USHLI

What USHLI does

USHLI (United States Hispanic Leadership Institute) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 by Carlos Tortolero and led by President Dr. Juan Andrade Jr., focused on empowering Latino communities through education, leadership development, civic engagement, and demographic research. Its core programmatic offerings include the Student Leadership Series (SLS), a high-school motivational program that has reached 978,800+ participants across 39 states since 2011; the National Conference, the largest annual gathering of students and emerging Latino leaders in the U.S. (4,650 attendees in 2024, held in Chicago); the Collegiate Leadership Development Program (CLDP), the Grassroots Leadership Development Program (GLDP), and the Public Policy Development Program (PPDP). The organization also administers scholarships (Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship, Denny's Hungry for Education partnership awarding $2.7M+ cumulatively) and operates voter registration and GOTV initiatives that have registered over 4 million voters.

USHLI holds a designated U.S. Census Information Center (CIC) status (one of 52 nationally since 2000) and produces the Almanac of Latino Politics, a comprehensive research publication on Latino demographics, voting patterns, and political participation, alongside city and county demographic profiles. The organization is funded primarily through individual donations (PayPal, Zelle), corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, T-Mobile, AT&T, Ford, Denny's), and foundation grants, with all programs delivered free to participants. Corporate and institutional partnerships span 3,530+ organizations and a 2024 MOU with HHS extended USHLI's federal footprint into public-service workforce pipelines, while participation in the MachH2 clean-energy initiative represents further vertical expansion.

Operationally, USHLI is a lean organization with 1-10 employees and a single Chicago headquarters, relying on event-driven distribution (annual conference, SLS Launch events, Spring Tours, HSI Convenings) and a multi-channel digital presence (website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube) to deliver programming at national scale without a traditional paid-customer revenue model.

Name

USHLI

Legal name

United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

Website

https://ushli.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USHLI is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1982 that empowers Latino communities through education, leadership development, civic engagement, and demographic research, serving high school and college students nationwide via its Student Leadership Series, National Conference, scholarship programs, and U.S. Census Information Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: USHLI generates revenue through individual donations (PayPal, Zelle), corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. The organization holds an annual dinner celebration fundraiser and solicits support through its website.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund various programs including scholarships and the annual conference. Sponsors include Wells Fargo (Dinner Chair), T-Mobile, and various other corporations, colleges, universities, and community organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USHLI is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free leadership development, civic engagement, scholarship administration, and demographic research services to Latino students and emerging leaders. Its core offerings include the Student Leadership Series (SLS), the annual National Conference (the largest gathering of students and emerging leaders in the United States), collegiate and grassroots leadership programs, voter registration and GOTV initiatives, scholarship programs (Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship and Denny's Hungry for Education Scholarship), and research outputs such as the Almanac of Latino Politics and Census Information Center demographic profiles.

Product overview

USHLI is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of leadership development and civic engagement programs. Its core offerings include the Student Leadership Series (SLS) for high school students, annual National Conference (the largest gathering of emerging Latino leaders in the nation), Collegiate Leadership Development Program (CLDP), Grassroots Leadership Development Program (GLDP), and Public Policy Development Program (PPDP). The organization also administers scholarship programs including the Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship and Denny's Hungry for Education Scholarship, and provides research services through its Census Information Center, Demographic Profiles, and the Almanac of Latino Politics. Civic engagement initiatives include voter registration, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) programs, and candidate training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Almanac of Latino Politics: A comprehensive publication presenting data about Latino demographics, voting patterns, elected officials, and political participation
• Student Leadership Series (SLS)
• National Conference

Products and services

• Student Leadership Series (SLS) Motivational program for high school students focused on staying in school, improving academic performance, graduating from college, and pursuing post-secondary education or training.
• National Conference The largest annual gathering of students, young professionals, and emerging leaders in the United States, held in Chicago, providing interaction with academic and employment recruiters, public policymakers, and prominent speakers.
• Collegiate Leadership Development Program (CLDP) Leadership development program focused on college students to develop future Latino leaders and supports engagement in the annual National Conference and recruitment fair.
• Grassroots Leadership Development Program (GLDP) Program designed to develop leadership skills at the grassroots community level for emerging Latino community leaders.
• Public Policy Development Program (PPDP) Program focused on developing public policy skills and engagement among emerging Latino leaders, including policy training and civic engagement components.
• Civic Engagement / Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Program Civic engagement initiatives including Get Out The Vote (GOTV), voter registration, voter education resources, absentee ballot request support, and candidate and campaign management training.
• Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders A one-time, non-renewable scholarship of $1,000 for full-time undergraduate students that recognizes students who demonstrate Dr. Andrade's lifelong commitment to servant leadership.
• Denny's Hungry for Education Scholarship (with USHLI) Scholarship program partnered with Denny's HFE campaign awarding scholarships to deserving high school and college students who submit essays on bringing communities together and meet GPA requirements.
• Census Information Center Data Products As an official U.S. Census Bureau Census Information Center, USHLI compiles demographic data, creates demographic profiles, data overviews, and color thematic maps of major cities, counties, and states for use by researchers, community leaders, and policymakers.
• Almanac of Latino Politics Comprehensive publication presenting data tables and analysis on Latino demographics, voting patterns, elected officials, congressional districts, and political participation at national and state levels.
• Demographic Profiles Demographic profiles of cities and counties in USHLI's service area that enable local leaders to focus energy and resources in specific geographic areas for community improvement projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 978,800 participants reached since 2011 through SLS programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, minor and flagship.

• Wells FargomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2025Wells Fargo served as the Dinner Chair for USHLI's 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Represented by Ruben Barrales, Senior Vice President for External Relations, Government Relations and Public Policy.
• T-MobilemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2025T-Mobile was a lead corporate sponsor of USHLI's 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration, supporting the organization's mission of investing in emerging leaders.
• National Museum of Mexican ArtcoreOthers · 14 August 2025Venue partner for USHLI's 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration held on August 14, 2025 in Chicago.
• Humboldt Park HealthminorOthers · 14 August 2025Community organization sponsor of USHLI's 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration.
• United Food and Commercial Workers UnionminorOthers · 14 August 2025Union sponsor of USHLI's 2025 Annual Dinner Celebration.
• Hispanics In Energy (HIE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024USHLI participated in the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum sponsored by HIE at BMO Headquarters in Chicago. The forum focused on the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) initiative receiving up to $1 billion in DOE funding. USHLI participated in the 'Community Benefits Program and Labor Force' panel.
• ComEdmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024ComEd Senior Vice President Lewis Binswanger participated as HIE Vice Chair at the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum where USHLI was a panel participant.
• Illinois Hispanic Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024President & CEO Jaime di Paulo participated in the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum panel alongside USHLI President Dr. Juan Andrade.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024HACU Director Noemi Lujan Perez participated in the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum panel discussing workforce development and community benefits.
• National Latino Education Institute (NLEI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024Executive Director Elba Aranda-Suh participated in the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum panel alongside USHLI.
• NiSourceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Carlos Ayala participated in the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum.
• Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2024USHLI is part of this initiative to develop a renewable clean hydrogen market in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, which will receive up to $1 billion in DOE funding and create 10,000 jobs.
• BMO HeadquartersminorOthers · 26 June 2024Venue host for the Midwest Hydrogen Hub Forum where USHLI participated as a panelist.
• AT&TmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AT&T committed $5 billion since 2021 to help close the digital divide, including partnerships with organizations like USHLI to provide digital literacy resources and connectivity. USHLI is mentioned as a partner organization helping to reach underserved communities with AT&T's digital inclusion initiatives.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024USHLI co-signed an MOU with HHS to utilize its outreach capability to identify students of color interested in public service careers. HHS aims to recruit students pursuing degrees in health, human resources, social work, government, accounting, political science, media, communications, marketing, and more. Signing ceremony held at Malcolm X College in Chicago.
• Denny's (Hungry for Education)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Since 2011, Denny's Hungry for Education scholarship program has partnered with USHLI to award scholarships to deserving high school and college students. The program has given away over $2.7 million in scholarships. In 2026, 18 scholarships are being awarded through this partnership. Students must submit essays on bringing communities together and meet GPA requirements.
• U.S. Census BureauflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSHLI is an official Census Information Center member since 2000, part of a network of 52 non-profit groups providing demographic data and research on Latino communities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UnidosUS: Largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy nonprofit (formerly NCLR). Directly comparable to USHLI in mission (Latino empowerment, education, civic engagement) and in operating a national footprint of programs, policy work, and corporate partnerships.
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): Oldest and one of the largest Latino civil rights organizations in the U.S. Operates councils nationwide, runs education and leadership programs, and shares USHLI's focus on civic engagement, scholarships, and Latino leadership development.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): Represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions and is an explicit USHLI partner. Highly comparable given overlapping HSI convenings, scholarship programs, and Latino higher-education access mission.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF): Largest nonprofit dedicated to Latino higher-education access and scholarships. Directly comparable through scholarship distribution, corporate partners, and programs targeting Latino college-bound students.
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI): Bipartisan nonprofit developing emerging Latino leaders, with fellowships, leadership programs, and a national convention. Closely mirrors USHLI's leadership pipeline and civic-engagement focus.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino nonprofit serving the East Coast and Puerto Rico. Operates education, civic engagement, and grantmaking programs for Latino communities; directly comparable to USHLI's civic-engagement and grant-distribution model.

Emerging players

• National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC): National nonprofit advancing Latino arts and culture with leadership institutes and grants. Comparable as a Latino-focused leadership-development and grantmaking organization, though focused on cultural rather than civic/political leadership.
• National Hispanic Center for the Arts / National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures: Latino-focused nonprofit supporting emerging leaders in a specific domain (arts/culture). Useful benchmark for the size and structure of a Latino-issues leadership nonprofit with national programming.
• Point Foundation: National LGBTQ+ scholarship and leadership-development nonprofit. Comparable in operating model (scholarships + leadership programs + national convening) though serving a different demographic community.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute Latinos in Society: Larger, broader policy and leadership organization with a Latinos and Society Program and convenings. Comparable on leadership convening and policy research, though broader in mission than USHLI's student focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theushli
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UshliOrg1
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheUSHLI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theushli
• Instagraminstagram.com/theushli
• TikToktiktok.com/@theushli

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about USHLI