Latino Community Foundation and Google.org Invest in Nonprofits Like Startups

Jul 11, 2019

Image source: Google

Tech-Inspired Accelerator, Incubator Launch Event to Welcome Second Cohort of Grassroots Community Organizations of the Latino Nonprofit Accelerator

SAN FRANCISCO: The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) and Google.org announced today the launch event of their second cohort of the groundbreaking Latino Nonprofit Accelerator. The first-ever Accelerator for Latino nonprofits has proven to be powerful in its impact, securing $2.5M for participants. On July 11^th and 12^th, LCF will host a Retreat, welcoming the second cohort of the Accelerator at The Google Community Space. The Latino Nonprofit Accelerator is now a model for effective capacity building in the philanthropic sector and is a true example of leveraging tech for good.

Media representatives are invited to attend the welcoming of the second cohort on Thursday, July 11, 9:30 a.m., at The Google Community Space, 188 Embarcadero in San Francisco. Interviews are available upon request.

Inspired by the tech sector’s effectiveness for providing entrepreneurial startups with investments ― showcasing their big ideas, mentoring and making key philanthropic introductions ― the year-long Accelerator empowers nonprofits. It boosts the selected cohort of community leaders with the fundraising, coaching, and branding tools needed to increase confidence, communicate through storytelling, and prepare well-designed elevator pitches. All of which, ultimately, helps these nonprofits secure critical new funding. Organizations also participate in four retreats where funders, mentors, and cohort leaders learn from each other. The Accelerator culminates in a Demo Day, where leaders pitch their work to a community of investors, funders, and individual donors. Watch the video from the 2018 Demo Day here.

“We are no longer asking ‘what if we invested in nonprofits the way we do in start-ups?’ We are showing the world how it’s done,” said Masha Chernyak, LCF Vice President of Programs and the architect of the Accelerator. “We need to give our nonprofit leaders, the ones fighting on the frontlines, what they’ve been asking for—unrestricted funding, world class branding, photography and fundraising mentorship. We are doing that and grounding our work in love, culture and trust. That’s true innovation. It’s time to bet big on our grassroots; to invest in our gamechangers, and to change the game. The world is ready.”

The Latino Community Foundation’s vision ―to amplify the voice and accelerate the impact of grassroots organizations― in partnership with Google.org’s $1M commitment turned this goal into reality for the inaugural cohort. In its first pilot year, the Latino Community Foundation secured $2.5M in new funding for the cohort, doubled the confidence of all 9 Latino-led organization participants, and amplified the collective power of grassroots leadership.

“As a result of being part of the Accelerator, we were able to increase our foundation funding by more than half a million dollars,” said Jacob Martinez, Founder of Digital Nest. “Having access to top-notch consultants and visionaries who helped us tell our story and introductions to funders made a huge difference for the future of our organizations. Most of all, I feel like we are part of a loving family that truly has our back.”

While inspired by the tech industry, the initiative is designed with culture, community activism, and love at its core. In 2019, the Latino Community Foundation is building on the pilot’s success, helping to expand the model to a larger geographic area of the state. The Foundation is also piloting an Accelerator Lite program modeled after the Accelerator in priority regions-Central Valley and Silicon Valley.

Program funders are excited and growing in numbers. Google.org invested $1M in the pilot alongside The San Francisco Foundation, Akonadi Foundation, and Y&H Soda Foundation. In year two, new funders who are backing this vital program that accelerates change and sustainability in the nonprofit sector include: the California Wellness Foundation, the California Endowment, JP Morgan and Chase, The Chavez Family Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Bank of the West and others.

“We are honored to support The Latino Nonprofit Accelerator – the innovative program empowering social change leaders and organizations,” said Adrian Schurr, the Bay Area Giving Program Manager at Google.org. “Not only does the Latino Community Foundation share Google’s belief that technology and innovation can accelerate change, but they are proving it. We are proud to support the only statewide foundation investing in grassroots Latino nonprofits with this exciting model that merges the power of tech with positive social impact.”

The nine organizations selected for the 2019-2020 Accelerator are: