Latino Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Over $12 million
• Grant Range: $10,000–$200,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California; selected initiatives extend to other states including Arizona and Nevada
• Total Impact: Over $50 million invested into 550+ Latino-led organisations since inception
• Giving Circle Network: $3 million+ awarded to 179 organisations 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 organisation 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 over $12 million in annual direct grantmaking and oversight of substantial pooled funds including the Latino Power Fund, LCF has invested over $50 million into more than 550 primarily Latino-led organisations. 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 mobilisation 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 Programmes

Building Civic Power

• Latino Nonprofit Accelerator: 18-month programme providing grant funding, one-on-one coaching, visibility to funders, marketing/communications training, fundraising mentorship, and leadership development
• Capital Grants Programme: Helps organisations secure permanent headquarters
• Poderate: Arts and culture programme
• 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
• Immigrant Rights Defense Fund: Rapid response grants mobilised for organisations providing legal aid and defending immigrant rights across California

Voter Mobilisation

• Get-out-the-vote investments in California, Arizona, and Nevada

Priority Areas

• Civic Engagement: Mobilising 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 organisations
• Organisations 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 organisations." He has also highlighted the funding gap: "There's an invisibility in the philanthropic sector when it comes to funding Latino organisations and Latino-serving efforts. That's a huge blind spot that absolutely needs to be addressed."

Board Chair: Lydia Villarreal – Retired judge and longtime advocate for farmworker justice, succeeding former Board Chair Daniel L. Skaff

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

Notable Board Members:

• 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 organisations that align with their funding priorities to apply for grants.

For Organisations Interested in Funding:

• Complete an Organisational Profile on the LCF website to provide information about your organisation
• 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) organisation
• Organisation'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 organisation with information about next steps
• Specific decision timelines vary by programme and are communicated during the invitation process

Success Rates

In 2025, LCF awarded over $12 million to 189 organisations, with 36% 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. Organisations should contact grants@latinocf.org for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Leadership and Community Connection: LCF prioritises organisations "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 organisations that are "developing community leaders," "fostering community-driven solutions," and "building political power to advance equity." They emphasise measurable and sustainable impact.

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

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

Recent Funding Examples:

• Voter Mobilisation (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 organisations 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 Organisational 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 organisations, 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 programmes (limited exceptions for specific voter mobilisation and giving circle initiatives)
• Demonstrate community roots: Emphasise deep community connections, trust-based relationships, and grassroots organising 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 mobilisation

References

• Latino Community Foundation Official Website - Grantmaking Page: https://latinocf.org/grantmaking/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Latino Community Foundation - What We Fund: https://latinocf.org/what-we-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Latino Community Foundation - Our People: https://latinocf.org/our-people/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - Latino Community Foundation Profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/bay-area-grants/latino-community-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - "Eight Questions for Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation" (2024)
• NBC News - "Julián Castro's new philanthropic mission at Latino Community Foundation: helping Latinos help themselves" (2024)
• Latino Community Foundation - "Announcing LCF's New CEO": https://latinocf.org/announcing-lcfs-new-ceo/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Latino Community Foundation - "My First 100 Days: Reflections from LCF's CEO Julián Castro": https://latinocf.org/my-first-100-days-reflections-from-lcfs-ceo-julian-castro/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Business Wire - "Latino Community Foundation Awards Nearly $4 Million in Grants to Empower Latino Communities" (March 2025)
• Business Wire - "Latino Community Foundation Surpasses $7 Million in Grantmaking This Year with New Investments in Grassroots Power Building" (June 2025)
• Business Wire - "Latino Community Foundation Nearly Doubles 2025 Grantmaking, Releases $2.9M in Q3 Investments" (September 2025)
• Business Wire / FinancialContent - "Latino Community Foundation Exceeds $50M in All-time Grantmaking to More Than 550 Power-building Nonprofit Organisations Serving Latino Communities" (April 2026)
• Philanthropy News Digest - "Latino Community Foundation awards $3.4 million in grants"
• Inside Philanthropy - "To Mobilise Voters, the Latino Community Foundation Reaches Beyond California for the First Time" (April 2024)
• Latino Community Foundation - "Announcing Our Get-Out-the-Vote Investments in California, Arizona, and Nevada": https://latinocf.org/announcing-our-get-out-the-vote-investments-in-california-arizona-and-nevada/ (Accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile - Latino Community Foundation (EIN 81-0564400)
• Candid Foundation Directory - Latino Community Foundation
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Latino Community Foundation (EIN 81-0564400)