Creating Mutual Connections between Latino Nonprofits and Foundations
Monday, November 17, 2025, 9:00-10:30am PST / 12-1:30pm EST
In Partnership with CANDID
Monday, November 17, 2025, 9:00-10:30am PST / 12-1:30pm EST
In Partnership with CANDID
La Mesa De Cocina
Virtual Learning Sessions with Latino Nonprofit Leaders and Philanthropy
OVERVIEW
Today, the Latino community and the Latino-focused nonprofits are being defunded, investigated, and even threatened. Our membership survey has told us that 55% of our member organizations have lost funding due to a retreat from racial justice. We need Latino-focused nonprofits that are financially strong, independent of government grants, and not dependent on foundation support. Before the pandemic, Latino-focused nonprofits in the US were receiving just 1.8% of grants from US Foundations despite being over 20% of the US population.
This program, La Mesa De Cocina, is designed to bridge the gap between the Latino-focused nonprofit sector and foundations today. We want to invite you into our virtual kitchen to meet our leaders. We cannot serve you some pan dulce and a cafecito, or push you to try the tamales, but we will do our best with this virtual environment.
The gap comes from both ends. Many Latino-focused nonprofits do not have professional fundraisers, and few effectively reach out to foundations and build relationships. Many send blind LOIs and proposals. At the same time, many foundations are unaware of Latino-focused nonprofits working on the criteria and issues they fund and focus on.
“La Mesa” is a simple hour-and-a-half convening of Latino-focused nonprofits and foundation/corporate funders who focus on certain key areas. No funding is promised, and no relationships are guaranteed.
Our goal is mutual learning and understanding. This will be a rare opportunity for foundation professionals to meet a wide range of organizations working in one area in one virtual room. To learn from those directly in the field about the state of their work today. An opportunity to learn about innovations and growth in this time that might help their grantees. It's also an opportunity for our organizations to learn about the work of philanthropy and its challenges today from those behind the scenes.
THE AGENDA
Monday, November 17, 2025, 9:00-10:30am PST / 12-1:30pm EST
An Update from Latino Focused Nonprofits in the Area
Our goal is to improve our nonprofit's knowledge of the harder-to-see aspects of foundations, demystify program officers, and concurrently help foundations better understand the subtle differences between Latino-focused nonprofits from other nonprofits focused on people of color. To understand your unique challenges and successes.
There is no charge, and no sales are involved. This is hosted by Somos El Poder. We will have a volunteer moderator in each group.
SUBJECT AREAS - They are as follows:
Today, the Latino community and the Latino-focused nonprofits are being defunded, investigated, and even threatened. Our membership survey has told us that 55% of our member organizations have lost funding due to a retreat from racial justice. We need Latino-focused nonprofits that are financially strong, independent of government grants, and not dependent on foundation support. Before the pandemic, Latino-focused nonprofits in the US were receiving just 1.8% of grants from US Foundations despite being over 20% of the US population.
This program, La Mesa De Cocina, is designed to bridge the gap between the Latino-focused nonprofit sector and foundations today. We want to invite you into our virtual kitchen to meet our leaders. We cannot serve you some pan dulce and a cafecito, or push you to try the tamales, but we will do our best with this virtual environment.
The gap comes from both ends. Many Latino-focused nonprofits do not have professional fundraisers, and few effectively reach out to foundations and build relationships. Many send blind LOIs and proposals. At the same time, many foundations are unaware of Latino-focused nonprofits working on the criteria and issues they fund and focus on.
“La Mesa” is a simple hour-and-a-half convening of Latino-focused nonprofits and foundation/corporate funders who focus on certain key areas. No funding is promised, and no relationships are guaranteed.
Our goal is mutual learning and understanding. This will be a rare opportunity for foundation professionals to meet a wide range of organizations working in one area in one virtual room. To learn from those directly in the field about the state of their work today. An opportunity to learn about innovations and growth in this time that might help their grantees. It's also an opportunity for our organizations to learn about the work of philanthropy and its challenges today from those behind the scenes.
THE AGENDA
Monday, November 17, 2025, 9:00-10:30am PST / 12-1:30pm EST
An Update from Latino Focused Nonprofits in the Area
- Main Room-General Welcome- Armando E. Zumaya, Executive Director
- Introductions- Name, Organization, Location
- Ice breaker question: "What gives you hope right now?"
- Tell us about how your work has changed in the last year- 2 min each organization
- How are you innovating and adapting to this funding and political climate?- 2 min each organization
- Questions and Discussion
Our goal is to improve our nonprofit's knowledge of the harder-to-see aspects of foundations, demystify program officers, and concurrently help foundations better understand the subtle differences between Latino-focused nonprofits from other nonprofits focused on people of color. To understand your unique challenges and successes.
There is no charge, and no sales are involved. This is hosted by Somos El Poder. We will have a volunteer moderator in each group.
SUBJECT AREAS - They are as follows:
- Immigration Services and Advocacy
- Early Education
- Youth and Education/College
- Arts and Cultura
- Racial Justice and Civil Rights
- Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Justice
- Women’s Rights
- LGBTQ Rights
- Public Health and Health Disparities
For Organizations That Want to Participate
- We will limit each room to 10 nonprofits, based upon how much you work on the selected issue focus of that room.
- We will operate on a "first come, first serve" basis.
- Anyone from your organization can attend and represent your nonprofit
- Your organization must be a current member of Somos El Poder
- You may register your organization for more than one room
- Your organization will be reviewed and admitted. Admittance is NOT automatic.
For Foundations and Funders Who Want to Participate
- We will curate the attending 10 nonprofit organizations
- As many staff and Board members from your foundation can attend as you wish
- Your contact information will not be provided in advance, but you can share it at your discretion
- This is a pitch-free environment, but we cannot guarantee that
