originally posted September 23, 2023
Latinx donors in U.S. focus on family, faith and community, new research from Hispanics in Philanthropy, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy finds
Latinx donors in the United States emphasize family, faith, and local communities in their giving and are significantly more likely to engage in informal giving compared to non-Latinx households, according to a new report released today by Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Latinx Philanthropy: Understanding Generosity Trends Across Latinx Communities in the U.S. provides new insights into dynamic patterns and long-term trends of Latinx philanthropy. It offers recommendations for donors, nonprofits and fundraisers on variations among Latinx giving, barriers and challenges for Latinx nonprofits and trends to watch. The data and information in the report stem from literature reviews, three major surveys, and two Latinx focus groups comprised of donors, philanthropic advisors and nonprofit professionals.
“Our goal was to broaden the formal research available on Latine generosity. Our communities are incredibly diverse and this builds on what we know to be true. Latines are relationship-focused with a strong commitment to supporting family and community. We are expanding the definition of generosity,” said Ana Marie Argilagos, President and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy.
Notably, the study emphasizes the range of diversity within Latinx communities including countries of origin and/or descent, immigration status, language preferences, values, faith, wealth and education. It explores giving motivations and practices among Latinx donors in the United States, including high-net-worth Latinx donors, and identifies long-term giving trends. It examines how factors such as time lived in the U.S., language preference and immigration status are linked to variations in rates of giving.
Among the study’s key findings:
- Latinx donors commonly give based on values, interests, organizational connections and identities. This includes giving which often occurs horizontally—between families and communities—rather than vertically toward organizations.
- Latinx households are significantly more likely to engage in informal giving compared to non-Latinx households. This holds true even when controlling for other factors, such as education level, age, marital status, gender, income and wealth, employment status, religion and immigration status.
- Family involvement is also important among Latinx high net worth donors; they are more likely to involve children, grandchildren, and/or younger relatives in giving decision-making than non-Latinx high net worth donors.
- An increasingly smaller percentage of Latinx households gave to charitable organizations between 2000 and 2018 (from 44% to 26%), a pattern comparable to trends in the general U.S. population.
- The most common priority causes for Latinx household charitable giving were 1) religious congregations; 2) food, shelter, and basic necessities; 3) healthcare and medical research; and 4) education. These priorities matched those of non-Latinx households.
- Among Latinx households, rates of giving to nonprofits differed based on immigration status and amount of time lived in the United States.