Latest news with #JuliánCastro
Business Wire
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Latino Community Foundation Surpasses $7 Million in Grantmaking This Year with New Investments in Grassroots Power Building
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) has announced $3.4 million in new strategic grants this quarter—bringing its total grantmaking in 2025 to over $7.4 million, the highest in the Foundation's history. This groundbreaking achievement reflects LCF's deep and ongoing commitment to building long-term civic and economic power in Latino communities. LCF's new grants support Latino-led grassroots organizations tackling the most urgent issues head-on: leading wildfire recovery in Los Angeles, creating pathways to economic mobility, and mobilizing voters—using tools like community outreach and cultural storytelling to shift narratives and inspire civic action ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 'At a time when Latino communities face overlapping crises, the Latino Community Foundation is doubling down on our investment in grassroots leadership,' says Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. 'That includes our ongoing support for wildfire recovery in Los Angeles, where local leaders are working toward a just recovery while protecting our most vulnerable families from overzealous immigration enforcement. We're proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with leaders who know their communities best and are building a more just, resilient and equitable future.' LCF is investing $1.3M in economic justice and civic leadership, including $300,000 to support the second cohort of PoderArte, LCF's strategic initiative to strengthen cultural organizing and civic engagement through the arts. Another $676,000 is directed to organizations building economic power through workforce development, entrepreneurship, and cooperative ownership, ensuring Latino workers and entrepreneurs have a clear pathway to economic mobility. Through the California Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund, LCF has awarded over $2 million to eight frontline organizations including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Inclusive Action for the City, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), and offers to lead long-term wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles. Beyond their recovery work, these organizations have also gained national attention for supporting immigrant communities affected by the LA ICE raids, connecting them to legal aid and other critical resources. With this latest funding, LCF's total investment in wildfire recovery since January now tops $4.1 million. In response to escalating threats against immigrant communities, LCF recently mobilized $175,000 in urgent grants to trusted grassroots organizations defending immigrant rights and providing rapid legal aid across California. Since the 2024 election, LCF has awarded over $500,000 to support immigrant rights and legal services, reflecting its unwavering commitment to these communities. As LCF deepens its investment in Latino communities, it also welcomes new leadership at the helm of its board. The Honorable Lydia Villarreal has been named as its new Board Chair, succeeding longtime board leader Dan Skaff. Villarreal is a retired judge and longtime advocate for farmworker justice with decades of experience serving communities across California. 'I am deeply honored to join hands with the Latino Community Foundation at such a critical time, as we advance the mission to build the civic and economic power of the Latino community,' said Villarreal. 'Speaking on behalf of the board, we are proud to support the work of our community partners, guided by love, culture, and power.' About Latino Community Foundation The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos. LCF has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has raised over $100 million to build Latino civic and political power. It is the largest Latino-serving foundation in the nation. In 2023, LCF named former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro as its CEO. For more information, please visit
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Wire
Latino Community Foundation Funds Efforts Across California to Protect Immigrant Families
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In direct response to the escalation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across California, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) is mobilizing $175,000 in new Latino Power Fund grants to trusted, community-based organizations providing rapid legal defense for detained immigrants, emergency assistance, and advocacy for immigrant families. 'This is a moment when philanthropy must move swiftly and with trust in the leadership of grassroots organizations rooted in the communities they serve,' said Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. 'We are proud to support effective partners who are working tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of immigrant families across California. We are also proud of our community of donors who invest in this critical work through their ongoing support of our Latino Power Fund.' This latest round of funding builds on LCF's longstanding commitment to immigrant rights, demonstrated in December 2024 by the awarding of six strategic capacity grants to grassroots immigrant rights organizations in California's most vulnerable and underfunded regions. In March 2025, LCF announced new funding for immigrant-serving nonprofits to strengthen rapid response networks and strategic communications. Today's grant recipients include: Al Otro Lado (Los Angeles & Border Region) Education and Leadership Foundation (Central Valley) Community Justice Alliance (Fresno) Centro Legal de la Raza (Bay Area & Central Valley) CARECEN (Los Angeles) Together, these grants aim to strengthen the broader ecosystem of immigration legal support across California by boosting the capacity of the trusted infrastructure that immigrant communities rely on. By investing in regions like the Central Valley, LCF is addressing the persistent legal deserts that often force families to travel long distances for representation. At California's southern border—where immigrants are frequently released without support or means to navigate the impacts of deportation—LCF's partners are on the ground providing legal assistance and reintegration services. LCF is focused on addressing the immediate needs of immigrant communities across California. Families and the organizations they rely on are under threat—enduring inhumane treatment and facing a relentless wave of fear and intimidation. In response, LCF is standing firm in its unwavering commitment to invest in trusted, community-rooted organizations and the leaders on the frontlines of this crisis. About Latino Community Foundation The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos. LCF has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has raised $100 million to build Latino civic and political power. It is the largest Latino-serving foundation in the nation. In December 2023, LCF named former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro as its CEO. For more information, please visit
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Latino Community Foundation Unveils New Research on Latino Entrepreneurship, Highlighting Untapped Economic Potential for the Nation
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California's economy, the fourth largest in the world, offers a glimpse of what's possible for the United States: greater prosperity fueled by Latino entrepreneurs. But new research from the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) reveals the nation is leaving billions on the table by failing to invest in the very businesses driving local growth and job creation. As National Small Business Week kicks off, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) releases two new research reports developed in collaboration with national thought leaders: The California Procurement Playbook, produced in partnership with Drexel University's Nowak Metro Finance Lab, and Investing in California's Future: An Analysis of Latino-led CDFIs in California, developed with the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB). Together, the reports spotlight the untapped economic potential of Latino-led small businesses and lay out a path for California and the nation. 'Latinos are twice as likely to start businesses, and Latinas are launching new businesses at six times the national average,' said Julián Castro, CEO of the Latino Community Foundation. 'Yet our communities still face a sizable wealth gap and inequitable access to capital and scalable procurement opportunities. It is troubling that only two percent of federal contracts in California are performed by Latino-owned firms. These reports are also about more than numbers—they're about ensuring that Latino families, entrepreneurs, and business owners have equitable access to the financial tools that create opportunity, promote scalability, and build generational wealth.' 'California recently surpassed Japan as the fourth largest economy in the world. This report shows that the state can soar even higher by investing in Latino-led CDFIs,' said Marla Bilonick, President and CEO of NALCAB. 'We are grateful to the Latino Community Foundation for their partnership in elevating the strengths of Latino CDFIs and providing a vision for a more robust Latino CDFI presence in the Golden State. The economic power that Latinos generate for the United States is equal to the fifth largest economy in the world. It's vital that we channel that strength within the CDFI industry to lift all of our communities.' Key findings from Investing in California's Future: An analysis of Latino-led CDFIs in California report include: Latinos make up 40% of California's population but lead only 15% of the state's CDFIs. Latino-led CDFIs are more likely to serve Latino clients and offer culturally relevant services, including technical assistance and microloans. Latino-led CDFIs are mostly based in urban areas, while many rural counties with large Latino populations have little to no access to these resources. Latino-led CDFIs, especially in California, rely less on government and bank loans. They use more flexible and community-centered funding approaches. The California Procurement Playbook is a first-of-its-kind analysis of how Latino-owned businesses in California are faring in the federal procurement economy—and how much opportunity remains untapped. 'California—home to the nation's fourth-largest economy and more than 80,000 Latino-owned employer firms—offers a powerful opportunity to grow local and diverse businesses through procurement,' said Bruce Katz, Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University. 'But to truly scale these businesses, we need a firm-first approach. The California Procurement Playbook outlines a bold strategy centered on supplier development and access to capital—key investments that can unlock the full potential of Latino-owned firms. A thriving, competitive economy depends on opening up procurement opportunities to small and local businesses, not just long-standing incumbents. I applaud the Latino Community Foundation for spearheading this effort to build a more inclusive and innovative economy from the ground up.' Key findings from the California Procurement Playbook include: Latino-owned businesses capture only 2% of federal contracts in California, despite being 11.4% of employer firms and 40% of the state's population. Nearly 2,900 Latino firms are registered to compete for federal contracts but have never won one. Construction, security, aerospace manufacturing, and architectural services are all ripe for greater Latino participation. Language access, limited capital, and lack of ecosystem coordination prevent many firms from scaling. To download the full reports and explore how the Latino Community Foundation is advancing economic justice for Latino entrepreneurs, visit: About Latino Community Foundation The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) strives to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos in California and beyond. Through nationally recognized programs like the Latino Nonprofit Accelerator and the Latino Giving Circle Network, LCF transforms philanthropy by centering trust, relationships, and community. From economic justice to civic leadership, LCF is building a future where Latinos lead with love and strength—and where no one is left behind. Learn more by visiting About NALCAB NALCAB is a one-of-a kind CDFI intermediary with 200+ member CDFI and economic development nonprofit member organizations that are working to maximize the economic contributions of the Latino population to the U.S. economy. Our presence extends to all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Learn more at
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MEDIA BRIEFING: Exclusive Insights from New National Poll Reveals Latino Voter Sentiment on Economy, Immigration, and the Road Ahead After Trump's First 100 Days
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Latino Community Foundation: WHAT: The Latino Community Foundation and Voto Latino Foundation invite members of the media to an exclusive virtual media briefing unveiling groundbreaking new national poll of Latino voters who participated in the 2024 election. This timely briefing will offer essential insights into how Latino voters—the second-largest voting bloc in the U.S.—are reacting to President Trump's first 100 days in office, with a special focus on key issues such as the economy and immigration. WHO: Julián Castro, CEO, Latino Community Foundation Maria Teresa Kumar, Co-Founder and President, Voto Latino Senior researchers from GQR, the firm that conducted the poll WHEN: Monday, April 28th at 10 AM PT WHERE: (Registration required for access) WHY: Following the results of the 2024 Presidential Election, the role that Latino voters will play in deciding the outcome of future presidential elections will become even more pronounced. It is vital that we continuously understand the sentiments, viewpoints, and attitudes of the nation's second largest voting bloc in the nation. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACTS: For interview requests and additional information: Latino Community Foundation Victoria Sanchez De Alba | De Alba Communicationsvictoria@ | 650.270.7810 Voto Latino Press@ Sign in to access your portfolio
