomes-three-distinguished-leaders-to-its-advisory-boardJanuary 15, 2024

Somos El Poder (SEP), a national Latinx fundraising institute committed to empowering nonprofits through capacity building and professional development, is proud to announce the addition of three esteemed leaders to its Advisory Board: Stacy Palmer, Eileen R. Heisman, and Henry Cisneros. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and vision to help advance SEP’s mission of strengthening Latinx-focused nonprofits and creating lasting social impact.

Stacy Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, joins SEP with decades of experience as a leader in nonprofit journalism. Since helping to found The Chronicle in 1988, Palmer has shaped its evolution into an independent nonprofit organization that offers essential resources and insights for social-sector professionals. Her expertise in storytelling, strategic growth, and sector leadership will amplify SEP’s efforts to spotlight Latinx nonprofits and their transformative work.

Eileen R. Heisman, former President of the National Philanthropic Trust, brings unparalleled expertise in philanthropy, corporate strategy, and fundraising. During her tenure, Heisman led the organization to raise over $63 billion in charitable assets and disburse over $31 billion in grants to nonprofits worldwide. Her experience with donor-advised funds and her deep understanding of global philanthropy will provide SEP with invaluable guidance as it seeks to unlock the full giving potential within the Latinx community.

Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and first Latino Mayor of San Antonio, brings decades of leadership in public service, infrastructure development, and investment. As a visionary urban leader, Cisneros has spearheaded transformative projects that have revitalized communities nationwide. His profound commitment to equity and empowerment aligns seamlessly with SEP’s goals to strengthen nonprofits that serve underrepresented communities.

“As Somos El Poder continues to grow, these leaders bring unparalleled expertise, perspective, and passion to our work,” said Armando Zumaya, Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder. “Stacy, Eileen, and Henry have each made a significant impact on philanthropy and community development, and we are honored to have their guidance as we work to unlock new opportunities for Latinx nonprofits across the United States. Together, we’re building a stronger future for our communities.”

The addition of these Advisory Board Members marks an exciting chapter in SEP’s journey, as the organization continues to address the critical funding gaps facing Latinx-focused nonprofits, which receive less than 2% of philanthropic dollars. Their collective expertise will help SEP amplify its mission of fostering a culture of philanthropy, empowering nonprofit leaders, and creating lasting social change.

Media Contact:
Armando Zumaya, Founder & Executive Director
Somos El Poder
armando@somoselpoder.org
707-853-1779

About Somos El Poder
Somos El Poder strengthens Latinx-focused nonprofits nationwide through tailored fundraising training and professional development. SEP envisions a future where Latinx nonprofits are empowered with the financial resources, networks, and skills necessary to create a better future for their communities and beyond. www.somoselpoder.org

]]><![CDATA[For Immediate Release: Somos El Poder Receives Major Three-Year Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund Grant to Empower Latinx Nonprofits Nationwide]]>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/somos-el-poder-receives-major-three-year-fidelity-charitabler-catalyst-fund-grant

January 8, 2025

Bolinas, CA — Somos El Poder (SEP), a leading organization dedicated to strengthening Latinx-focused nonprofits through fundraising capacity building and professional development, is proud to announce it has received a three-year grant from the Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund. This support bolsters SEP's mission to empower not just Latinx communities but all communities by equipping nonprofits with the tools, strategies, and networks necessary for sustainable funding.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund; this reinforces the importance of building a strong philanthropic culture within the Latinx community," said Armando Zumaya, Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder. "We teach individuals and organizations how to raise funds from the millions of Latinos in the U.S., challenging the stereotype that Latinos are non-givers. This grant allows us to continue providing accessible training and guidance to organizations that are the backbone of our communities. Together, we are breaking barriers in fundraising and creating opportunities for growth and resilience.”

The grant will support SEP's key programs, including:

Fundraising Con Ganas Conferences: Hands-on training for nonprofit teams to develop effective fundraising strategies.
La Vanguardia Academy: A cohort-based program that trains individual fundraisers in best practices and innovative approaches.
Monthly Consulting Hours: Personalized guidance to address specific fundraising challenges faced by nonprofits.
Online Communities and Webinars: Facilitating ongoing professional learning and collaboration among Latinx nonprofit professionals.
Poderoso Awards & Panel Discussions: Recognizing excellence in Latinx philanthropy and hosting public conversations on critical topics affecting the community.

Through these initiatives, Somos El Poder has empowered its member organizations to improve their fundraising efforts, trained more than 350 nonprofit leaders, and provided over 800 free consulting hours. This grant from the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund will enable SEP to expand its reach and continue fostering a culture of philanthropy within the Latinx community.

“At the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, we’re dedicated to empowering organizations that create lasting, meaningful impact," said Tony Bowen, Executive Director of the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund. "Somos El Poder’s work in strengthening Latinx nonprofits aligns with our mission to connect donors with organizations driving change in their communities. By building fundraising confidence and enhancing donor engagement, they’re paving the way for a stronger, more resilient social sector—and we’re proud to support their efforts."

Latinx-focused nonprofits play a critical role in addressing the needs of over 62 million Latinos in the United States, yet they receive less than 2% of philanthropic dollars. Somos El Poder works tirelessly to bridge this gap by providing the necessary resources and support to these organizations, ensuring they can continue to serve and uplift their communities effectively.
For more information about Somos El Poder and its programs, please visit www.somoselpoder.org.

About Somos El Poder
Somos El Poder strengthens Latinx-focused nonprofits nationwide through capacity building in fundraising and tailored professional development opportunities. By challenging stereotypes and fostering a culture of philanthropy, SEP envisions a future where Latinx nonprofits are empowered with the financial resources, knowledge, and professional networks necessary to achieve their missions and create lasting social change. www.somoselpoder.org.

About Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund
The Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund is a grantmaking program of Fidelity Charitable separate from its donor-advised fund program. Led by the Fidelity Charitable Board of Trustees, the Catalyst Fund envisions a world where promising nonprofits that strengthen our communities have access to the resources they need to flourish. For more information, visit: www.fidelitycharitable.org/catalyst-fund.

Media Contact:
Armando Zumaya, Founder & Executive Director
Somos El Poder
armando@somoselpoder.org
707-853-1779

]]><![CDATA[For Immediate Release: Somos El Poder receives Two Major Grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation]]>Tue, 30 Nov 2021 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.somoselpoder.org/news-articles/two-major-grants-from-the-john-d-and-catherine-t-macarthur-foundation-and-the-silicon-valley-community-foundation

November 30, 2021

The leadership of Somos El Poder: A National Latinx Fundraising Institute are proud to announce two major grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Somos El Poder is the first institute dedicated to improving fundraising at Latinx focused nonprofits nationally. We teach fundraising, create fundraising resources, provide counsel and build community for Latinx nonprofit leaders to help them raise more money, especially from our own Latinx community. We believe that Latinx people have the ability to transform our own communities through strengthen and growing our Latinx focused nonprofits.

“We are thrilled to get this vote of confidence from two leaders in philanthropy in the US today. These grants will help us expand our services and grow the organizations vital work” Armando Enrique Zumaya, Founder of Somos El Poder.
The MacArthur Foundation commented on this new grant: “MacArthur Foundation’s Philanthropy Field Support Program aims to support a vibrant philanthropic field and keep the Foundation connected to new ideas and opportunities in the nonprofit sector, and Somos El Poder is an innovative organization that strengthens nonprofits by supporting more diverse and inclusive fundraisers and development practices.” The grant from the MacArthur Foundation will be focused on building Somos El Poder and expanding its work. This grant will support directly growth in membership, programs and member services.

The grant from SVCC will focus on a 10 Latinx nonprofit focused Cohort model. This model is designed to help Community Foundations directly assist their local Latinx focused nonprofits in building sustainability. “Working towards a more just and equitable future, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is explicitly focusing on investing in the needs of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in our work and grantmaking,” said Gina Dalma, executive vice president of community action, strategy and policy of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. “A critical part of this work is investing in leaders and the nonprofit organizations that they lead so they can grow their influence and service provision toward systemic change. Through our Capacity Building and Leadership Investment Program, we are proud to invest in organizations like Somos El Poder, whose national expertise in fundraising will help bolster the capacity and transform the operations of our local Latinx nonprofits.”

Also sharing her perspective is Diana DeJesus-Medina, Board Chair of Somos El Poder. “These grants from the MacArthur Foundation and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation represent a major investment in equity- one that will help Somos El Poder develop Latinx leadership at nonprofits that serve our own communities. It is a transformational opportunity to elevate the voice, vision and potential of those most directly impacted”
Somos El Poder currently has 46 nonprofit organizations and individuals as members and is growing every month. Membership is intentionally accessible to nonprofit partners and individuals. To explore having your nonprofit join Somos El Poder visit our membership page at https://www.somoselpoder.org/membership.html

About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100 & Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago.
www.macfound.org

About the Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a regional catalyst, connector and collaborator.
We bring the resources and skills of donors, business, government and community to solve some of our region's toughest challenges. We promote philanthropy in our region and support philanthropists to invest with impact. Through advocacy, research, policy and grantmaking, we seek systemic solutions to drive enduring community change.
www.siliconvalleycf.org

For More information contact Armando Zumaya, armando@somoselpoder.org
www.somoselpoder.org

By Armando Zumaya

]]>