Folly #56: Marginalized Communities

If you fund them, support their skill building and networking too.

Recently I met a Latina colleague for coffee and she opened my eyes to this fact: there is no career path for LatinX fundraisers. She’s often the sole LatinX attendee at networking events.

It made me ask how I could support her as an ally. (I am white.) It also opened my eyes. I started looking for resources focused on those who bring their talents and LatinX lived experience to nonprofits.

My next conversation with a Latino colleague was more troubling. 

The quest I mention above led me to Somos El Poder, a really impressive LatinX fundraising institute and network. When I spoke with their founder during a member orientation, he shared the difficulty of getting in front of community foundations that have changed their giving priorities to focus on racial equity.

In my work with the American Mexican Association — which has a broader goal of building visibility, skills and wealth across sectors – I also saw the barriers that these organizations face in reaching funders.

How can a foundation say it supports marginalized communities, yet not include access to professional development as part of that effort? Is there no rising tide to lift all barcas?

So I joined Somos El Poder (SEP) as an ally, and bought a gift membership (asking her permission first, of course) for my Latina friend who had graciously educated me. When you join, SEP sends friendly reminders about member benefits, including:

Hours of free consulting with a mentor of your choice.

Free access to subscription publications, like Inside Philanthropy.

High quality webinars that, in a single month, included topics related to digital philanthropy, empowering POC through fundraising, and tapping new donors.

Discounts to their annual 2-day conference (not surprisingly, it’s sold out for 2024) and a special LatinX fundraising certificate program.

An online orientation with the founder and associate director, to ease member access to their network and free resources.

That’s nearly $4,000 in free professional development services for a $75 membership. Talk about leveraging your dollars!

Some community foundations pay a nonprofit’s fee for platforms like Catch-A-Fire, to support capacity building through volunteer-led projects. Doesn’t it make sense for funders focused on equity to ask – as part of their proposal and grantmaking process – if a grantee would like membership in any culturally relevant, professional development network like these? Again, big leverage for small dollars!

Sponsoring networks like Somos El Poder for LatinX fundraisers supports staff from underrepresented communities and professional development in the nonprofit sector.

It’s also an opportunity for each of us to step up as allies.

I asked during my orientation with Somos El Poder what introductions or advocacy would be helpful. The answer:

A call with a community foundation, because most were unresponsive to their outreach.

(Honor to this small group of foundations that are SEP supporters.)

So I checked my mental rolodex (and my LInkedIn) and sent three emails to colleagues at three community foundations asking if they would meet with the Somos El Poder founder. Two responded “yes” within a day. I introduced them, and bowed out.

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What networks do you know that support career success for individuals of marginalized communities? I’d be so grateful if you would …

… below and share a link to that network’s website.