Chicanos Por La Causa and Raza Development Fund Partner to Make Homeownership Attainable
Phoenix— Two Arizona-based national Latino-focused organizations partner to increase homeownership access by supporting eligible first-homebuyers with down payment and closing cost assistance. Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) and Raza Development Fund (RDF) unite to match forgivable funds up to $30,000, subject to program requirements, in collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s Workforce Initiative Subsidy for Homeownership (WISH) program. “The dream of owning a home can become reality when valuable resources like the WISH Program are available to the community,” said Patricia Duarte, CPLC Executive Vice President of Homeownership Initiatives. “CPLC and RDF’s partnership invests in creating …
Celebrating the Power of Community Health Centers: A Spotlight on Latino Health Equity
As we wrap up National Wellness Month we are celebrating Community Health Centers (CHCs) that provide vital quality, affordable and culturally competent care to Latino and other under-resourced communities. At RDF, we are especially proud to spotlight our 25 UnidosUS affiliate CHCs who are making a profound impact on health equity. Unfortunately, the Latino community has faced a disproportionate decline in life expectancy over the past two years. Health inequities such as language barriers, limited access to nutritious food, reliable transportation, quality housing, and financial stability play a significant role in these disparities. That’s where the work of CHCs becomes …
Stronger Together: Weaving a Brighter Future for Latino Communities
The pandemic threw our world into a tailspin. But in the face of crisis, hope emerged in the form of collaboration. Raza Development Fund (RDF) joined forces with UnidosUS to create a lifeline for Latino-led nonprofits on the frontlines. This wasn’t just about technical assistance; it was about building resilience and shaping a brighter future together. The program, initially known as the Affiliate Support Program, quickly blossomed. As needs have shifted following the pandemic, we adapted and expanded the program, renaming it “Comunidades Fuertes” – Spanish for “Strong Communities.” This name embodies our core mission: empowering Latino nonprofits to become …
DAVID G. CLOWER SELECTED AS NEXT PRESIDENT & CEO OF NATIONAL TRUST COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CORPORATION
“This farewell is bittersweet. After 14 years of tireless dedication, compassion for people and community, and his boisterous energy, we bid farewell to David Clower as he steps up to lead NTCIC as President & CEO. He has been an integral part of so much of the success of RDF. While we’ll miss having him around the office, we know his work at NTCIC will not only benefit the community as a whole but also further strengthen the ties between our organizations. Thank you, David, for everything you have contributed to RDF and to each of us as individuals. We wish …
Meet Natalia Rodriguez-Hilt
Raza Development Fund’s newest team member, Natalia Rodriguez-Hilt looks forward to connecting with UnidosUS Affiliates next month at the 2023 UnidosUS Annual Conference in Chicago. She serves as the Sr. Director of UnidosUS Affiliate Support to lead programs and efforts to strengthen the organizational resilience and capacity of affiliates. Get to know her in this Q&A. Where are you from? I am a mix of a few places. I was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. My dad’s side of the family is Colombian (from Espinal, Colombia) and my mom’s side is Southern Illinois. I grew up in Monterrey, Mexico. What …
Raza Development Fund Names Antonio (Tony) Lopez Chief Financial Officer
PHOENIX, AZ.— Raza Development Fund (RDF) is proud to name Antonio (Tony) Lopez as Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1. A part of the RDF team for over 10 years, Lopez will step up from his current position as Deputy CFO. Lopez will succeed Rodrigo Vela who has served as CFO since 2012. “Tony brings extensive corporate and nonprofit financial experience. We are excited to have him in this role as we look to deepen our work and expand the impact of our organization,” said Annie Donovan, RDF’s President & CEO. Tony Lopez joined RDF in 2012. He has previously …
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS AND RAZA DEVELOPMENT FUND ANNOUNCE $3.2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO HELP LATINO-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES
Raza Development Fund Intends to Invest $1 Million for Loans Within Charter’s California Footprint Commitment Increases Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund Investments to $27 million Including Committed Loan Capital, Capacity Grant Donations, and In-kind Contributions STAMFORD, CT – March 16, 2022 – Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand, and Raza Development Fund (RDF), the largest Latino focused Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), today announced a $3.2 million capital commitment by Charter’s Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund to provide loans to Latino-owned local businesses in financially underserved areas of California, Texas, Ohio, and Florida. RDF intends to use at …
Guest Blog: 3 Investments that will Give your Small Business a Boost
By Don Pearson, Wells Fargo Regional Banking Executive Sometimes you have to spend money to make money and although that may feel like a risky proposition for a small business owner, there are areas where you can get a lot of bang for your buck. Here are three investments you should consider to give your small business a boost: Technology Upgrading or investing in technology can be an area that will enhance your business and create efficiencies. This category can be broad so consider what makes the most sense for your business. Whether it’s adding logistics software to help manage …
Rooted School Vancouver Opens Enrollment for SW Washington’s First Charter Public High School; Announces Executive Director and $1.35M in Funding for Fall 2023 Opening
New school bridges inequality gaps for Vancouver’s underserved students with local workforce demands January 18, 2023–Vancouver, Wash.– Rooted School Vancouver today announced that it has opened enrollment for its Fall 2023 class of 9th graders at SW Washington’s first ever public charter high school. Widely recognized as one of the most innovative high school models in the U.S., Rooted School’s vision is to rapidly close America’s wealth and inequality gap by connecting underserved and talented high school graduates with a college acceptance in one hand, and a job opportunity in the other. The school’s curriculum gives students a proactive role …
Affiliate Support Program: Increasing resiliency at the UnidosUS Fall Convening
In 2021, Raza Development Fund kicked off an Affiliate Support Program (ASP) aimed at helping UnidosUS affiliate non-profit organizations navigate pandemic challenges and increase their capacity for growth. This program was led by Eric Salazar, RDF’s late Familia member who served as our Director of UnidosUS Affiliated Investments. After he passed away unexpectedly in June of 2022, RDF’s partners at the San Juan Diego Institute (SJDI), who had worked closely with Eric providing technical assistance, stepped up to ensure ASP’s impactful work continued. In this capacity, Dr. Ryan Hanning, SJDI Fellow and ASP technical assistance provider, attended last month’s UnidosUS …