VTMBH Article: Body
Senator Charles Schumer met yesterday with directors of Latino community and nonprofit organizations to present his plan to increase donations from major foundations on the basis that these organizations do not receive a fair share of available funding from foundations and charitable trusts.
According to a 2000 study, only 13 of the 50 largest foundations in the nation, such as The Pew Charitable Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, have donated funds to Latino organizations in New York.
Schumer indicated that these nonprofits received only 1.3 percent of available funds from charitable foundations, while Latinos comprise 13 percent of the nations population.
Its not that these foundations dont want to fund Latino organizations, or that these organizations dont deserve the money, but rather there seems to be a lack of communication between the two parties, said the senator. He added that in the majority of cases, Latino organizations are very small and often lack the resources to apply for grants.
The senators plan calls for philanthropic foundations to advertise upcoming grant opportunities through the Spanish-speaking media. Under the plan, foundations will also offer Latino organizations and nonprofits workshops on grant-writing and technical assistance during the application process.
However, nonprofit directors complained that even when they do apply for grants from foundations, the money is never offered.
We give aid to hundreds of thousands of citizens, not only Latinos, and we have asked for funding but the answer is always no, said Yolanda Sanchez, director of the Puerto Rican Association for Community Action (PRACA).
For his part, Schumer indicated that he would organize a meeting in the near future between foundation directors and community organizations.
According to a 2000 study, only 13 of the 50 largest foundations in the nation, such as The Pew Charitable Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, have donated funds to Latino organizations in New York.
Schumer indicated that these nonprofits received only 1.3 percent of available funds from charitable foundations, while Latinos comprise 13 percent of the nations population.
Its not that these foundations dont want to fund Latino organizations, or that these organizations dont deserve the money, but rather there seems to be a lack of communication between the two parties, said the senator. He added that in the majority of cases, Latino organizations are very small and often lack the resources to apply for grants.
The senators plan calls for philanthropic foundations to advertise upcoming grant opportunities through the Spanish-speaking media. Under the plan, foundations will also offer Latino organizations and nonprofits workshops on grant-writing and technical assistance during the application process.
However, nonprofit directors complained that even when they do apply for grants from foundations, the money is never offered.
We give aid to hundreds of thousands of citizens, not only Latinos, and we have asked for funding but the answer is always no, said Yolanda Sanchez, director of the Puerto Rican Association for Community Action (PRACA).
For his part, Schumer indicated that he would organize a meeting in the near future between foundation directors and community organizations.