Mike's Message Takeover: Hispanic Heritage Month: Unleash the Power of Latina Women in Philanthropy

It’s Fiesta time! In the United States, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. There are many reasons why I feel a sense of pride to be part of the Hispanic community, especially during this time of year. At my house, we celebrate and honor our Guatemalan and Salvadoran heritage every day through our food, music, and family traditions. Hispanic culture is so diverse within the United States, yet it’s only one part of who I am. Depending on the context, I may sometimes identify as Latina, Latinx, Latine, and even Afro-Latina sometimes—these are all terms I’ve used to identify myself due to my diverse background. That’s the beauty of our Hispanic culture in the United States: individuals from the Latin American diaspora come from a rich background and we are a little bit of everything. For example, I am mixed Mayan, Spanish, and African from Guatemala. As you can see, Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration that gives me a sense of pride because it allows me to share with others my rich culture and who I really am at heart, someone with a strong love for food, music, and familia!

"Family" is often the word I use to describe what AFP has become for me. The Association of Fundraising Professionals is a beautiful, large, and diverse family that welcomes everyone from around the world. It’s a community of professionals who embrace each member wherever they are in their fundraising career journey, providing professional development sessions for both new and seasoned fundraisers alike. Through the affinity groups, we can come together at conferences and interact with one another as if we’ve known each other for a long time, or make new friends quickly. It’s wonderful to see how our different organizations unite in one place, all doing great things and strengthening our communities through diverse work in philanthropy, such as providing access to care, social justice, animal welfare or uplifting young minds through educational programming in schools and afterschool programs, to mention a few. We are stronger because of the diversity in our fundraising profession. Anyone who is a member with AFP can benefit from all the resources that are made available to its members, plus we get to learn from one another and can rely on seasoned fundraising members for advice.

As an international association, AFP embraces the rich diversity from all of its members from around the world and recognizes that each member has wonderful things to offer and that we can all learn from one another. As fundraisers, we need to prepare for the future to ensure our organizations continue to grow strong and meet the needs of those we serve. As you prepare for your year-end appeals and plan for the future of your organization, consider this: keep Latina women in the United States in mind. According to the U.S. Latina GDP Report, a recent study funded by Bank of America and led by professors Matthew Fienup, Ph.D., from California Lutheran University, and David Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D., from UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, “the total economic output of U.S. Latinas is $1.3 trillion in 2021, up from $661 billion in 2010, and larger than the economies of all other states except California, Texas, and New York.” We can’t ignore this group in our fundraising efforts. Part of what makes me feel proud to be a Latina woman is because of our generosity. It is in our culture to be generous.; share your vision and mission in a way that embraces family, love, and passion, including familiar faces. Remember, we come in all shapes, colors, and languages (Guatemala has 34 languages, with Spanish being a second language for many).

If you serve a Latino community, do not underestimate the giving power of Latina women. As their economic status grows, so will their philanthropic giving. Embrace their unique and wonderful contributions within your committees, boards, and fundraising staff, and watch your annual and major giving programs grow. With Latina income increasing by 46% from 2010 to 2021, we can’t ignore their contributions; it’s too big a risk to dismiss an ask. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I encourage you to highlight the success stories of your Latinx voices, learn about the various traditions, and invite donors of color to invest in your organization. Celebrate familia, celebrate each other!