EVALUATION REPORT
A Pilot Program of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado
About the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado
The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) is a vibrant and dynamic organization committed to advancing and empowering Latino communities across the state of Colorado. Established with the vision of fostering a thriving Latino community, LCFC has become a cornerstone for Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits, advocating for equitable access to resources and opportunities.
CAPACITY BUILDING
OUR MISSION
At the heart of LCFC’s mission is the belief in the power of community. We strive to build and strengthen the capacity of Latino and BIPOC/ LGBTQ+ nonprofits, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and support necessary to lead effectively and create lasting change. Our goal is to amplify the voices of Latino leaders and organizations, promoting a more inclusive and equitable society.
POWER BUILDING
Power building is a fundamental aspect of LCFC’s work. We believe that true empowerment comes from within the community, and we are dedicated to nurturing and harnessing this internal strength. Through strategic partnerships, advocacy, and community organizing, LCFC works to ensure that Latino voices are heard and that their influence is felt in policy and decision-making processes at all levels. By building power within our communities, we aim to create a more just and equitable Colorado.
LCFC’s capacity-building initiatives are designed to elevate the effectiveness and sustainability of Latino nonprofits. We offer a range of programs and services tailored to meet the unique needs of these organizations, focusing on leadership development, organizational capacity, and strategic growth. One of our flagship programs, Adelante Colorado, exemplifies our commitment to this mission. This program provides comprehensive support and resources, allowing Latino nonprofits to thrive and expand their impact.
COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH
Our approach is deeply rooted in the cultural values and traditions of the Latino community. We prioritize collaboration and co-creation, ensuring that our programs are developed with and for the community. By fostering strong relationships and a shared sense of purpose, LCFC creates an environment where Latino leaders and organizations can flourish.
IMPACT
The impact of LCFC’s work can be seen in the strengthened capacities and amplified voices of the nonprofits we support. These organizations are at the forefront of addressing critical issues such as education, health, economic development, and social justice within Latino communities. Through our efforts, we have seen significant progress in building a robust and resilient network of Latino nonprofits that are driving positive change throughout Colorado.
LOOKING FORWARD
As we continue to grow and evolve, LCFC remains steadfast in our commitment to empowering Latino and BIPOC/LGBTQ+ communities. We envision a future where Latino and BIPOC/LGBTQ+ -led and serving organizations are leaders in creating equitable and thriving communities. By continuing to invest in power building and capacity building, we are paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for all
Dear LCFC Community,
It is with great pride and excitement that we present the Adelante Colorado Capacity Building Cohort Evaluation Report. This report highlights the achievements and progress made by Latino nonprofits in Colorado, made possible through the support and collaboration of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC), the Latino nonprofit community and the generous backing of the Colorado Health Foundation.
Background
The Adelante Colorado project emerged from the Latinx Collective, a group of dedicated nonprofit leaders addressing the inequities in philanthropy affecting Latinoled and Latino-serving organizations. With Colorado’s Latino population projected to make up one-third of the state’s residents within the next 20-25 years, the prosperity of the Latino community is essential for the state’s overall well-being. Thus, it is crucial for Latino nonprofits to take on leadership roles, strengthening civic, social welfare, and community support infrastructure to foster a better Colorado for everyone.
The Collective prioritized capacity building and engaged LCFC to develop a robust, culturally responsive capacity-building model tailored to the diverse needs of Latinx organizations. In 2019, LCFC, with the assistance of Rudy Gonzales and Jim Chavez, raised funds to launch the Adelante Colorado project. The Colorado Health Foundation provided generous funding to initiate the three-year pilot project. Despite delays due to COVID, the first cohort of 22 organizations was launched in 2021.
Key Findings from
the Adelante Colorado Initiative
The evaluation of Adelante grantees revealed significant growth and impact. Grantees expanded their leadership and organizational capacities, reflecting self-directed goals. The cultural lens of Adelante provided a sense of belonging, strength, and direction. Trust defined the relationship between grantees and LCFC staff, and leadership development necessitated healing, with grantees charting their own course as LCFC offered tailored support. Adelante built the personal power of Latino leaders, with all grantees leveraging opportunities and forging new partnerships.
All grantees reported growth in leadership and organizational capacities. Most increased their budgets and staff sizes, with some experiencing budget increases of over 50%, and a notable portion seeing increases of over 200%. These findings underscore the profound impact of capacity-building efforts, enhancing the ability of nonprofits to serve their communities, secure funding, and advocate for their needs. Organizations have reported improved leadership skills, better strategic planning, and increased collaboration with other community stakeholders.
As we share the findings of the Adelante Colorado Capacity Building Cohort Evaluation Report, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this transformative initiative. Your support and dedication are instrumental in creating a thriving and equitable future for Colorado’s Latino community. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant Colorado for all.
Sincerely,
CARLOS MARTINEZ President and CEO, Latino Community Foundation of Colorado
Executive Summary
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
As a pilot program of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC), Adelante Colorado was launched in May 2021 to build the capacities of Latinoled and Latino-serving nonprofits across the state. LCFC champions Latino identity as the cornerstone of leadership, fueling organizational strength.
Meeting nonprofit Latino leaders where they are, the Adelante Colorado program hones in on their innate leadership abilities and personal power. LCFC then walks alongside these leaders as they honor their roots, tap into their authentic selves, and build the capacity of their Latino-serving nonprofits.
KEY FINDINGS
Our evaluation assessed the growth of Adelante grantees, focusing on how they utilized the program to access new opportunities. Each grantee expanded their distinctive leadership and organizational capacities, reflecting the program’s encouragement of selfdirected goals.
1. The types and scale of organizational growth were unique and significant.
2. The cultural lens of Adelante provides belonging, strength, and direction.
3. Trust defines the relationship between Adelante grantees and LCFC staff.
4. The growth inherent to leadership development necessitates healing.
5. Grantees chart their own course as LCFC offers tailored support.
6. Adelante builds the personal power of Latino leaders.
7. All grantees leveraged opportunities and forged new partnerships.
100% of grantees reported growth in leadership & organizational capacities 82% increased their budget 66.7% increased their staff size 64% had a budget increase over 50%
20% had a budget increase over 200%
METHODOLOGY
LGA Consulting employs a participatory evaluation process and a diarist model to foster collaboration, shared decision-making, and mutual ownership among stakeholders, enhancing the relevance and efficacy of the evaluation. This approach relies on narrative-based information gathering, storytelling, and documentation through interviews, journalistic inquiry, and reflective surveys. By integrating self-reflection into existing program reporting, LGA ensures evaluations are grounded in participants’ real experiences.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The Adelante pilot demonstrates that capacity-building funds provide opportunities for Latino nonprofit leaders to experiment with new approaches, build internal expertise, and adapt to changing environments. This results in growing organizations that are more effective in achieving their missions and cast wider nets of impact. Every program element is developed and delivered through a Latino cultural lens that grounds Latino leaders and ignites their power. Adelante is therefore primed to unite the Latino nonprofit sector and catalyze systemic change.
Funding Partner
The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC) is deeply grateful for our partnership with The Colorado Health Foundation (TCHF) in launching the Adelante Colorado capacitybuilding program. This collaboration has been a true testament to our shared commitment to uplifting leadership and organizational capacity for Latino leaders and nonprofits through a cultural lens.
In a landscape where capacity-building programs for BIPOC communities are rare, the Adelante Colorado program stands out as an inspiration for Latino nonprofit leaders and organizations. Working with TCHF has enabled LCFC to co-create a program that resonates with our community, allowing it to evolve organically and strengthen the Latino nonprofit ecosystem in Colorado.
This report not only documents how the program unfolded and supported nonprofits but also contributes to the broader narrative of how Latino leaders and organizations are empowering their communities. It is a testament to our collective determination to elevate and celebrate the strength and resilience of our Latino communities.
“The biggest takeaway from Adelante, in addition to realizing our DNA, has been that when a funder gives you resources to allow you to do what you think is most important in order to grow and build a solid foundation, you can create and design something that was once a dream.”
– Movimiento Poder, Adelante grantee organization
Introduction
As a pilot program of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado (LCFC), Adelante Colorado was launched in May 2021 to build the capacities of Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits across the state. LCFC champions Latino identity as the cornerstone of leadership, fueling organizational strength. Meeting nonprofit Latino leaders where they are, the Adelante Colorado program hones in on their innate leadership abilities and personal power.
LCFC then walks alongside these leaders as they honor their roots, tap into their authentic selves, and build the capacity of their Latino-serving nonprofits.
The Adelante pilot was launched amidst the COVID-19 pandemic when the nation was in crisis and pre-existing racial and economic disparities were brought glaringly to light. In response, Latino leaders were challenged to rethink, reimagine, and rebuild their nonprofits to new heights. There could be no better time for LCFC to deliver capacity-building funding to help the Latino nonprofit sector rise to the occasion.
What made the program effective was that LCFC provided a model to address pandemic challenges and systemic inequities simultaneously. This lifted up Latino leaders (grantees), built their confidence, and inspired them to lead in new ways. They formed a deeper trust = with LCFC than is typical between grantees and funders and a strong bond with their peers in the cohort. With this culturally-grounded approach, the Adelante pilot ignited the personal power of Latino leaders who then transformed their organizations.
Because the results may not be immediately tangible, many funders have shied away from granting funds for capacity-building. As the Adelante pilot demonstrates, however, capacitybuilding funds provide opportunities for grantees to experiment with new approaches, build internal expertise, and adapt to changing environments. Over the long-term, this results in adept, robust organizations that are more effective in achieving their missions and cast wider nets of impact. The Adelante program is primed to unite the Latino nonprofit sector and catalyze systemic change.
FLEXIBLE FUNDING STRUCTURE
LCFC’s flexible, individualized approach was crucial to grantee success. This flexibility was the result of an intentional program design and funding structure. Adelante provided between $45,000 and $150,000 over three years (June 2021–March 2024) to each grantee organization for a total of $2 million in direct funding to 22 Colorado Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits. Funds were requested and distributed across three Phases on a flexible basis to accommodate the unique, dynamic needs of grantees who developed their own strategic plans and budgets.
THE ADELANTE COHORT
The pilot cohort was composed of Executive Directors and Board Members from 22 Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits in Colorado with initial budgets ranging from $12,000 to $2.2 million at the start of the program. These 22 grantees were selected out of an application pool of 50. Applicants were chosen based on their demonstration of a “growth mindset”—an openness, communicativeness, and eagerness around opportunities for leadership and organizational development. Successful applicants also had a social justice vision rooted in their cultural heritage. All participating organizations entered the program at different levels of capacity, so their individual path through the program was distinctive and original.
ORGANIZATION
Adelante Community Development
Development, Supporting entrepreneurs Advocates Against Domestic Assault
for Community Wealth Building
Centro de la Familia
Development, closing wealth
health and advocacy services agency Colectiva Creando Cambios en Colorado
Circles for Change
Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)
Statewide Parent Coalition
Metro Area; Front Range; Front Range North Central; San Luis Valley; Western Slope
Denver Alliance for Street Health Response $45,000
Poder
LCFC’S CULTURAL APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY BUILDING
LCFC’s approach involves recognition of the degree to which social inequities and related traumas can impede Latino leaders and their nonprofits. Offering support through a personalized leadership development process that prioritizes vulnerability and healing, LCFC provides the time and tools Latino leaders need to set their own agendas and work through the unique set of challenges they face so as to capitalize on opportunities. Leaders learn how to implement foundational systems and supercharge organizational effectiveness so that their nonprofits can adapt and sustain themselves through even the most difficult transitions. The goal is that grantee organizations will flourish well beyond any one individual leader’s tenure, delivering programs and services with profound, long-lasting impacts on the Latino communities they serve.
Methodology
LGA Consulting uses a participatory evaluation process and a diarist model for collecting information. Our participatory process promotes collaboration, shared decision-making, and partnership amongst stakeholders, fostering a sense of mutual ownership over the evaluation and its results. The diarist model enables us to learn from those who are doing the work and communicate their perspectives and insights in relevant and useful ways. Relying upon interviews, journalistic inquiry, and documentation, we see quotes as a form of “data” that grounds programmatic processes not only in numbers but in people’s actual experiences and thoughts.
LGA Consulting is mindful of the strain that burdensome evaluation requirements can place on grantees. We leveraged existing opportunities for data collection with the following methods:
• Narrative-based information gathering and storytelling
• Careful review of program records, grantee reports, and coaching notes
• Documentation of program processes
• Reflective grantee survey with open-ended questions built into program retreats
• Self-reflective questions on program-required Phase 3 Reports (designed to give grantees control over their narratives)
• Long interviews and oral histories (with LCFC staff)
Program Elements & Structure
Program Modifications: Challenges and Successes during COVID
The COVID pandemic posed significant challenges to LCFC’s launch of the Adelante pilot program. Modifications had to be made out of necessity, but this resulted in a great deal of learning and innovation. As LCFC adapted to changing circumstances, they passed on their learnings and modeled success for grantees. This maximized the flexibility and adaptability of the program, which ultimately made it more impactful in both the short- and long-term.
CHALLENGE
Securing funding for capacity building at a time of crisis was difficult, especially when funders do not typically prioritize capacity building even during prosperous times.
SUCCESS
Because nonprofits needed to respond quickly to the new realities facing Latino communities, LCFC realized that they could advocate for improved and more equitable funding practices that are not contingent on changes to budgets, deliverables, or timeframes.
CHALLENGE
Latino-serving nonprofits saw a decrease in available funding opportunities combined with an increase in need from the community.
SUCCESS
LCFC provided outreach, technical support, and coaching to help grantee organizations secure additional funding on top of the grants already built into the Adelante program.
CHALLENGE
Grantees (especially Executive Directors) did not always have the bandwidth to dedicate the mental and emotional energy needed to achieve the aims of the Adelante program. Many were stuck in crisis mode, experiencing deep grief and burnout. In addition, they dealt with pre-existing racial inequities that were compounded by the disproportionate losses incurred by communities of color during the pandemic as well as the sometimes inadequate and even harmful responses of institutions to such realities.
SUCCESS
LCFC learned how to support Executive Directors in crisis management, providing a culturally-responsive mental health component. Grantees were able to express grief and heal, while ultimately transferring hard lessons into better and more sustainable practices and organizational systems.
CHALLENGE
LCFC experienced staff turnover which led to direction changes with the Adelante pilot. This mirrored staff changes happening within grantee organizations, several of whom lost their Executive Directors.
SUCCESS
LCFC’s turnover challenges increased their sense of how important it is for organizations to be primed for staff and leadership transitions, so they incorporated this into their capacity-building training. Grantees came to see transition as part of their leadership legacy and established sound systems for transitioning to new leadership.
CHALLENGE
LCFC found it challenging to continue to build relationships and connections with and among the grantee cohort without having in-person engagements.
SUCCESS
LCFC learned what virtual formats work well and which do not so that they could hone in on those formats that best meet the needs of Latino leaders. This will prove very useful to increase accessibility and extend geographic reach with future cohorts.
Program Model: 3 Phases
The modified Program Model was designed and rolled out in three phases centered on mindset, planning, and implementation. Grantees could request funding drawdowns from their total grant award amount as they progressed through each Phase. Importantly, they were free to progress through the Phases based on the organic timeline of their individual progress. In this way, funding was aligned to the leadership and organizational priorities decided upon by grantees, even as their priorities changed and developed over time, rather than being dictated by the funder. This flexible 3-Phase approach maximized strategic thinking thereby building organizational capacity.
PHASE ONE: MINDSET
The purpose of Phase One was to prepare grantees for their capacity-building journey. Cultural grounding was vital to establishing a sense of belonging and community amongst the cohort. For example, cohort wide-convenings and workshops featured Latino-owned small businesses and Latino speakers. The program stressed the relevance of Latino cultural principles and values to leadership and organizational change. Grantees learned about demographic trends and the inequities impacting the capacities of Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits. All content was provided in Spanish and English, and grantees were invited to speak Spanish if preferred.
Through coaching sessions and one-on-one site check-ins, LCFC supported grantees in assessing their individual leadership style and its alignment to their organization’s evolution. Grantees created their own leadership development goals. At the end of Phase One, grantees could clearly articulate what it would take for them to orchestrate organizational transformation, and they began to feel the power that Adelante provides in convening a community of Latino leaders.
PHASE TWO: PLANNING
The purpose of Phase Two was to help leaders establish a clear vision of their organization’s past and present and create a solid capacity-building plan for the future. With coaching support, grantees conducted internal audits to determine organizational capacity-building goals. Meanwhile, presentations and workshops provided information and resources on capacity building through a Latino-focused, communitycentered lens. Regional gatherings provided opportunities for grantees to convene in person, while virtual monthly LCFC Leadership Roundtables connected grantees and other Latino community leaders to strengthen the ecosystem of Latino-led and Latinoserving nonprofits across the state.
In lieu of a Phase Two report, grantees gave virtual presentations to the cohort explaining their individualized approach to capacity building and their progress to date. This format relieved reporting burdens for grantees while also forging unity over shared learning. Grantees discovered similarities in achievements and challenges, expressing pride and gratitude for one another. Grantees finished Phase Two with a solid plan and preparation for organizational transformation.
PHASE THREE: IMPLEMENTATION
The purpose of Phase Three was to support each grantee with the implementation of their capacity-building plan. Coaching was integral to this process. LCFC staff provided a great deal of one-on-one support, including CEO Carlos Martinez and Chief Impact Officer Sonya Ulibarri, and most grantees also spent grant money to hire external coaches or consultants. Leadership Roundtables, cohort-wide convenings, and networking sessions were planned in response to the arising needs of the Latino nonprofit sector.
The Adelante Leadership Retreats addressed leadership burnout through self-care, made space for collective and individual healing, deepened relationships amongst peers, and presented opportunities for ongoing support and collaboration. The Retreats are part of LCFC’s holistic approach to capacity-building grounded in grantees’ collective identities as Latinos, creating an environment where leaders can shed their public personas and lead with vulnerability.
Findings
Our evaluation aimed to assess the growth experienced by Adelante grantees and their organizations, as well as the extent to which they utilized the program to access new opportunities. We discovered that each grantee expanded their leadership and organizational capacities in distinct ways, forming diverse partnerships and seizing various opportunities. This variability is inherent to the Adelante program, which encourages participants to pursue self-directed goals. To capture the individual journey of each grantee, we relied on grantee reports, self-reflections, open-ended survey questions, and interviews with LCFC staff.
We learned that participation in Adelante led to numerous outcomes for grantees, some that could be measured in numbers but many more that were unquantifiable yet impactful. In fact, Adelante plants many seeds in terms of mindset shifts, leadership development, and strategic planning that will continue to bear fruit for years to come.
Our evaluation therefore sought to determine what makes Adelante so effective and impactful in developing the individual potential of grantees. The following program elements were identified: cultural lens, trust, healing, adaptability, and personal power. These elements are intertwined into every phase and aspect of the Adelante program, and it is precisely this cohesive integration that yields such powerful results for grantees.
Our findings are presented in a manner that best illustrates how these integrated elements facilitated the unique capacity-building journey of grantees. We use quotations collected through our documentation processes. We first describe the type and scale of growth observed and then present our findings for each program element listed above. We then finish with examples of how grantees leveraged their participation in Adelante to seize new opportunities.
FINDING #1
The types and scale of growth corresponded to the unique goals of each grantee organization.
The Latino leaders (grantees) internalized the concepts of the Adelante program and made them their own. These concepts became ingrained in their organizational cultures and shaped their growth and maturity as leaders. Across the cohort, organizations determined their own capacity needs while focusing on strategic planning to sharpen their direction and enhance their management systems. While the wide-reaching impacts of this transformation are challenging to quantify, they are evident through representative examples shared by the grantees themselves. Success should also be measured through long-term growth, sustainability, and impact.
Financial planning and technology upgrades were common priorities, enabling better financial management and improved online presence through website development and rebranding efforts. Additionally, initiatives such as board and staff development, succession planning, and participation in national conferences were undertaken to strengthen organizational capacity and foster relationships with funders and the broader community. The program also facilitated connections to resources, helping organizations
to restructure for improved collaboration and program effectiveness while addressing specific needs through coaching and consultant support. In fact, the Adelante program is rare in that it provides nonprofits access to all of these opportunities at one time thereby accelerating growth and development.
This is how several grantees described their growth:
Colorado Circles of Change: “Our Leadership received training and coaching from various Indigenous Latin@ elders and leaders. This included how to manage from a decolonized framework, how to incorporate Indigenous practices into the work, how to create wellness balance for staff rooted in CCFC’s Whole Self Health approach, collective liberation through the nonprofit model, storytelling as a tool of leadership development, what servitude leadership is and how to implement, and the balance of power. All staff also attended a multi-day retreat facilitated by the National Compadres/Comadres Network.”
Centro de la Familia: “Our budget increased from $250,000 to $750,000 and…From a skeleton crew of one, we have revitalized our workforce to a full complement of ten members, organized into four specialized teams: Administration, Behavioral Health, Advocacy, and Auxiliary Programs. This reorganization is reflective of our commitment to diversity in service provision and operational excellence.”
Latina SafeHouse Initiative: “Adelante Colorado has not only provided us with immediate benefits but has also positioned Latina SafeHouse to be a more effective and collaborative partner in the long term. The program has served as a roadmap for building organizational capacity, strengthening collaborations, and advancing our mission within the vibrant community we serve…other wins include acknowledging how strategic planning, capacity-building, and collaborative partnerships are essential elements for sustained growth and impact. This program has equipped us with the tools to navigate challenges, adapt to changing landscapes, and effectively serve the needs of the Latiné community in Colorado while being community-led.”
Latino Cultural Arts Center: “The most profound change at the LCAC is the increased professionalization and increased organizational capacity. Prior to our participation in Adelante, we were at the tail end of the start-up phase, where the concept had been tested and we were beginning to draw significant outside funding. However, without the capacity building that came from LCFC we could not have maintained the upward trajectory nor could we have positioned ourselves as a local project with statewide and national consequence.”
Voces Unidas de las Montañas: “We had resources to focus on strengthening our internal capacity as an organization. We were founded to grow Latina and Latino community power and influence in the central mountain region and we have spent [our time in Adelante] right-sizing our infrastructure to increase our reach and impact, going deeper into communities that historically have been neglected like Leadville, Gypsum, Parachute, and El Jebel. This required hiring staff, opening new offices, and creating opportunities to support the growth of our team and board.”
Museo de las Américas: “Our biggest takeaway from the program is the value of creating sustainability through the strategic investment in various museum departments. With support from Adelante, Museo has been able to improve the organization’s infrastructure and set up systems that increase capacity and provide a solid foundation for the future. Likewise, our staff and board have increased their institutional knowledge, resulting in a renewed commitment to the organization’s mission and implementation of new and sustainable systems.”
Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition: “The CEO engaged in executive coaching…We redesigned the structure of the organization which included bringing the evaluation work we were contracting out and making it internal. We established an evaluation and learning department that supports programming and overall organizational effectiveness. We are in the middle of hiring an evaluation and learning manager to add to our capacity and tell the story of our impactful work.”
Justice and Heritage Academy: “Our most profound change was to reorient ourselves, our staff and our families to our model of education, which, honestly, seems like something we should do more regularly, as so many folks are profoundly indoctrinated and system driven where education is concerned, i.e. they seem to know only one model.”
The data captured below was collected through a survey grantees took at the end of the Adelante program. An overwhelming majority of grantees reported both financial and organizational growth during their participation in the program.
100% of grantees reported substantial organizational growth as defined by their own metrics.
Growth Indicators
Percentages of grantees who reported experiencing signifant growth across four key indicators
82% of grantees experienced increases in their annual budget by the end of the program.
Financial Growth
Percentages of grantees with budget increases over a certain amount.
From Conocimiento to Compandrazgo, the cultural grounding and responsiveness of the Adelante program provides belonging, strength, and direction.
The cultural lens is a hallmark of the Adelante program, one of its most unique and effective elements. All of the grantees expressed how powerful and impactful it was to learn and grow in a program that honored their shared cultural heritage as a foundation of strength to sustain and inspire them as Latino leaders. While people of color often feel the pressure to conform or code switch in professional environments, Adelante provided space for Latino leaders to express their authentic selves and embrace one another.
The cultural element of Adelante began with the application process which centers on conocimiento, a profound and intimate way of knowing grounded in genuine and open dialogue. LCFC asked applicants to submit a Letter of Conocimiento and then facilitated 1.5-hour conversations. LCFC staff, including CEO Carlos Martinez, began by sharing their personal stories of who they are and where they come from. Applicants were then asked to share their story and reflect on their leadership journey thus far while also asking LCFC questions. Many applicants shared deep pains from their past, some even shed tears, while explaining how they came to be leaders for their communities.
“Cultural grounding is the lens by which everything is developed and delivered. That is where it has power. It is integrated through every part of the program from beginning to end. Part of a cultural understanding and lens is that we can then have the full range of experiences in this space, from celebration to grief and everything in between.”
– Sonya Ulibarri, LCFC Chief Impact Officer
This approach of personalismo forms a strong basis for an intimate and honest partnership between the Latino leaders who are grantees and LCFC as the funder. Moreover, these methods help LCFC to gauge the “readiness” of applicants, which is based not on organizational categories such as size, budget, or service area but rather on the demonstration of a “growth mindset” and “values alignment.” Whereas traditional application formats rely more on written, impersonal materials, LCFC’s approach created a genuine and revealing starting point. LCFC was able to understand each leader’s strengths and recognize the specific areas where they could support impactful change.
Cultural grounding and responsiveness carried through all convenings which prioritized language justice, Latino vendors, and cultural knowledge and practices. Adelante staff traveled to each nonprofit in person for site visits, which gave them the opportunity to learn about the specific social and cultural contexts of their grantee’s services and programs. Spanish was spoken often and leaders relied on cultural colloquialisms to express deep meaning or emotional significance that otherwise gets lost in translation. The Adelante Leadership Retreats offer an excellent example of cultural grounding as they were located in places of cultural heritage and significance for Latinos and Indigenous peoples.
On an anonymous survey, grantees reported:
“This retreat was truly eye-opening for me in terms of understanding my own identity. The discussions and interactions with other incredible women from similar backgrounds allowed me to reflect deeply on aspects of my identity that I might not have fully considered before. Being surrounded by Latina leaders who have faced unique challenges and overcome various obstacles highlighted the strength and resilience that comes with our shared heritage. Through their stories, I gained a deeper appreciation for the cultural values, traditions, and experiences that have shaped me.”
As the program progressed, the Adelante cohort and LCFC came to be familia. Their relationships can perhaps best be described as compandrazgo, a series of cultural practices and traditions that establish familial ties and mutual support beyond blood relations. As Kaitlyn Throgmorton, Adelante Program Coordinator says, “The grantees see LCFC as family…we all approach the organizations we work with in this way…This is what makes Adelante different from other programs. It’s the essence of the program.”
Many grantees spoke about the power of coming together and bonding as leaders with a shared cultural heritage working for a shared vision of the future:
“There are not many spaces where Leaders of Color are brought together to form a sense of community and family where we can learn and grow from and with each other, and many of these relationships that I have built in Adelante have only helped me become a better and stronger leader.” (anonymous grantee)
“Somos hermanos ahora.” (anonymous grantee)
“Adelante allowed for a bond and kinship that may be lifelong.” (anonymous grantee)
“The most profound change from our participation in Adelante has been integrating and feeling like a part of nuestra communidad. Community is at the center. Adelante has instilled in us a sense of collaboration and interconnectedness within the Latina community. The partnerships formed during the program have not only enriched our current initiatives but have also opened doors for future collaborations.” – Latina Safehouse Initiative
FINDING #3
Trust defines the relationship between Adelante grantees and LCFC staff.
“I think back to the day that I applied for Adelante, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and joy. I honestly do not know where I would be without LCFC’s support, but I can guarantee that it would not be here. The profound impact of funding grounded in trust cannot be overstated, and it has rippled positively throughout our communities. I am deeply honored that LCFC recognized my potential even when others overlooked it. I am humbled by the trust placed in me to lead this work.”
– Center for Community Wealth Building, Adelante grantee organization
The warmth, enthusiasm, and mutual respect that LCFC staff and Adelante grantees share is rare amongst funder and grantee relationships. LCFC explains that this is because they have put great effort into learning how to be responsible and offer support in caring ways while being careful not to abuse the power they have as a funder. A sign of this trust is that Adelante grantees pick up the phone to call LCFC when something goes wrong because they know they will get support. LCFC supports Latino leaders when and how they ask for it rather than being directive or wanting to see only positive results.
This support is highly personalized and comes in many forms. When one Adelante grantee was struggling with their board, for example, CEO Carlos Martinez came to their board meeting to support them. When another grantee needed to come up with a plan for a capital campaign, Carlos brainstormed and coached that grantee at his kitchen table one evening.
Sonya Ulibarri (Chief Impact Officer) and Kaitlyn Throgmorton (Program Coordinator) provided many hours of personalized one-on-one support and visited each grantee organization on site. One nonprofit served them tamales from a favorite local restaurant and commissioned a special presentation while another impressed them with what they were able to accomplish in the tiniest and busiest of spaces. Sonya and Kaitlyn send personal cards and letters for birthdays and when grantees lose a loved one. One Executive Director who had been in their position for a few months when Sonya and Kaitlyn visited said that it was the first time they had felt supported since they started in the position.
The trust that LCFC places in their grantees is internalized and magnified in impact. A prime example is Adelante grantee organization Movimiento Poder:
“Our Executive Director had the opportunity to attend the Latina Retreat in Taos which allowed her to build relationships with other organizations and EDs. This opportunity has allowed her to lean on others when it comes to brainstorming on strategies and/or resources. One concrete example is that our Executive Director is supporting another cohort grantee with strategic planning and infrastructure for their organization. This is based on mutual respect and trust. Both organizations are learning from each other and setting the example for uplifting each other as key Latine lead organizations.”
FINDING #4:
The growth inherent to leadership development and organizational capacity building necessitates personal and collective healing.
Recognizing the degree to which social inequities and unrecognized trauma can impede Latino leaders and their nonprofits, LCFC offers support through a personalized leadership development process that prioritizes vulnerability and healing. In this way, Adelante provides the time and tools Latino leaders need to work through the unique set of challenges they face, which maximizes their ability to then capitalize on opportunities.
This aspect of the program would be important at any time but was absolutely indispensable during the COVID pandemic. Not only were Latino leaders experiencing personal loss and grief but they were on the frontlines supporting their communities through a world-changing crisis with disproportionate impacts. During these times, LCFC was often their pillar of support. LCFC staff made space for the expression of grief and loss. Content on mental health and healing was incorporated into Adelante events and resources.
LCFC created the Adelante Leadership Retreats to 1) Address burnout 2) Provide space for self-care 3) Create healing opportunities for individual and collective grieving 4) Deepen relationships and build trust among peers, and 5) Identify opportunities for ongoing support and collaboration. The retreats were gender-specific so as to create an environment where leaders could shed their public/community personas and lead with vulnerability while elevating the importance of cultural identity.
All participating grantees rated the retreats as high as possible for the 1) value it had to them as a leader, 2) impact on their mental state, and 3) impact on their ability to connect with other leaders. As a result, these executive directors reported improved mindset, self-prioritization, revitalization in strength and spirit, and a renewed commitment to their work. Through an anonymous survey, our evaluation team gathered the following feedback:
“Participating in the Men of Color ED Retreat in Colorado Springs was a highlight of the program. As men we struggle with asking for help, talking about our mental health, and having a place to heal, and the retreat allowed me to connect with my brothers in the struggle, to cry, to laugh, to plan, and create a brotherhood of fellow companions in the fight to create change for our community.”
“I discovered that many of our men doing this work for the community are carrying trauma, and it is more vital than ever to have spaces that provide healing.”
“After the retreat, I feel even more connected to my comadres. It can be very lonely as EDs. To connect with other strong women, who also understand the carga, was very powerful…It gave us an opportunity to see each other as the amazing human beings that we are.”
“When I heal, I help others heal and discover their own sacredness.”
As with the other Adelante program elements, the retreats instilled or deepened values in grantees that then transferred to their organizations thereby broadening the program’s scope of impact. For example, the retreat sparked a collaboration between the Latino Cultural Arts Center and Denver Healing Generations to create more programming for men and boys through the cultural arts. Movimiento Poder identified healing as essential to their mission:
“Through the support [of Adelante], we have come up with a better understanding of our DNA as Movimiento Poder [which is] is to lead our work with love and joy through transformational leadership development and radical healing…MP’s approach is rooted in creating a culture that addresses healing at an individual and collective level while actively engaging in building transformational personal development and community action. When we heal, and in turn help others heal, we reach greater community empowerment.”
Grantees chart their own course through Adelante as LCFC adapts to their choices and offers tailored support.
Capacity funding for nonprofits is often under prioritized due to the emphasis placed on delivery of services and programs. Given the choice to hire consultants for strategic planning or expand their food program to feed more people, most nonprofits will choose the latter. This is why a program like Adelante is so needed. It earmarks funds specifically for capacity building, which then makes it possible for nonprofits to prioritize their own growth and development.
The impact of capacity funding is maximized when grantees receive support in identifying their own organizational priorities and charting their own paths. This, in and of itself, is a capacity building strategy that continues even after the program ends. In the case of Adelante, funding dollars go farther because LCFC instills in Latino leaders the confidence and skills they need to better serve their communities and expand their reach through self-determination.
“The authenticity piece is really key. It doesn’t need to be curated. It needs to be real. We get to know each leader and each organization and learn what is authentic for them. There is not one script or one way to do it. Who needs to adjust is us, not them. We’re the ones that need to make the adjustments based on what we learn about them.”
– Sonya Ulibarri, LCFC Chief Impact Officer
Along these lines, LCFC designed the program to be built around Latino leaders’ self-directed journey. Leaders identify their unique leadership style. They conduct their own organizational audits and create their own strategic plans. They then implement those plans using the methods they find best suited to their needs. LCFC changed up the programming format from webinars to virtual roundtables and introduced new topics, such as capital campaigns and mental health, in response to what they learned from grantees. Grantees could report back to LCFC in any format they wanted, through written reports or one-on-one phone calls, for example.
As Kaitlyn Throgmorton (Program Coordinator) explained, “There are so many ways capacity building can be done, so many ways it can show up, and it looks different for each organization. All aspects of Adelante need to be responsive to this basic fact.”
Our evaluation team documented the following grantee responses regarding the impact of the Adelante program’s flexibility and adaptability:
Latin American Educational Foundation: “We experienced a significant leadership transition for both the staff and board in 2023. The financial resources provided by Adelante were absolutely critical to implementing a new vision for LAEF, but having the time and space (and support from LCFC) to make thoughtful and strategic decisions was invaluable.”
Movimiento Poder: “The biggest takeaway from this, in addition to realizing our DNA, has been that when a funder gives you resources to allow you to do what you think is most important in order to grow and build a solid foundation, you can create and design something that was once a dream.”
Pueblo Hispanic Educational Foundation: “Having a program that allowed for organization and helped you to identify areas of success and areas of improvement and then lending the financial support, the group dialogue, and the professional experience LCFC brings enabled PHEF to really thrive and reestablish itself in a time where restructuring and insuring efficacy in our community was vital to our organization surviving. Without a doubt the timeliness of this grant award and our organization’s future successes were paramount.”
FINDING #6
From mindset focus to courageous conversations to leadership development, Adelante builds the personal power of Latino leaders.
LCFC supports leaders in building their power by forging trusting relationships. With the Adelante program, LCFC invests in Latino leaders, lifts them up, grows their confidence, and helps them step into their own power. Capacity building means embracing change which can be uncomfortable and even frightening as you don’t always know what the future holds. Adelante grantees are provided with the chance to reflect on their own reactions to change and how it affects their organization while having LCFC staff to fall back on for support.
CEO Carlos Martinez explains how there is sometimes a lack of confidence that results from internalizing the messaging members of oppressed groups receive: “You keep getting told you’re not good enough and then the stakes are higher when it comes to failure because that failure can reinforce what you’ve been told…As Latinos elevate their leadership, they need coaches and mentors to navigate this. But we don’t always have that support around us, which then becomes a barrier to getting there.” Adelante dismantles this barrier.
Take the story of one grantee, an executive director of a nonprofit for college-bound, first-generation Latino students, which reflected his own experience. He always saw himself as more of a program director than an organizational leader. In the Adelante program, he realized that if he wanted to move his nonprofit forwards, grow it, build it, expand it, then he had to move into the executive space even though his comfort was with the direct delivery of programs. This meant having more space between himself and those he served. With renewed courage, he turned his attention to financial and board development, finding success. This is a representative example of leaders whose first love is delivering programs but who stepped up to grow their organization’s capacity with the support they found in Adelante.
“As a Latina woman in a leadership role, I now realize how important it is to embrace and celebrate the multifaceted aspects of my identity. This includes not only my cultural background but also the roles I hold as a leader, a mentor, and a supporter of other women striving to break barriers.”
– Anonymous Adelante grantee
Many grantees reported having an expanded sense of self-awareness, renewed and deepened appreciation for their own personal identity, and increased acceptance of their vulnerabilities as sources of strength rather than limitations. The impact of cultural grounding and identity work on grantees’ approach to leadership was transformative. Many participants said that it gave them “pride,” “power,” and a greater sense of their authentic self and leadership style:
“It will give me the power to show up when invited, shove myself in when not invited, and show what I am capable of.”
“It helped me realize that these other leaders are just as passionate about supporting their communities in a healthy way. This reinvigorated my drive and desire to push the work forward knowing that there are others fighting the same fight.”
FINDING #7
Adelante resulted in numerous leveraged opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations for grantees.
From increased grant funding to productive collaborations, the Adelante program provided ample opportunities for grantees to leverage what they learned. Some impacts can be measured in dollar amounts while others will only continue to manifest in the years to come. It is expected that the outreach and technical assistance LCFC provided to the Adelante cohort will result in up to $1.5 million dollars in additional grants distributed for capacity-building activities.
With LCFC’s tailored support and guidance, several organizations pursued funding for capital campaigns for new construction or the acquisition of buildings. One grantee organization was awarded $6 million and three more were awarded $1 million each for a total of $9 million. In response, LCFC created a workshop on how to purchase property as a nonprofit.
Our evaluation team collected the following examples of leveraged opportunities from grantees:
Voces Unidas de las Montañas:
“Through Adelante Colorado, we developed and built relationships with several Latino organizations. In particular, our partnership with COLOR has strengthened through LCFC’s opportunities to connect. This partnership has grown into a yearly effort with the Colorado Latino Agenda (CLA), a statewide public research initiative that publishes relevant and timely in-depth reports about Latinas and Latinos in Colorado. This work and our combined efforts have increased the amount of data available on Latinas and Latinos for our entire ecosystem. It allows us to have more community-informed data to inform our collective work.”
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights:
“The pioneering work of COLOR and Voces Unidas de las Montañas on the annual Colorado Latino Policy Agenda involves polling over 1,500 Latinos, representing the largest sample of the Latinx community in our state’s history. This comprehensive research enables us to identify issues of utmost importance to the community and their families.”
INSPiRE:
“We were able to cultivate relationships with Rose Community Foundation and are in the process of building relationships with the Colorado Health Foundation, the Denver Foundation, and Caring for Denver Foundation. Many of our conversations with these groups are rooted in our participation in Adelante, whether they first heard about our work from LCFC or another organization in Adelante.”
Center for Community Wealth Building:
“Since 2021, we have more than doubled our budget, and by extension our impact. This is significant because I was once told by a large funder that I was ‘barking up the wrong tree’ with what became CCWB…I also strengthened my relationship with Adelante Community Development. Through LCFC, I also strengthened my network of support to include other executive directors of color who have been instrumental during this period of growth. I strengthened my relationship with Cultiavando, COLOR, Movimiento Poder, Integrated Community, Colectiva Creando Cambios en Colorado, and Latina SafeHouse Initiative.”
Centro de la Familia:
“We adopted an innovative approach by partnering with Master’s level programming students from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). This collaboration led to the creation of a custom database system tailored to our specific needs.”
Advocates Against Domestic Assault:
“Since the Adelante program started, I am now a member of the Elevating Leadership Development Advisory Council sponsored through El Pomar Foundation. ELD advisory councils gather leaders of color to network with nonprofits and business leaders from around Southern Colorado The development and partnerships with culturally specific groups will increase inclusivity within our core services.”
Integrated Community:
“We have been working closely with Voces Unidas and the Hispanic Affairs Project… [This] allowed us to form the Western Slope Coalition…to support each other on issues affecting our communities, strengthening our voices and power. We were able to go to Washington DC and speak with our representatives about these issues.”
Recommendations & Conclusion
The Adelante cohort was asked to give feedback and comments throughout the three phases of the program via ongoing check-ins, evaluations, and reports. From these insights, the overall consensus from all the organizations is that the unique cultural approach and community-building aspect are cornerstones to the program’s success.
Additional feedback from organizations included the need for an annual reunion to help organizations stay united. Reunions could provide opportunities to capture longterm impacts for evaluation purposes and future program design while demonstrating the ongoing need for capacity-building funding in the nonprofit sector. Cohort members also felt that the 3-year program was too long and the cohort should have been smaller. The cohort felt that if they could have had an initial retreat at the start of the program, then they would have been able to build deeper relationships, forming a support network from the start to lean on throughout the capacity-building work. Unfortunately, COVID did not allow for this to happen.
“We at LCFC have a big responsibility to keep growing so that we can continue to invest in the Latino nonprofit sector. Our funding footprint is small in comparison to the size of our presence. This work is for the long haul and we need to find long-term solutions.”
– Sonya Ulibarri, Chief Impact Officer
Some grantees explained that the phased disbursement of funds was less advantageous than receiving the whole amount up front would have been. While some grantees felt the coaches/ consultants they hired were excellent, others struggled to find a good match and suggested LCFC create a vetted database of experts categorized by speciality and cultural competency. Feedback also addressed collaboration with the suggestions of an active communications channel (Teams, Slack, or Google) for grantees and more face-to-face time with similar cohort members. Suggestions for additional workshops included effective storytelling, business compliance, and leadership communication. A cohort member from a rural location advocated for serving smaller organizations from rural communities like theirs.
Grantees were asked which program aspects they found most beneficial. Cohort convenings and leadership retreats rose to the top, while networking opportunities, leadership roundtables, and coaches/consultants closely followed. Several grantees added comments expressing that the mentorship, advocacy, and thought partnership provided by LCFC staff was the most impactful.
Grantees praised the program for enabling significant growth, fostering a community of passionate leaders, and providing mutual support and camaraderie. They valued the personalized coaching and mentorship, self-assessments, and strategic planning, as well as the collaborative learning and relationship-building. The program’s emphasis on personal interactions and storytelling, rather than quantitative metrics, created a meaningful and supportive environment that affirmed their cultural values and leadership, making them feel seen, cared for, and trusted.
The Adelante pilot program’s goal was to build a strong foundation for grantee organizations which is crucial to systems change and advocacy. An organization needs to have the necessary capacity in place to be resilient and responsive to ongoing community changes. The learnings, the time for reflection, and the strategic planning that Adelante provided have been instrumental to the growth of the Latino leaders and their organizations. LCFC succeeded in providing these grantees with many opportunities to leverage for more funding and strategic partnerships. In future iterations, the Adelante program is primed to unite the Latino nonprofit sector and catalyze systemic change with ongoing support from funders and community partners.
“Before LCFC, I had the concept that capacity building is training, teaching how to do something. Adelante flipped this for me. Capacity building is growing and learning together. So it is not
one-side
of one
giving
MOST BENEFICIAL PROGRAM
ASPECT GRANTEE RESPONSES
Cohort Convenings
Leadership Retreats
Networking Opportunities
Leadership Roundtables
Coaches/Consultants
Expert Speakers
and
one receiving
but
doing the work together…It’s a relationshipfirst, people-first perspective. Not assuming
that we know how to
fix
something when we don’t. I’m so looking forward to future iterations because we are trying to build a program that is really responsive to what leaders need and with this pilot we have learned so much about what leaders need.”
– Kaitlyn Throgmorton, Adelante Program Coordinator
Informal Guidance and/or Problem-Solving
Regional Gatherings
Report Contributors
KEY PROJECT STAFF
KAITLYN THROGMORTON, Program Manager: Community Investments
CARLOS MARTINEZ, President and Chief Executive Officer
SONYA ULIBARRI, Chief Impact Officer
PRISCILLA MONTOYA, Vice President of Development and Communications
ADELANTE COLORADO ADVISORS
DALIA DORTA
DEBBIE HERRERA
CEC ORTIZ
GARLAND YATES
MONICA ROERS
REPORT AUTHORS
LGA CONSULTING
LGA Consulting offers expertise in community-based work and organizational leadership. Our team works with foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies who share our commitment to racial, economic, and social justice values. Our distinctive approach lies in our ability to personally engage with leaders and communities and to understand the rich tapestry of their unique lived experiences. Through our collaborative approach, we develop personalized solutions through process documentation, program evaluation, and organizational development services.
OUR TEAM
JOHANNA M. LEYBA, MURP
Principal
SARAH OLIVIER, PH.D.
Associate
GAYLE WARNER, BA Associate
LCFC STAFF & BOARD
STAFF
CARLOS MARTINEZ, President & CEO
RACHEL GRIEGO, Senior VP of Community Innovation & Strategic Partnerships
JOANNA CINTRÓN, Senior Director of Development & Communications
KOURTNEY RIMBERT, Director of Finance & Human Resources
KAITLYN THROGMORTON, Program Manager: Community Investments
STEPHANIE MONGE, Program Coordinator
IRIANA CORRAL, Development & Communications Coordinator
JAMIE BAZELMAN, Executive Assistant and Office Coordinator
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ELSA HOLGUIN, Chair
THOMAS BRYAN, Treasurer
GUILLERMO LAMBARRI, Secretary
DR. JUDI DÍAZ BONACQUISTI
DR. ERIC ISHIWATA
LISA LUCERO
MICHELLE LUCERO
DOMINICK MORENO
SUSANA SALAMUN
YESENIA SILVA-ESTRADA
ELAINE TORRES
HOLLIE VELASQUEZ HORVATH
ADVISORS
ADELANTE COLORADO ADVISORS
DALIA DORTA
DEBBIE HERRERA
CEC ORTIZ
GARLAND YATES MONICA ROERS
COLORADO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LOAN FUND
JENNIFER LOPEZ
ALEJANDRO MONAREZ
EMMA SCHWARZ
LADAWN SULLIVAN
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
ANDRES CASAS
EVALUATION TEAM
JOHANNA LEYBA
SARAH OLIVIER
GAYLER WARNER For more information about the Adelante Colorado program, contact us at Adelante@latinocfc.org.
