OUR IMPACT RESULTS
From a Jul. 2024 survey, with 77 respondents out of a 188 membership:
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80.5%
Members indicated seen an improvement in their fundraising initiatives |
82%
Members indicated that their organization's confidence in fundraising increased |
96.1%
Can identify crucial learning points for their organization or individually from SEP training and conferences. |
83.2%
Feel a greater sense of community with other Latinx fundraisers because of SEP events & trainings. |
Ways organization’s fundraising improved since joining Somos El Poder:
- 63.6% indicated confidence in making fundraising pitches
- 41.6% improved acquiring new donors
- 35.1% provided insights into planned giving strategies
- 33.8% improved donor recognition and stewardship
- 32. 5% indicated strengthening donor relationships and increased donations, also guided personalized donor communications
Ways Somos El Poder contributed to individual's professional growth:
- 85.7% indicated improved confidence, understanding and/or skills in fundraising
- Significant increase in abilities and knowledge was indicated
- 45.5% indicated an increase in team collaboration at their organization
- 31.2% helped increase funding for their organization
- 14.3% indicated that the training contributed to getting a new position, a promotion or a salary increase/raise. This final point provides a strong indication of career impact on individuals.
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Somos El Poder mission is the advancement of Latinx in the US today. We believe in the inherent strength, ingenuity, and self-reliance of our people to solve their challenges. We empower Latinx-focused nonprofits nationwide by providing support on fundraising strategies and professional development opportunities because “fundraising is the power for people to do good” - Armando Zumaya, Founder & Executive Director.
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WHY WE DO THIS
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Somos El Poder serves Latino-focused nonprofits because they are consistently overlooked by funders, receiving only 1.8% of philanthropic dollars, with some sources like Inside Philanthropy citing just 1.3% as of 2019. Despite a significant push towards racial justice, Latino nonprofits are often excluded. Latinos comprise 20% of the population yet receive minimal support from fundraising and philanthropy. We estimate that Latinos have an annual giving potential of $24.7 billion. We work to unleash that philanthropy potential for our entire community.
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Our work recognizes that more financial resources enable organizations to offer more programs and services. By addressing barriers to fundraising, we encourage nonprofit leaders to invest in their fundraising capabilities. Many Latinx-focused nonprofits have not expanded their fundraising due to perceived or real lack of resources, but they have Latino power.
Historically, Latinos have been overlooked by fundraising efforts, foundations, and nonprofits, despite being a powerful force of giving. 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. |
Latinos have the capacity for major giving; fundraising is key for tapping into this market. Strengthening fundraising efforts is essential for the sustainability and growth of all organizations but especially the small and medium-sized ones. Somos El Poder exists because we believe that investing in development capacity with fundraising training programs ensures that nonprofits can cultivate a culture of philanthropy, solve the reasons why people don’t give, expand their donor base, continue their vital work in society, and achieve long-term financial stability.
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OUR PROGRAMS
Somos El Poder's programs are designed to help nonprofits cultivate a culture of philanthropy within their staff, board of directors, and general community; understand funding gaps and create fundraising strategic plans to increase donor base; develop an equitable and sustainable pipeline of fundraising and development professionals; empower Latinx nonprofits to achieve long-term financial stability; and to enhance the impact and reach of Latinx nonprofits nationwide. Among our programs designed to enhance fundraising skills and capacity include:
- Fundraising Con Ganas Conferences: Training for small and medium nonprofit teams.
- La Vanguardia Academy: Fundraising training for individuals.
- Consulting Hours: Monthly sessions for personalized guidance.
- Monthly Sessions: Ongoing professional development opportunities. 24 sessions per year.
- Online Communities: Platforms for support and collaboration.
- Professional development opportunities. Members can teach their successful best practices for fundraising.
- Poderoso Awards: Annual national awards recognizing outstanding Latinx philanthropists, small donors, and fundraising teams that are an example for others.
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The impact report PDF includes:
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188
Current members. 133 Latinx Nonprofits Organizations (71%) & 55 (28%) Individual members. |
24
Classes per year. 28 average attendance Highly practical trainings from current practitioners plus extra panel discussions on key issues. |
38
Average hours of monthly consulting. Free fundraising consulting as part of the membership benefits. |
6
Juntos Podemos. Online Professional Learning Communities. Best Practices conversations, Forming Comunidad, & Training in focus areas. |
3 National Training Conferences "Fundraising Con Ganas" (FCG)
In-person fundraising trainings for small & medium Latinx nonprofits and fundraising professionals.
239
Latinx Nonprofits & Individual Members have attended
Latinx Nonprofits & Individual Members have attended
- 91% Average participants feeling extremely and very empowered
- 88% Average participants rating the conference highly beneficial
TESTIMONIALS
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I have never attended a conference like this before. In two days, I learned so much, and connected with at least 8 people who share my struggles and care for the work we do. Thank you. - FCG attendee.
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Great presenters. It's very inspiring to see Latinx development folks who lead organizations. I was very impressed by Lisandra, Yuri, and Diana's ability to break glass ceilings. As one of the few Latinas in development, I felt empowered by the representation. I love you all so much! - Yessie, FCG attendee.
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This was an excellent conference. Very helpful content. Additionally, it's clear that our registration fee did not cover the cost. Really appreciate the quality of the conference and venue. Appreciate the funders who invested in us. You have made us stronger. - FCG attendee.
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After attending the first Somos El Poder Fundraising Con Ganas conference in April 2023, our executive team decided to follow the recommendations from one of the presenters to expand our individual giving team to increase our prospecting capacity. This has helped us organize more efficiently the way we prospect major donors and make an ask towards our I Welcome Immigrants Campaign. Thank you to all the Somos El Poder staff and leadership for making this type of engagement in our community of Latin@ fundraisers! - Angelica Salas, Executive Director, CHIRLA.
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[Email Testimonial, Jan 11, 2024]
Here are tangible ways in which last year's conference [2023] directly influenced our work:
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3 Fundraising Training Cohorts “La Vanguardia Academy”
La Vanguardia Academy is an online fundraising training program for Latinx college students interested in a fundraising career and/or early to mid-level career professionals that seek to strengthen their current knowledge. A four month training composed of 12 classes covers various aspects of fundraising including Major Giving, Corporate, Foundations, Small Events, Stewardship and Planning
49 total cohort graduates.
- 32 participants in current 2024 cohort.
- The cohort participants are from all around the U.S.
TESTIMONIALS
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[Email, Aug. 24, 2023] I am reaching out because I will be transitioning to a new organization starting September 5. For context, I will be the new Development Director for Entre Hermanos, a Latinx LGBTQ+ nonprofit based in Seattle, WA. I believe this transition is a result, in part, to the support and training I've received through Somos El Poder. I'd like to thank you and the rest of the team for creating and delivering this much needed resource to the Latinx Development community. - Eloy Armendariz
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[Email, Jun 11, 2024] I wanted to send a quick appreciation message for the training at FCG and La Vanguardia. I've felt my wheels spinning a little lately trying to cover a lot of bases by myself, but mostly I learned to give myself grace in the knowledge that I'm learning. The practice phone call and shark tank pitches were great learning lesson in practice. No jargon, build a script, have E&R's ready. After our lessons, I redid our giving site by joining our donor and giving widget into one and setting up a Major Gifts campaign. https://www.latinoheritage.us/donate Our campaign page can toggle teams and team members so we're hoping to add our Board members into one big team to fundraise donations of $1,000+ https://givebutter.com/5tTeWr The work continues. - Rene A. Ballesteros, Latinos in Heritage Conservation
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