Latino/a Americans require community-wide development of services made available to them, and they are in need of organizations that have a desire to push them to the forefront by sponsoring services that ensure access to quality education, economic stability and healthcare. Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), under the masterful leadership of Senior Manager for Corporate Relations Alexandra Aquino-Fike and a number of other skillful individuals, has helped to mobilize and motivate Latinos for the last 30 years, by funding and supporting more than 600 Latino organizations from coast-to-coast.

HIP is a community resource that strengthens the Latino community by investing in organizations that work to uplift and increase opportunities for Latinos. HIP provide grants, trainings, webinars and convening in order to give leaders networking opportunities and encourage an increase in sustainability to grow the power of these organizations. Grantees are assisted by HIP who equip them with advocacy, community outreach, fundraising, leadership development and much more. HIP, by way of the organizations they assist, foster inclusiveness and equality. They directly support entrepreneurship by affiliating with foundations that are passionate about improving social circumstances for Latinos.

Alexandra Aquino-Fike oversees corporate development strategies and is responsible for constructing and continuing partnerships. She draws from years of experience in the private sector and non-profit sector harnessing blossoming relationships with Latino organizations that look to assist in the areas of health, aging, education, arts, LGBT, and men and boys.

"In every corner of the United States and across Latin America, you will find Latinos working hard to bring about positive change and opportunity for others. At HIP, we have had the pleasure and the honor to play a part in this," Alexandra Aquino-Fike shared with the Latin Post. "Over thirty years, HIP has been a strong voice to encourage others to invest in Latino leaders and organizations that are working tirelessly at the frontlines. From North Carolina to Colorado to Puerto Rico to California and many other sites, HIP has helped invest in more than 600 Latino organizations."

Their full network includes 175 funders and 600 grantees, and grant-making models that have produced over $40 million in funds in fundraising to serve a variety of foundations, which assists a number of concerns. HIP has thrown its support behind indigenous leaders who've helped to improve work conditions for migrant farm workers. It has also partnered with the Chelsea Collaborative and a local LGBT organization, MassEquality, which effectively lobbied for the passage of The Transgender Equality Rights Bill in Massachusetts, and funded El Buen Pastor, enabling the organization to expand, and include preschool, youth development and parent education for Latinos within the community. Aquino-Fike, who helped to initiate hundreds of positive exchanges with Latino organizations, sees the value in giving back.

"Across countries, across cultures generosity is one virtue that is always extolled. All of us are connected and as they say, what goes around comes around, in a good way. By giving, we recognize that we are all connected and in helping others, we learn ourselves," Aquino-Fike said on the subject of charity, and then added, "we also want individuals to know that even a small donation can go a long way in ensuring that safety nets are there for the most vulnerable in our nation. Ensuring that our families, neighbors, and even strangers have access to quality education, healthcare, and opportunities to achieve economic stability, benefits us all."

The organization has grown quite a bit since it was first conceived. In the 1990s, its meager staff of four people worked with a budget of less than half a million dollars to design an innovative, wide-impact project called Funder's Collaborative. HIP began as a small network of Latinos connecting with other Latinos who were working in a predominately white field, while advocating for increased diversity. The organization has progressed, and it constantly works to fund traditionally underfunded programs that have something to contribute to the Latino community.

"Looking back, by launching a project aimed at strengthening the ability of Latino nonprofits to scale up their services and impact, we ended up becoming much stronger and impactful as an organization ourselves," Aquino-Fike said. "We learned so much along the way, including how to manage hundreds of grants, develop systems, and bolster our own staffing and governance. Ultimately, we were able to raise over $40 million to support small but extraordinary nonprofits."

Focused on the continued prosperity of the ever-growing Latin American population, HIP focuses on the enormous wealth of untapped potential, ensuring that community leaders and organizations work to increase opportunities.

With its 30th anniversary afoot, the organization looks forward to their next chapter, anticipating exciting and innovative things in the coming year while continuing their role as convener and grant-maker. Two events will be occurring in the New Year to honor of the anniversary.

"The first event is in San Francisco and will feature the newly-appointed president of the Ford Foundation and philanthropic visionary Darren Walker as the keynote speaker, and the award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa as the emcee," Aquino-Fike said. "Specifically, the event will be held on March 6, 2014, at the beautiful Bently Reserve in downtown San Francisco."

HIP's website offers information on how to RSVP for the upcoming events online, also interested parties should feel free to contact Danielle Sherman by email or by phone at (415) 223-9269.  HIP will also host an event in New York, with details TBD. 

Feel free to 'Like' them on Facebook, or visit the HIP Blog and sign up to stay informed about HIP events.