11 Latino and Hispanic Organizations Everyone Should Know
Editor’s note: this blog was originally published on September 17, 2020 and was updated in September of 2022.
From advocacy and education to healthcare and social services, today, Latino and Hispanic organizations are leading the way in enacting positive change and making an impact on our communities.
To recognize the contributions and importance of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture, we’ve assembled a list of eleven influential Latino and Hispanic nonprofit organizations.
Read on to learn about what they do, why they matter, and how you can support them.
1. Hispanic Institute
The Hispanic Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides an effective education forum for an informed and empowered Hispanic America. As a leading Hispanic organization, the Hispanic Institute manages several ongoing projects, including the study of Hispanic economic contributions, media monitoring, consumer fraud protection, citizenship education, and technology and telecommunication research.
Support this Hispanic organization by learning more about their programs and projects.
2. Latino Victory Fund
The Latino Victory Fund is a progressive political action committee working to grow Latino political power by increasing Latino representation at every level of government. From school boards, to the Senate, to the White House, Latino Victory identifies, recruits, and develops candidates for public office while building a permanent base of Latino donors to support them. Latino Victory engages Latino voters and donors—in addition to developing Latino leaders—in order to elevate and advance values that are important to their communities. Latino Victory is developing a pipeline of Latino leaders who will fight for the issues that matter.
Support this Hispanic organization by joining their email list to stay involved.
3. Voto Latino
Voto Latino is a pioneering civic media organization that seeks to transform America by recognizing Latinos’ innate leadership. Voto Latino’s work focuses on building a pipeline meant to serve and empower our community across three main pillars: civic engagement, issue advocacy, and leadership development. Through innovative digital campaigns, pop culture, and grassroots voices, this Hispanic organization provides culturally relevant programs that engage, educate, and empower Latinos to be agents of change, building a stronger and more inclusive democracy.
Support this Hispanic organization by volunteering to host a voter registration drive, canvass, rally, debate watch party, or text bank.
4. Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF)
SALEF’s mission is “to promote the civic participation and representation of the Salvadoran and other Latino communities in the U.S., promote the economic development and democracy in El Salvador, as well as to advocate for its economic, educational, and political advancement and growth.” With the core values of social justice, advancing democracy, leadership development, education, and trust, SALEF believes “it is vital to increase the Latino voice in the political and electoral process.”
Support this Hispanic organization by becoming a SALEF Member or getting in contact with the organization.
5. LatinoLEAD
LatinoLEAD brings together Latino leaders from across Minnesota to generate social impact through collaboration, power building, and leadership development. LatinoLEAD envisions a world where Latino community members at “all stages of their career are civically engaged, connected, supported, and seen as a vital voice of influence nationwide.” LatinoLEAD’s mission as Latino leaders across all sectors is to “join together to create innovative strategies to drive and define policies and perceptions that advance Latino collective influence, success, and power.”
Support this Hispanic organization by subscribing to their monthly eNewsletter or recognizing your colleagues through their monthly video series, Voices of LatinoLEAD.
6. Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB)
Latino Public Broadcasting was established in 1998 and provides a voice to the diverse Latino community on public media throughout the United States. A registered nonprofit organization, LPB is “the leader of the development, production, acquisition, and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural media that is representative of Latino people, or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans.”
Support this Hispanic organization by subscribing to their e-Voz Newsletter.
7. Mi Familia Vota
Mi Familia Vota was established in 2000 and is a national civic engagement organization that unites Hispanic, immigrant, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through citizenship workshops, voter registration, and voter participation. Mi Familia Vota operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. Their mission is “to build Latino political power by expanding the electorate, strengthening local infrastructures, and through year-round voter engagement.”
Support this Hispanic organization by volunteering to support voter registration, phone banking, data entry, or event hosting.
8. GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos provides an inclusive table at which its members establish collaborative partnerships and networks. Together, they work to improve the environment; protect and promote the conservation of land and other natural resources; amplify the voices of low-income and tribal communities; and train, mentor, and promote current and future generations of Latino environmental leaders.
Support this Hispanic organization by signing their petitions, attending an event, or joining their newsletter.
9. National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (the Latina Institute)
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice envisions a society where Latinas/xs are thriving and free to activate their power to make decisions about their bodies, sexuality, and families. The Latina Institute strives “for Latinas/xs to live with dignity about our sexualities and genders.” Driven by a reproductive justice framework, they work to build power in Latina/x communities to exercise autonomy over their bodies and secure equal access to reproductive health as a human right.
Support this Hispanic organization by joining their activist networks in Florida, New York, Texas, or Virginia, or following them on social media.
10. Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL)
COPAL’s mission is to unite Latinos in Minnesota in a community democracy that builds racial, gender, social, and economic justice. Their vision is to “build a world that is fair, equitable, enjoyable, and environmentally sustainable for all,” and they organize around that vision in accordance with the Jémez Principles:
- Be inclusive
- Emphasis on organizing from the bottom up
- Let people speak for themselves
- Work together in solidarity and mutuality
- Build fair relationships
- Commitment to personal transformation
Support this Hispanic organization by volunteering or joining an event.
11. Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)
COLOR is a community-rooted organization working to enable Hispanic individuals and their families to lead safe, healthy, and self-determined lives. COLOR’s values include justice and equity for all people; creating awareness of intersectionality and the ways it is used to either support or marginalize Latino communities; being community rooted; working to create intergenerational opportunities and leadership; and modeling sex positivity and support for Latina/x individuals’ right to make their own decisions.
Support this Hispanic organization by volunteering in-person or virtually, or becoming a social media ambassador.
Conclusion
Our list above is just a starting point! If you’re looking for more Latino and Hispanic organizations to support, consider the following deserving organizations:
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
- Hispanic Alliance for Latino Enhancement
- Hispanic Heritage Foundation
- League of United Latin American Citizens
- MANA, A National Latina Organization
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- UnidosUS
- United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
- United We Dream
Whether as a volunteer, donor, or advocate, when you offer your support to these organizations, you’re helping drive purposeful change in the Latino community and beyond.
