← Back to US Funders Directory

Latino Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10 million (reached $7.4 million by mid-2025, highest in foundation history)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California (expanded to Arizona and Nevada for voter mobilization in 2024)
  • Total Impact: Over $25 million invested into 375+ Latino-led organizations since inception
  • Giving Circle Network: $3 million+ awarded to 179 organizations through collaborative giving

Contact Details

Website: https://latinocf.org
Email: grants@latinocf.org (grant inquiries), info@latinocf.org (general inquiries)
Phone: (415) 236-4020
Address: San Francisco, CA

Overview

Founded in 1989 as the Hispanic Community Fund of the Bay Area, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) became a supporting organization of The San Francisco Foundation in 2002 and achieved full independence in 2016. LCF is now the nation's largest Latino-serving foundation, activating the largest network of Latino philanthropists and funding grassroots nonprofits across California. With approximately $10 million in annual direct grantmaking and oversight of substantial pooled funds including the $50 million Latino Power Fund, LCF has invested over $25 million into more than 375 primarily Latino-led organizations. Between 2015 and 2023, LCF raised over $100 million to advance its mission. Under CEO Julián Castro, who joined in January 2024, the foundation has expanded its reach beyond California for the first time, investing in voter mobilization efforts in Arizona and Nevada. LCF's strategic approach combines direct grants, capacity building, giving circles, and collaborative funds to advance civic engagement and economic justice in Latino communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Building Civic Power

  • Latino Nonprofit Accelerator: 18-month program providing grant funding, one-on-one coaching, visibility to funders, marketing/communications training, fundraising mentorship, and leadership development
  • Capital Grants Program: Helps organizations secure permanent headquarters
  • Poderate: Arts and culture program
  • Rest is Power: Sabbatical initiative for nonprofit leaders

Building Economic Power

  • Latino Capital Accelerator: Supporting Latino entrepreneurs
  • Latino Economic Opportunity Fund: Creating pathways to economic mobility
  • Activate Imperial: Regional economic development initiative
  • Promotora Cooperative: Community-based economic empowerment

Rapid Response

  • California Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund: Emergency funding for communities affected by disasters (recently mobilized for Los Angeles wildfire recovery)
  • Immigrant Rights Defense Fund: $175,000 in urgent grants mobilized, with over $500,000 awarded since 2024 election for immigrant rights and legal services

Voter Mobilization

  • Get-out-the-vote investments in California, Arizona, and Nevada (new in 2024)

Priority Areas

  • Civic Engagement: Mobilizing communities, shaping policies, building multi-racial democracy
  • Economic Justice: Empowering entrepreneurs, creating inclusive economy, driving economic equity
  • Political Power: Funding power-building movements that challenge systemic barriers
  • Education: Supporting educational advancement in Latino communities
  • Health and Safety: Addressing health equity and community safety
  • Youth Leadership: Developing next generation of Latino leaders
  • Art and Culture: Celebrating and preserving Latino cultural heritage

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • For-profit organizations
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Julián Castro (joined January 2024) - Former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary in the Obama administration and former Mayor of San Antonio. Castro's vision is "for LCF to fund a national movement of Latino power building that results in a more inclusive and equitable America."

Castro has stated: "We're in the driver's seat of America's future, but to unlock the full potential of Latino communities and our nation as a whole, we must invest more in Latinos and Latino-led organizations." He has also highlighted the funding gap: "There's an invisibility in the philanthropic sector when it comes to funding Latino organizations and Latino-serving efforts. That's a huge blind spot that absolutely needs to be addressed."

Board Chair: Daniel L. Skaff

Chair Emerita: The Honorable Aida M. Alvarez - First Latina to serve in a U.S. President's Cabinet

Recent Board Appointments (September 2025):

  • Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman - Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, highest-ranking Latina in the Biden-Harris Administration
  • Director Robert Santos - Former Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, first Latino to hold the position
  • Ana Valdez - CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative
  • Stephanie Valencia - Civic engagement leader

Former CEO: Jacqueline Martinez Garcel (2015-2023) - Led the foundation through a period of significant growth, raising over $100 million

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Latino Community Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The large majority of grantmaking is by invitation only, where LCF proactively identifies and invites organizations that align with their funding priorities to apply for grants.

For Organizations Interested in Funding:

  • Complete an Organizational Profile on the LCF website to provide information about your organization
  • Contact grants@latinocf.org to express interest and inquire about potential funding opportunities
  • On rare occasions when LCF conducts an open RFP process, they advertise on their social media platforms

Core Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization
  • Organization's board and staff must be more than 51% Latino
  • Operating budget must be less than $1.5 million
  • Must work primarily in California (with limited exceptions for specific initiatives)
  • Must align with LCF's funding priorities in civic engagement and economic justice

Decision Timeline

  • Grants are awarded year-round on a rolling basis
  • If awarded a grant, a member of the LCF team will contact the organization with information about next steps
  • Specific decision timelines vary by program and are communicated during the invitation process

Success Rates

In 2024, LCF invested $4.6 million in 146 grantees, with 25% being first-time LCF grant recipients. The foundation does not publish overall application-to-award ratios due to the invitation-only nature of most grants.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations should contact grants@latinocf.org for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Leadership and Community Connection: LCF prioritizes organizations "deeply rooted in their communities" with leadership reflective of the communities they serve. As stated on their website, they seek "nonprofits deeply rooted in their communities and trusted to deliver meaningful solutions."

Focus on Transformative Change: The foundation looks for organizations that are "developing community leaders," "fostering community-driven solutions," and "building political power to advance equity." They emphasize measurable and sustainable impact.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Under CEO Julián Castro, LCF has emphasized "the urgency of lifting up the economic prospects of our community and making sure that people will exercise their right to vote." Organizations addressing civic engagement and economic justice are prioritized.

Grassroots Orientation: LCF specifically supports grassroots organizations "on the frontlines of social change" through core operating grants and capacity building efforts.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Voter Mobilization (2024): Arizona Center for Empowerment, The Unity Council, TODEC Legal Center, Make the Road Nevada, North Bay Organizing Project, CHISPA Education Fund, Brown Issues, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Valley Voices
  • Central Valley Focus: Dolores Huerta Foundation, Valley Voices, Community Water Center, Poder Latinx Collective Fund, LOUD 4 Tomorrow, Mi Familia Vota Education Fund, Radio Bilingue, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network
  • Immigrant Rights: Rapid response grants to organizations providing legal aid and defending immigrant rights across California

Inspirational Quote from Dolores Huerta (featured on LCF website): "Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: Complete an Organizational Profile and contact grants@latinocf.org rather than submitting unsolicited proposals
  • 51% Latino leadership requirement is mandatory: Ensure your board and staff composition meets this threshold before inquiring
  • Budget ceiling of $1.5 million: LCF specifically targets smaller grassroots organizations, not large established nonprofits
  • Core operating support available: LCF provides flexible funding and capacity building, not just project-specific grants
  • Geographic focus: Must work in California for most programs (limited exceptions for specific voter mobilization and giving circle initiatives)
  • Demonstrate community roots: Emphasize deep community connections, trust-based relationships, and grassroots organizing capacity
  • Align with current priorities: Under Julián Castro's leadership, civic engagement and economic justice are top priorities, with growing emphasis on political power building and voter mobilization

References

← Back to US Funders Directory