I don’t think we were ever taught to be philanthropic, instead we are taught to pay it forward by the giving of our time.”
Although many hear the word, ‘philanthropy,’ and reserve it for famous people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, the majority of Latinos in the U.S. respond differently. Luz Canino-Baker, President of Latinas On The Plaza, a non-profit organization suggests, “I don’t think we were ever taught to be philanthropic, instead were taught to pay it forward by the giving of our time. Volunteering in our communities, in our employer’s initiatives, and many times in an area of our passion are the main places we see Latinas paying it forward. Although volunteering is good, these are usually short term in nature but, it is still playing at a small scale.”
What 5 Wealthy Latinos Already Know
Latinos are philanthropists — Just in a different way. We have big stars in our community that are reaching into their deep pocket books to make an impact — George Lopez, Eva Longoria, Rosario Dawson and Juanes. Overall as a community, however, we do not follow and demonstrate their example of donating dollars to champion change— the change we want and need to see.
What’s the Solution?
The answer is reshaping our notion of philanthropy so that it is not restricted to volunteering time. A study conducted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2012, found that the perception of the rich giving to the poor has been a major turn-off for communities of colors, Latinos especially. The result has been a new movement towards, “identity based philanthropy efforts.” This essentially replaces the old model of thinking, “only the rich are philanthropists,” with the idea that all people from all walks of life and income brackets can and should give monetarily to benefit their own communities.
We all know that it takes money to create programs. As an idea generator, I can come up with new ideas to impact Latinas but I have found that without money the idea barely gets off the ground.”
The potential to invest in programs and scholarship that are already making a difference for our community like the Latina Mastery Institute all rest on funding. “We all know that it takes money to create programs. As an idea generator, I can come up with new ideas to impact Latinas but I have found that without money the idea barely gets off the ground.”
Let’s Start with our Latinas — Immediate Opportunity for Philanthropy
Specifically among Latinas, philanthropy can help build three factors holding its women back: low high school graduation rates, college completion rates and poor living conditions.
A recent study* shows that one fourth of Latinas are living near or below the poverty line, and Latinas are less likely to be employed in the public sector than other women. It then becomes increasing clear, as Luz puts it, “why it is important for those Latinas like me who are faring well [not necessarily rich] to pay it forward, not only with our time but with our checkbooks too.
I too want my daughters and grand-daughters’ world to be better when it comes to education, living conditions and working conditions. So my journey into philanthropy has begun and will continue into the future.”
The Positive Domino Effect of Philanthropy
While the reality is that not many of us can write $10,000 checks for scholarships at local colleges and universities in one lump some, Luz reinforces the idea it doesn’t have to be funded all at once. There are plenty of ways to endow funds over time. An endowment can be created through smaller yet substantial amounts over time. Being open to actively take steps to impact change by giving is ultimately the first step we need to change our own perception, yielding positive outcomes that make us:
- Become More in Touch with Our Communities – Philanthropy pushes us outside of ourselves to realize that the need in the Latino community is great and the impact is real.
- Inspire Others to Give – Our monetary gift creates room for more opportunity which creates awareness and motivation for others to join us in our cause.
- Create a Strong Desire to Keep Growing – Giving helps increase our own self-awareness to continue investing in ourselves through programs offered through The Latina Mastery Institute and other non-profits that are investing in the Latina population.
It’s Time to Envision The Future
Luz has served on boards that generates scholarship money in excess of $500K a year, and has seen first-hand the lives those dollars have impacted. She has made it her mission to not only fund opportunities for Latinas to gain scholarships for the Latina Mastery Institute, but also to establish a giving circle of Latina women dedicated to the development of younger Latinas with a contribution of $1000 or more.
Learn more about how the Latina Mastery Institute’s Leadership and Philanthropy is changing lives and impacting change!
Click HERE to contact Luz Canino-Baker, Founder of The Latina Mastery Institute or submit an application (Located on the right side of this page).
Sources:
- *Fulfilling America’s Future: Latinas In The U.S. ,2015 Paticia Gandara, Professor of Education, UCLA and Co-Director
- “5 Latino Philanthropists Using Fame For Good,” Retrieved on August 3, 2016 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/latino-philanthropists-_n_3989013.html
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation (2012). Cultures of Giving: Energizing and Expanding Philanthropy by and for Communities of Color.