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IMPACT REPORT 2020
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Stabilizing Families, Communities and D A A CO LOR Nonprofits During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Friends and Supporters,
WHO IS LCFC?
As 2020 comes to a close, we can truly say this has been a year like no other. The stress that has been put on our families and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic is the worst our team has experienced in our 30+ years of nonprofit work. We know that our Latino, immigrant, and refugee communities have suffered in their health, their economic opportunities, and in education in disproportionate numbers, and that our battle isn't over yet. But we also know that by listening to our grassroots leaders, our rising youth activists and our older adults with decades of experience, we can create strategies that can make difficult times a little easier for Latinos across Colorado.
The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) is a state-based philanthropic foundation—led by Latinos and for Latinos. We pursue civic, economic, and cultural opportunities that drive a more authentic narrative about Latinos in the state, and cement a healthy and vibrant future where all Latino Coloradans will prosper. Our 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.
In March of 2020, the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) launched Ayuda Colorado as a three-tiered approach that supports the Latino-led and serving (LLS) and immigrant and refugee serving (IRS) organizations that make the lives of Latinos better from Durango to Pueblo to Grand Junction to Denver. These organizations are already amongst the most nimble, flexible, and resourceful in serving our marginalized community, and through Ayuda Colorado we quickly served them through grantmaking and investments, data and resources, and capacity building opportunities.
We support the diverse Latino communities of Colorado and are there for them when they most need us. That is why when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, LCFC immediately touched base with community leaders to learn how best to support our families, communities, and organizations.
The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado received unprecedented support from many like-minded funders and dozens of individual donors. Through the generosity of our community philanthropists, we have already put nearly $1 million of direct funds into the Latino community of Colorado, strengthened our nonprofit organizations and leaders through personalized support, and gathered data that informed decisions at all levels. We are pleased to share with you the impact of Ayuda Colorado in these pages. We hope that you, like us, find inspiration in these pages and feel a bit brighter about our collective future knowing the impact your dollars had through the Ayuda Colorado strategy. With Gratitude,
Diana Aldapa Brenda Rodriguez-Vera
Cec Ortiz LCFC Staff
WHY AYUDA COLORADO? When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March of 2020, The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) launched Ayuda (help) Colorado—a three-tiered response designed specifically to support and stabilize Latino led and Latino serving (LLS) nonprofit organizations and immigrant and refugee serving organizations (IRS) through grantmaking and investments, data and resources, and capacity building opportunities. This community-led strategy stabilizes and strengthens the Latino, immigrant and refugee nonprofit infrastructure—the vehicle by which families receive support. We know from our community leaders that having direct access to services and supports, in a culturally relevant manner, is critical for families in times of crisis.
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GRANTMAKING & INVESTMENTS
This two-way approach provides our community with information to assist in accessing resources, building strategy, and managing an unprecedented crisis through comprehensive plans. It also provides data to governmental institutions, statewide funders, and others so they may understand the impact of the pandemic on the Latino community.
Funding provides grants and investments to stabilize and support organizations, improve technology, provide basic needs (housing assistance, food, utilities) for community members, and pilot innovative problem solving ventures in response to COVID-19.
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DATA & RESOURCES
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CAPACITY BUILDING
Opportunities focus on capacity building through relationship building. This effort supported nonprofit leaders in short-term crisis responses, long-term sustainability, and personalized support through open community roundtables.
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WITH YOUR SUPPORT IN $961,270 Total grants and assistance distributed since April 2020.
130 115
2020 $1,700,000 Leveraged into community through philanthropic partnerships.
unique grants and assistance.
Economic Assistance
$
organizations reached with Capacity Building efforts.
60
statewide organizations received money under Ayuda.
10
community leaders or groups distributed direct assistance to families and individuals.
LCFC based its strategy on the recurring needs reported most often by grantees and community members.
Health & Safety Measures
Mental Health Awareness
Crisis Management
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DATA AND RESOURCES Empowering our community with data to make informed decisions and develop strategies When COVID-19 entered our Colorado communities there were still more questions than answers. Culturally relevant resource lists and well-vetted data were key to understanding and lessening the impact on our community.
DATA
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RESOURCES
1. DATA COLLECTION
1. RESOURCE PAGE
From our first community conversations, LCFC knew that nonprofit leaders were seeing firsthand how COVID-19 was disproportionately affecting Latinos, immigrants, and people of color. This was witnessed by grassroots leaders far before this realization was understood at a state or national level.
As the pandemic began, community leaders reported that they required resources to assist them, but they found the number of resources available overwhelming, and that many were not accessible in Spanish, available to undocumented individuals, or otherwise not accessible or culturally appropriate.
LCFC's evaluation team quickly strategized how to collect data from community leaders to offset what we knew to be true: that Latinos were being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 but not proportionately assisted.
LCFC responded by creating a dedicated Resource webpage that featured only trusted and verified resources. This website continues to be updated at: LatinoCFC.org/AyudaColoradoResources
2. COVID-19 IMPACT REPORT
2. SOCIAL MEDIA
In May, LCFC created the first COVID-19 Impact Report using statewide sources and the organization's own quantitative and qualitative data collected from phone calls, interviews, and the fruitful conversations happening in capacity building sessions. The Impact Report (updated and re-released in June, July, and September) has helped to inform the work of the other tiers of the Ayuda Colorado strategy and been downloaded by funders, government officials, and others.
Dissemination of resources via social media has proved key in impacting community members and organizations. From free COVID-19 testing sites to loan and funding opportunities to shared learnings, the over 6000 Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram followers of LCFC were able to access hundreds of resources shared throughout 2020 on these platforms.
3. PARTNERSHIPS
3. KNOWLEDGE AS RESOURCE
In August, LCFC partnered with the Latino Leadership Institute (LLI) and Latino Decisions in order to procure an oversampling of data of Latino Coloradans in order to fully understand the impact of COVID-19 on the Latino population. From this data collection came an hour-long webinar as well as four action briefs with concentrations on key issues in the Latino community. Key findings are outlined on page 6.
The knowledge of the Latino leaders in community is one of the greatest resources we have. With experience in nonprofit organizations through previous crises including the 2008 great recession and the post 9/11 economic downturn, LCFC staff provided crisis management expertise in personalized strategy sessions and capacity building sessions (further outlined on page 9).
For more information, contact ResourceList@LatinoCFC.org.
DATA AND RESOURCES This data from Latino Decisions, based on an oversampling of Latinos in Colorado, paints a picture of the impact of COVID-19 on the Latino population in Colorado in the areas of health, economy, jobs, and education.
LATINOS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID-19. THOUGH LATINOS ARE 21% OF THE POPULATION OF COLORADO ...
37%
23%
Latinos represent 37% of the state's COVID-19 cases.
Percentage of Latino Coloradans who know somebody who has been infected with COVID-19. Percentage of Latino Coloradans who have lost their job or know someone who has. Percentage of Latino Coloradans who are personally concerned that their children might be exposed to coronavirus if they go to school in person.
This data was correct as of November 2020
Latinos represent 23% of deaths among COVID-19 cases
25% 70% 76%
Percentage of Latino Coloradans who have had a difficult time buying or finding necessities.
56%
Percentage of Latino Coloradans who reported that someone in their household lost employer health benefits because of COVID-19.
83% 0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
PUTTING THE DATA IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNITY
90%
of LCFC grantee organizations were ready to share out information from this data set with their networks.
"Thank you all for your leadership and for providing this learning opportunity. It was very engaging and accessible, and I hope there are many more to come in the future. I am already sharing much of what I learned with my colleagues."
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GRANTMAKING AND INVESTMENTS Not just responsive grantmaking; innovative and proactive investments Almost immediately after the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, LCFC began distributing funds to Latino-led and serving nonprofits and immigrant and refugee serving nonprofits. Through conversations with past grantees and community members, it became clear that the financial response needed to not only be lightning fast, but also have an easily accessible bilingual application and simple reporting requirements.
Special Projects+ $93,550 Allocated for innovative pilot programs, organizational capacity building, and other special projects.
$961,270 Total grants and assistance distributed since April 2020
Round 1 Tech Grants $100,000 LCFC distributed up to $2500 to 43 grantee organizations in April 2020. Funds were used to purchase laptops, zoom subscriptions, access to mass texting software and more.
Round 2 GenOp and Basic Needs LCFC distributed up to $10,000 to 36 grantee organizations in general operating funds, with priority given to organizations that serve the basic needs of the Latino, immigrant, and refugee community including rent assistance, food and other basic community needs.
Direct Assistance $184,000 LCFC provided direct assistance to families and individuals for housing, food, utilities, childcare, internet, and more through community leaders to reach marginalized communities not eligible for unemployment or federal stimulus support. This included DACA recipients at universities and colleges.
LCFC also encouraged 2019 and early 2020 grantees to redirect previous project-based funding to COVID-19 needs.
Round 3 Basic Needs and Organizational Wellness $282,720 LCFC made 36 grants to organizations serving basic community needs and to efforts to promote organizational wellness—strategies that build cohesion, wellness and synergy with staff and/or volunteers.
$400,000+ Future Round 4 Ayuda CO Grantmaking There is still time to donate to Ayuda CO!
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GRANTMAKING AND INVESTMENTS RECIPIENTS STATEWIDE & DENVER-BOULDER METRO AREA* $541,770 Asian Pacific Development Center (Statewide) Athletics & Beyond Cal-Wood Education Center Casa de Paz Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores Colorado Circles for Change Colorado Changemakers Collective Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (Statewide) Colorado Jobs with Justice Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) (Statewide) Colorado People's Alliance (COPA) Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (Statewide) Cultivando Denver Children's Advocacy Center Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA) El Centro AMISTAD El Grupo Vida Focus Points Family Resource Center The Growhaus Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County INSPiRE La Pinata del Aprendizaje Las Mujeres Valientes Fellowship Alumni (Statewide) Latin American Educational Foundation (Statewide) Latina SafeHouse The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County Law School Yes We Can Museo de las Americas NEWSED Community Development Corporation Padres y Jóvenes Unidos Philanthropiece Project VOYCE (Voices of Youth Creating Equity) Project Worthmore Re:Vision RISE Colorado Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) (Statewide) Servicios de la Raza (Statewide) WorkLife Partnership (Statewide) Youth Seen
EASTERN PLAINS $26,500 Advocates Against Domestic Violence Lamar Unidos The Small Town Project FRONT RANGE $165,300 Alianza NORCO Catholic Charities Diocese of Pueblo Centro de la Familia El Comité de Longmont. Inc. Fuerza Latina Grupo Esperanza Grupo Mayas La Cocina Mujeres de Colores OneMorgan County Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center WESTERN SLOPE $107,500 Child and Migrant Services, Inc. Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center Hispanic Affairs Project Integrated Community Literacy Outreach Vision Latina Voces Unidas de las Montañas SAN LUIS VALLEY $120,200 Antonito Learning Lab The Antonito Senior Citizens Association Justice & Heritage Academy San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center (SLVIRC) Soul Players of the Valley *Many of the Denver-Boulder Metro Area organizations are statewide organizations, and/or had reach expansion because of virtual services. Total for each area includes direct assistance.
A STORY OF IMPACT FROM FORT MORGAN
SPOTLIGHT ON THE TOWN OF ANTONITO
Morgan County's most marginalized residents—low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers reported that they experienced barriers with traditional food banks—language, hours of operation, transportation, and even harassment. LCFC grantee OneMorgan drew upon their deep connections in community in solving this problem and created an innovative foodbox delivery system. This ongoing program provides weekly boxes of culturally relevant staple foods as well as "tip cards" that provide culturally appropriate recipe suggestions, nutrition and food safety education, and multi-lingual reference guides to county COVID-19 relief resources.
Despite targeted funding for technology, Latino communities in Colorado are still experiencing a technology gap in relation to computers, reliable internet connections, and more. In response, LCFC partnered with the rural Conejos County town of Antonito, (pop. 781) to pilot a program for all town residents, 90% of whom are Latino. The Antonito Learning Lab will be near the town center, and will provide a computer lab, a space for kitchen and cooking classes, outdoor wifi, and more—ultimately serving as a focal point for the community. This project was created in partnership with for-profit company SimpleFly Tech.
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CAPACITY BUILDING Ensuring stability among nonprofit leaders Nonprofit leaders from Latino, immigrant, and refugee serving organizations across Colorado report on the unique experience of receiving personalized, culturally relevant support from a foundation. The Capacity Building arm of Ayuda Colorado focused on the personal connections that help isolated nonprofit leaders receive support during a challenging time. We call this capacity building through relationship building. Capacity Building roundtables were designed to bring together community and organizational leaders at LLS and IRS for the purpose of providing a safe space to learn, connect, process, and provide information. Leaders from any organization that had received funding from LCFC over the previous 12 years were invited to attend, as well as community leaders and any organizational leader serving Latinos and/or immigrants and refugees. The total number of invited participants was 115, and even more leaders were invited to join throughout the process.
MONTHLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROUNDTABLES
115
ORGANIZATIONS REACHED WITH CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORT
RESOURCE SHARING ON A PEER-TO-PEER BASIS
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS CONSISTENTLY REPORTED FEELING LESS ISOLATED BY ATTENDING THESE ROUNDTABLES
STORY OF IMPACT FROM A GRANTEE LEADER “I quickly wanted to say thank you to the LCFC team who put on the roundtable session this week. I was dragging that morning as stress levels were super high since Monday, but was energized and encouraged by the call. I forgot how much it means to hear others express frustration with [resources] and the need to hold [communities] accountable. It means so much to hear that you all...."get it", for real, and are willing to do more than talk about your commitments. The work LCFC is planning is so clearly aligned with actual community need—you all listened and strategized accordingly. Thank you. And, as a qualitatively trained scholar, I was also fully engaged by the data presentation!”
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THANK YOU A SPECIAL THANKS to the many individual donors who gave generously to make Ayuda Colorado possible.
FUNDERS The Ayuda Colorado strategy expands beyond the tried and true definitions of philanthropy. Thank you to our trusted partners, listed below, who embraced LCFC's innovative vision for how best to assist the over 1 million Latinos, immigrants and refugees across Colorado.
LCFC STAFF
Caring for Colorado Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado
Diana Aldapa Manager, Administration and Events Rachel Griego Vice President, Philanthropy Marisa Krueger Coordinator, Evaluation and Events Carlos Martinez President and CEO Priscilla Montoya Director, Strategy and Learning Cec Ortiz Senior Advisor Brenda Rodriguez-Vera Administrative Assistant Alexis Whitham Director of Communications and Grants Administration Daniela Young Program Officer
$25,000 +
LCFC BOARD
The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado will continue to distribute Ayuda Colorado funds in late 2020 and early 2021.
$250,000 + The Colorado Health Foundation Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
$50,000 +
Gates Family Foundation Rose Community Foundation Unidos US
$10,000 + Alpine Bank The Bright Mountain Foundation Energy Outreach Colorado In Memory of Irene Ibarra Molson Coors W.K. Kellogg Foundation Xcel Energy
$5,000 +
Yesenia Arreola Midy Aponte, Board Secretary Thomas Bryan, CPA, MBA, CPFIM Dr. Eric Ishiwata Guillermo Lambarri Dr. Debora Ortega Gary Poling, Board Treasurer Susana Salamun Gloria Schoch, Board Chair Elaine Torres Hollie Velasquez Horvath
Bamboo Fund The Latino Leadership Institute is a fundraising partner for Ayuda CO.
DONATE NOW LatinoCFC.org/Donate 10
DIG DEEPER INTO THIS REPORT BY VISITING: LatinoCFC.org/AyudaColorado LatinoCFC.org/ActionSeries
DONATE TO AYUDA COLORADO: LatinoCFC.org/Donate
CONTACT US Info@LatinoCFC.org 720.923.7614 2250 S. Oneida St, Suite 102 Denver CO, 80224 @LatinoCFC
LatinoCFC.org