Latino Community Fund strives to engage the community in the process of investing in our collective future and uses an asset-based participatory approach to grant awards. Community grants are typically awarded to Latino-led and Latino accountable programs and organizations whose work is creating more equitable change and investing in the future of Latino children and families.
Since it began, LCF has invested over $500,000 in community grants and scholarships to improve education, economic empowerment, arts, civic engagement, environmental justice and health in our communities. It has also facilitated more than $1 million for fiscally sponsored projects that have benefited thousands more community members through arts, legal aid, counseling, health, children and youth programs.
In 2023, LCF hosted our Community Grants Committee to grant over $100,000 to Latinx-led community organizations in WA State. The committee celebrated and shared Latinx/e Community Abundance! Our nomination process is now closed! Stay tuned for more information for our 2024 Community Grants Process.
2024 Community Grants Nomination Form will be live mid-2024.
Sign up to get more information about our 2024 Community Grants
2023 Grant Awards Nomination Information (now closed)
Do you know a great, under-resourced Latinx/e-based program or organization that is doing critical community work? If so, please nominate them for the Latinx/e Community Fund’s (LCF) grant award.
LCF invites nominations for 2023 Community Grant Awards to support Latinx/e impact for the most urgent needs to address root causes of racial disparities.
A Latinx/e community leader committee will review and make recommendations for the awards which could range from $1,000 to $15,000. Nominations can be completed and submitted by anyone: Staff, board members, and/or community leaders can complete the nomination and have their community organization considered to receive funds.
Nominated program or organization must be:
- A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or, have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)3 designation.
- Based in and/or conduct a majority of their work in the state of Washington.
- A Latinx/e-led and Latinx/e-accountable program or organizations that have at least two of theses three indicators:
- More than 50% of the group or organization’s board leadership is Latinx/e.
- The Executive Director (or equivalent) of the group or organization is Latinx/e.
- The group or organization’s work is directly aimed at empowering Latinxs/es.
Purpose and Intention:
LCF wants to appreciate, support, and amplify the amazing community leaders and work in our Latinx/e community with this award. Priority will be given to smaller and under-resourced organizations and programs (less than $500K in revenues per year) that are doing vital and essential work in the community. There are no specific issue priorities (e.g., education, health, immigrations, housing, arts, etc.) because LCF recognizes the intersectionality of issues.
Another purpose of this award is to support Latinx/e organizations that are addressing root causes of racial inequity and systemic change, which usually includes strategies such as civic engagement, community organizing, leadership development, power building, etc.
The intention of this award is to appreciate and support Latinx/e organizations that are already doing empowering and impactful work in the community, and it is not intended to incentivize new projects and ideas.
Contact Us!
We welcome your questions: [email protected]
Lilliane Ballesteros: [email protected] / 206-627-0223
2018 Community Grant Awardees
With 42 nominations from Latinx-led organizations across Washington State, this year's committee awarded 22 grant awards to leadership programs that showcase the power of our Latinx community across Washington State.
Special thanks to all of the Committee Members, who brought their voice and leadership to the Grants Committee. And thank you to all who nominated leaders. Stay tuned for the 2019 Community Grant Awards.
To learn more about how you can be part of next year's 2019 Community Grants Committee, contact Director of Development, Lilliane Ballesteros, at [email protected].
Thank you to Philanthropy Northwest for the support to make these Grant Awards possible. 
Centro Latino
To create an environment in which the rapidly growing Latino community has opportunities allowing them to effectively participate in and contribute to the success of Pierce County.
Community Health Worker Coalition of Migrants and Refugees
Encourage and support Community Health Workers who serve migrants and refugees by creating new opportunities and developing innovative solutions.
Community to Community Development
To strive to develop projects that come from and are led by the folks from communities that need to affect change for improving the lives of their families and future generations
Storygarden/DragonsFC
Leverage the passion for competitive soccer to promote leadership development, college pathways and career opportunities for low income and disadvantaged youth
El Proyecto Bienestar
El Proyecto Bienestar (EPB) or, Well Being Project, is a long-standing community-based health effort guided by a community advisory board to identify and address occupational and environmental injustices that are important to the Latinx agricultural community in Yakima Valley. Northwest Communities Education Center (NCEC)/Radio KDNA is a community-based organization that addresses the social, educational and health needs of economically disadvantaged, Spanish-speaking residents of central and eastern Washington. NCEC/Radio KDNA empowers communities to succeed and participate more fully in global and multicultural society through innovative programs and community partnerships. The education is brought to the people through classes, community groups and the public educational radio station, KDNA.
Entre Hermanos
To promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.
Foundation for Academic Endeavors
To provide empowering academic experiences through broad community support for children and their families who are limited by factors, such as income, education, and minority status.
Geeking Out Kids of Color
Geeking Out Kids of Color (GOKiC) is focused on bringing tech into communities of color, specifically community were there are Latinos, that lack access to technology, wi-fi connectivity, and a culturally-relevant STEM education in and around Seattle. GOKiC teaches computer science, computer programming, robotics and, this year, Artificial Intelligence. We believe that by empowering kids of color with education in computer science, they will be able to use technology to make a positive impact in their communities. Our mission is not only to close the digital literacy gap in communities of color, but have them lead the production of new knowledge in the technology realm that will be best served in their community.
La Casa Hogar
La Casa Hogar connects and educates Latino families, to transform lives and our Yakima Valley.
Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI)
To facilitate the personal and financial success of Spanish-speaking and bilingual persons and inspire Latino youth to pursue their dreams and become leaders in their communities.
Mari's Place
Empowering children and youth through arts and culture classes.
Movimiento AfroLatino Seattle
MÁS activates and empowers communities through art, raising awareness about the history and cultural contributions of Latinos of African descent for social change and racial equity.
Nuestra Casa
Through education, empowerment and mutual support, Nuestra Casa enables immigrant women to create positive changes in themselves, their families, and their communities.
Para Los Ninos de Highline
Organizing Latino Families to transform communities and create academic and life success for every Latino student.
Puentes: Advocacy, Counseling & Education
Puentes mobilizes mental health resources to help families affected by immigration policies cope & flourish. We create innovative therapeutic spaces to promote the recovery of social agency, social healing, and organize our communities towards collective immigration justice in the United States.
Restaurant Opportunities Center-Seattle
Improving wages and working conditions for restaurant workers.
Sharehouse Foundation
Engage the Youth of Prosser through encouraging relationships, enrichment opportunities, and empowering endeavors within a safe environment.
Somos Mujeres
Promote a supporet network among Latinas and their communities, to strenghten their telents and to develop their social leadership skills.
Somos Seattle
Somos is an organization for LGBTQ Latinx folks. Our goal is to engage in collective actions by bringing together an active community, sharing resources, and fostering spaces for learning.
St. Charles : Youth Migrant Project
The goals of the Youth Migrant Project are: 1. Discovering and living Jesus’ call to a life of loving service 2. Understanding the importance of respecting the rights and responsibilities of all people 3. Learning that one does not have to travel to a third-world country to work for justice and against poverty 4. Experiencing the richness of the many cultures through the Food Bank and the migrant community. 5. Gaining valuable experience in a controlled setting to prepare youth for future mission experiences 6. Making new friends, developing and deepening an awareness of their faith, and experiencing the universality of the Catholic Church 7. Teaching and learning the Gospel through love and action and using words when necessary. 8. Have a heart of a beginner and let God surprise us in many different ways.
Washington Family and Community Engagement Trust (WAFCET)
We help schools engage families in education and help families become active participants in the education and well-being of their children.
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network -Red de Solidaridad de Inmigrantes en WA
The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network protects and empowers immigrants and refugees in Washington State through advocacy, mobilization tools, and community action.
Previous grant programs awardees have included:
In 2015, El Futuro Project, as part of their leadership program, identified, nominated and selected programs and organizations that are addressing the critical needs for Spanish-speaking families to improve school readiness of their children. El Futuro leaders also engaged in raising funds to invest in these critical programs.
This year, LCF accepted nominations for a 2017 Community Grant Awards to support Latinx leadership programs and organizations. A community leader engagement committee reviewed and made recommendations for the selection of awardees.
