Giving Circle chapter to donate to three Santa Barbara County nonprofits
Staff Report
A group of Latino leaders has come together to pool financial resources and support local nonprofits that are committed to the development of Latino leaders.
The Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle (SBLGC) will invest more than $15,500 in three nonprofits in the greater Santa Barbara region. SBLGC is part of the Latino Community Foundation’s (LCF) Latino Giving Circle Network, a philanthropic group harnessing the collective power of paying it forward and civic engagement.
The three organizations selected for funding fall into the group’s priorities of board leadership development and mental health:
- Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE, Santa Barbara) is a base-building organization for social, economic and environmental justice with Central Coast working class and immigrant communities.
- Future Leaders of America (Santa Maria) develops youth resiliency and leadership to create long-lasting systemic change by empowering and mobilizing youth leaders to advocate for policies that improve their lives and the lives of their peers and their communities.
- Leading from Within (Santa Barbara) invests in leaders who drive and create change.
“Leading From Within is thrilled to be supported by the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle,” said Ed France, executive director of the nonprofit. “We’ve seen our largest to date interest and selection of emerging leaders who identify as Latinx, allowing us to be a vehicle to support more Latinx leaders and increasingly representative community leadership overall.”
Since launching in 2019, the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle has invested $22,300 back into its community.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle for their support,” said Gloria Soto, executive director of Future Leaders of America. “Thanks to their generosity, FLA will provide professional leadership development to staff to better serve youth across the Central Coast.”
According to the “2019 Causes Count: The Economic Power of California’s Nonprofit Sector” report, Santa Barbara’s nonprofit sector is made up of approximately 1,960 active nonprofits that generate a total revenue of over $3 billion.
“Santa Barbara is a very special and generous community,” said Theresa Huerta, founding member of the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle. “And there is a lot of opportunity to increase the diversity of our philanthropic efforts especially in board leadership.”
The Latino Community Foundation has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has invested $10 million to build Latino civic and political power and leadership in the state. It is the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino youth and families in California. For more, visit www.latinocf.org.
Latino Giving Circle Network (LGCN) includes some 500 members who are harnessing the collective power of paying it forward and civic engagement. Currently, LGCN is comprised of 19 Giving Circles across California with new ones emerging annually.
The Latino Giving Circles offer a forum to partner with leaders and organizations offering community driven solutions, learn about pressing issues impacting Latinos, and engage in local civic action. For more, visit https://latinocf.org/latino-giving-circle-network/.
The Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle was founded by Santa Barbara-area Latinos in 2019 to address the needs of Latinos in Santa Barbara County and is committed to bringing about lasting social change. The Giving Circle makes annual grants to nonprofit organizations led by and building power with the Latino community. Each person pledges to donate at least $1,000 a year or $84 a month.
