The Essential Fund: A Fund By HIP to Support Latino Essential Workers

HIP’s Essential Fund aims to raise $10,000 during the HIP Virtual Summit to contribute to our $3 million goal. We’ve already raised $1.9 million in our efforts to support Latino-serving organizations who are providing immediate COVID-19 relief, including resourcing communities with cash, food and rental assistance, PPE, cleaning/disinfectant supply kits, child care,and other resources needed to help our country flatten the curve. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the economic and social disparities already impacting our Latino and immigrant communities – made up of mixed-status, undocumented and multi-generational families. With over 84% unable to telework, Latino workers and their children and the elders are by far the most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19. Immigrant workers disproportionately lack protection in the workplace, access to safety net programs, and unemployment insurance even though they pay taxes and have a purchasing power of $1.5 trillion. Sadly, Latino essential workers disproportionately occupy the country’s 10 lowest-paying jobs and are acutely vulnerable to contracting the virus, losing their jobs and suffering from hunger.

Our communities stand at the brink of economic, health and social devastation, yet across the country, there are countless community leaders and organizations actively providing the first line of defense, building power and leadership in our communities, and ensuring our essential workers can work safely. Help us to keep supporting this Latino- serving organizations and improving the live of Latino how are providing essential services.

The Essential Fund will invest in organizations that have tight-knit community relationships and an ability to move funding quickly to individuals most in need. The ideal partners include organizations with the following profiles:

• Organizations with proven leadership and close community ties through their organizing base and comprehensive services;

• Organizations connected to systems that create close associations with workers, families, youth, and other community members, including

  • School systems (i.e. ongoing DACA clinics and social services to undocumented students);

  • Day labor and worker centers;

  • Health and social services clinics;

  • Churches and other faith based groups; and

  • Shelters and soup kitchens.

• Organizations already used to playing a rapid response role through existing social services provisions, and movement and powerbuilding (including promotoras and community organizers)

• Legal services organizations that act as trusted intermediaries, particularly most recently where legal relief has diminished and work authorization challenging to obtain

• Organizations that coordinate and support networks of local or grassroots  organizations

• Latino or local community foundations with close partnerships with relevant organizations

Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) is on a mission to strengthen Latino leadership, influence and equity by leveraging philanthropic resources, and doing so with an unwavering focus on social justice and shared prosperity across the Americas. As the leader of a transnational network of foundations, donors, and nonprofits, we are making impactful investments in the Latino community and developing our leaders so they can effectively address the most pressing issues impacting communities in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.

Support the essential workers across the country receive the support they need to sustain their livelihoods and health during this critical time. by donating into this fund.

If you are not able to support through a monetary donation, help us share the campaign within your social media and contacts to make visible the often- invisible essential services of Latino and Latin American immigrant workers across the country!

Follow HIP in Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BeHIPGive