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Latino Community Foundation Of Colorado Inc

Annual Giving
$14.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.0M00
Decision Time
5mo
Success Rate
41%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: Up to $10,000 (capacity building grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Colorado statewide
  • Total Assets: $14.7 million (2023)

Contact Details

Website: https://latinocfc.org/
Phone: 720.923.7614
Email: info@latinocfc.org
Grant Inquiries: grants@latinocfc.org
Address: 2250 S Oneida St Ste 102, Denver, CO 80224-2557

Overview

The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) was founded in 2007 by 17 Latino families and several foundations as an initiative of Rose Community Foundation, becoming an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2019. As one of only six Latino foundations in the United States, LCFC has grown significantly with total assets of $14.7 million and annual giving of $14 million in 2024. The foundation's mission is to "work hand in hand with our diverse communities to create culturally responsive strategies that build influence, equity and opportunity for all Latino Coloradans." LCFC focuses on driving resources into communities to build leadership, strengthen organizations, and fuel innovative and equitable systems change. The organization received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 97% score and has launched a $20 million endowment campaign titled "One Community, One Legacy."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant (NPI)

  • Partnership with Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA)
  • $13.1 million awarded to 163 small nonprofit organizations
  • Budget range: $150,000 - $2,000,000 annual operating budget
  • Geographic focus: Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Grand, Jefferson, Lake, Park, Pitkin, and Summit counties
  • Funding uses: Strategic planning, organizational development, professional development, technology infrastructure, marketing and communication, program expansion/evaluation
  • Application method: Periodic application windows (most recent closed August 31, 2023)

Adelante Colorado

  • Two-year capacity building cohort program (not direct program funding)
  • Grant period: August 2025-May 2027 for current cohort
  • 23 organizations selected for first cohort (2021-2024), 10 for second cohort (2025-2027)
  • Includes quarterly meetings, coaching, and peer learning
  • Next cohort applications will not open until 2027
  • Application method: Invitation-based selection process

Ayuda Colorado Fund

  • Rapid response grants for Latino-serving organizations, immigrant and refugee organizations
  • Three capacity-building grants totaling $100,000 awarded to advocacy-focused organizations ineligible for NPI funding
  • Application method: By invitation only

General Capacity Building Grants

  • Awards to Latino-led and Latino-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Colorado
  • Grant amount: Up to $10,000 for one year
  • Eligibility: Annual operating budget under $2 million AND minimum budget of $25,000 or one full-time paid staff member

Priority Areas

LCFC prioritizes funding for:

  • Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations in Colorado
  • Organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities
  • Organizations serving rural regions
  • Organizations explicitly serving Latino communities (stated in mission/vision)
  • Organizations where 75% or more of clientele/program participants are Latino
  • Small nonprofits serving historically underrepresented communities (LGBT, BIPOC, Women, Gender non-conforming, Disability/neurodiversity, Low-income, Immigrant/refugee, Rural)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with annual operating budgets over $2 million (for most programs)
  • Organizations already participating in other capacity building programs (for Adelante Colorado)
  • Organizations not serving Colorado residents
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations (for most grant programs)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Team

Carlos Martinez, President & CEO (since January 2014)
Martinez directs LCFC's efforts to expand philanthropy by Latinos and advances the foundation's vision of building civic power of Latinos in Colorado. He serves on the boards of Colorado Health Foundation and History Colorado. According to Martinez: "We invest in good leaders. They know best how to invest their dollars." He emphasizes that "What we are doing now to prepare for the future is so we can ensure not just the Latino community, but that Colorado is strong."

Rachel Griego, Executive Vice President
Brings 20+ years of nonprofit experience with previous work at UnidosUS and U.S. State Department. Oversees regional investments and program strategy.

Dr. Olivia Garcia, Vice President of Organizational Development
Nonprofit leader and policy expert with PhD in Political Science from UCLA. Experienced in advocacy and leadership development.

Kourtney Rimbert, Director of Finance and Human Resources
15 years financial management experience with Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Manages finance, HR, and administration.

Leesly León, Director of Strategic Communications & Impact Storytelling
15+ years global communications experience as bilingual communicator with background in nonprofit, government, and international organizations.

Rosalind Santos Hall, Director of Leadership & Nonprofit Investment

Stephanie Monge, Program Manager

Board of Directors

  • Elaine D. Torres - Director of Community and Strategic Partnerships at CBS Colorado
  • Hollie Velasquez Horvath - Regional Vice President, State Affairs and Community Relations at Xcel Energy
  • Michelle M. Lucero - Strategic Advisor for Children's Hospital Colorado (previously Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel)
  • Yesenia Silva Estrada - Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Colorado Mountain College

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The large majority of LCFC's grantmaking is by invitation only. LCFC proactively identifies and invites organizations that align with their funding priorities to apply for grants.

For Organizations Interested in Future Funding:

  • Complete an Organizational Profile on the LCFC website to provide insight into your organization
  • LCFC occasionally conducts open RFP processes, which are advertised on their social media platforms
  • Contact grants@latinocfc.org for more information

For Specific Grant Programs:

  • Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant: Periodic application windows (most recent was July 5 - August 31, 2023). Requires Unique Entity ID (UEI) registration on Sam.gov
  • Adelante Colorado: Applications are currently closed; next cohort applications will not open until 2027
  • Ayuda Colorado Fund: By invitation only

Decision Timeline

Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant (NPI):

  • Application period: July 5 - August 31, 2023
  • Award distributions: February-April 2024
  • Final fund expenditure deadline: December 31, 2026
  • Approximately 5-6 months from application deadline to award notification

Success Rates

Nonprofit Infrastructure Grant Program:

  • 401 applications received
  • 163 grants awarded
  • Success rate: Approximately 41%
  • Total funding requested: $35.5 million
  • Total funding available: $13.1 million

Technical Assistance:

  • LCFC provided 1,375 hours of technical assistance to 401 applicants through the NPI program, demonstrating significant investment in supporting applicants regardless of funding outcome

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Organizations should contact LCFC directly for guidance on reapplication procedures for specific grant programs.

Application Success Factors

Based on LCFC's documented priorities and approach, successful applicants demonstrate:

Community-Centered Approach: LCFC values organizations that are "deeply committed to serving Latino and immigrant communities and are rooted in these communities, actively engage community members in shaping programs and services, and have leadership (Board and executive staff) that reflects the communities they serve." CEO Carlos Martinez emphasizes: "One of the things Latino communities and communities of color struggle with is that a lot of times the funding opportunities don't align with the kind of work they want to do to really strengthen our communities."

Culturally Responsive Strategies: LCFC uses a "culturally grounded process" for selection and values organizations that create "culturally responsive strategies" and provide "culturally appropriate, and relevant programs and services." The foundation's values emphasize being "family-centered, community-led," and focused on "cultural justice."

Leadership that Reflects Community: Organizations with board members and executive staff that reflect the Latino communities they serve are prioritized. The foundation looks for organizations explicitly serving Latino communities in their mission or vision, with 75% or more Latino clientele.

Track Record of Effectiveness: For the NPI program, LCFC seeks "organizations and community groups that have a track record of providing effective, culturally appropriate, and relevant programs and services to their communities who have historically been underrepresented, underserved, or under-resourced in Colorado."

COVID-19 Impact Documentation: For specific programs like NPI, organizations must demonstrate they have been "impacted or disproportionately impacted by COVID-19."

Commitment to Systemic Change: LCFC prioritizes "efforts that will make systemic change" and looks for organizations working to "fuel innovative and equitable systems change."

Organizations Serving Underrepresented Communities: Strong preference for organizations serving historically underrepresented communities including LGBT, BIPOC, Women, Gender non-conforming, Disability/neurodiversity, Low-income, Immigrant/refugee, and Rural populations. In 2024, 93% of grantees served communities of color, 79% supported immigrants & refugees, 73% uplifted the LGBTQ+ community, and 43% focused on rural Colorado.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: Most grantmaking is by invitation, so completing an Organizational Profile and building visibility with LCFC is essential for future consideration
  • Cultural alignment is critical: Organizations must demonstrate deep roots in Latino communities with leadership that reflects the communities served and culturally responsive programming
  • Small nonprofit focus: LCFC specifically targets small nonprofits (under $2M budget) that may be overlooked by larger funders
  • Community engagement matters: Active engagement of community members in shaping programs and services is a stated priority
  • Technical assistance available: LCFC invested 1,375 hours in supporting 401 applicants through one program alone, indicating they support capacity building even for unfunded applicants
  • Competitive process: With 41% success rate on NPI grants and invitation-only processes for most programs, strong alignment with mission and documented community impact are essential
  • Long-term relationship building: With cohort-based programs like Adelante Colorado running on multi-year cycles (next not until 2027), building relationships with LCFC staff and staying connected through their organizational profile system is important for future opportunities

References

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