Chicana Latina Foundation

What Chicana Latina Foundation does

The Chicana Latina Foundation (CLF) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 and headquartered at 1419 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame, CA. Its mission is to promote the personal, educational, and professional advancement of Chicana and Latina women, primarily by awarding 40–45 merit-based scholarships per year ($1,500 to community-college and undergraduate recipients; $2,000 to graduate and PhD recipients, paid in two installments) to self-identifying Chicana/Latina students enrolled in accredited institutions across designated Northern California counties.

CLF's core product is an integrated Scholarship and Leadership Program, built around three interlocking components: the merit-based financial award, the CLF Leadership Institute (a three-day, two-night residential retreat focused on service leadership, personal storytelling, and professional development), and a lifelong Alumnae Network of more than 600 Latina leaders who provide mentorship, peer support, and civic engagement programming. Supporting offerings include named endowed scholarships (e.g., Abuelitos Villa-Miramontes, Dra. Sandra Torres, Elizabeth 'Betita' Martinez, Olga Talamante, STEM/Innovation), a Semillas pathway cohort for semi-finalist applicants, and a portfolio of fundraising and brand-building events — the Annual Awards Dinner, Carmen Castellano Justice in Philanthropy Award, and Voices of Resistance series. The underlying technology layer is conventional: a marketing/content website (built with Design Action Collective), the Community Force online scholarship application portal, a Network for Good donation processing integration, and active social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, with a separate CLF Alumnae Association Facebook presence).

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, with three streams: individual donors via Network for Good, special endowed scholarships sponsored in honor of named individuals, and corporate/foundation grants and event sponsorships. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven — annual galas, university workshops across Northern California campuses (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, Stanford, San Jose State, SF State, Mills College, Cabrillo College), volunteer-driven interview panels, and alumni referrals. CLF reports a small staff of 4–5 employees — Executive Director Adriana Ayala, Ph.D., and managers covering administration, programs, and advocacy/leadership — supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Lupe Gallegos-Diaz; no fundraising is conducted through venture capital or institutional investors.

Name

Chicana Latina Foundation

Legal name

Chicana Latina Foundation

Website

https://chicanalatina.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chicana Latina Foundation is a 1977-founded California nonprofit that awards merit-based scholarships ($1,500–$2,000) to 40–45 Chicana/Latina students annually in Northern California and develops them through a residential Leadership Institute retreat and a lifelong 600+ member alumnae network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Scholarship and Leadership Development Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Scholarship programs
• Leadership development
• Nonprofit education
• Alumnae network
• Community foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlingame

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through Network for Good platform; supporters can sponsor scholarships in honor of loved ones
2. Special Scholarship Sponsorships: Named scholarships sponsored by donors in honor of specific individuals; multiple endowed scholarships including Abuelitos Villa-Miramontes, Dra. Sandra Torres, Elizabeth Martinez, and others
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Event sponsors and organizational supporters fund programs and scholarships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chicana Latina Foundation is a nonprofit organization that awards merit-based scholarships ($1,500-$2,000) to 40-45 self-identifying Chicana/Latina college students annually in Northern California. Its core offering combines financial scholarships with the CLF Leadership Institute retreat and lifetime membership in an alumnae network of 600+ Latina leaders, plus skill-building workshops, mentorship, and civic engagement programming.

Product overview

The Chicana Latina Foundation operates a single integrated nonprofit service model centered on the Leadership and Scholarship Program as its cornerstone offering. The program combines merit-based scholarships ($1,500-$2,000) with the CLF Leadership Institute retreat experience, followed by lifetime membership in the Alumnae Network. Supporting offerings include Special Endowed Scholarships for specific fields and populations, the Semillas pathway program for semi-finalists, and annual celebratory events (Annual Awards Celebration, Voices of Resistance Series, Carmen Castellano Justice in Philanthropy Award). Application support resources including worksheets and FAQs are provided free to applicants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership and Scholarship Program CLF's flagship merit-based scholarship program awarding $1,500 to undergraduate/community college students and $2,000 to graduate/PhD students, supporting 40-45 self-identifying Chicana/Latina college students annually in Northern California with financial assistance, the Leadership Institute retreat experience, and lifetime access to the alumnae network.
• CLF Leadership Institute A three-day, two-night residential retreat cultivating leadership and professional development for Chicana/Latina-identified scholarship recipients through service leadership, spiritual healing, nature activities, group discussions, and personal storytelling workshops.
• Alumnae Network
• Special Endowed Scholarships
• Semillas Cohort Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% community college graduation rate vs 40% statewide average for Latinos
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fondo Guadalupe MusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOaxacan foundation supporting young Indigenous women's leadership and scholarships; joint beneficiary of Voices of Resistance event proceeds. Supports development of young Oaxacan women through leadership training and scholarships for high school and collegiate studies.
• University of San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for volunteer interviews and leadership training sessions; partnership for Semillas one-day leadership training
• Design Action CollectiveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite design and development partner providing graphic design and visual communications for progressive non-profit organizations
• Cabrillo CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Latino Role Models conference with K-12 school districts; partnership for educational programming and student support
• Northern California UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, Stanford, San Jose State, San Francisco State, Mills College, and other regional institutions for student recruitment and programming

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The largest U.S. nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support to Hispanic-American students. Directly comparable to CLF as a Hispanic-focused scholarship provider with similar mission, though operating at national scale with much larger endowments and award amounts.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): Long-standing scholarship and leadership development organization for African-American students. Highly comparable as a culturally-specific scholarship foundation combining financial aid with leadership programming and a robust alumne network, though at much greater scale.
• American Indian College Fund: National scholarship foundation serving American Indian and Alaska Native students with scholarships and leadership programming. Closely mirrors CLF's model of culturally-rooted merit scholarships combined with leadership development and student support.
• Asian Pacific Fund: Bay Area-based community foundation administering multiple scholarship funds for Asian and Pacific Islander students. Directly comparable as a California-rooted, identity-focused scholarship foundation with named endowed scholarships and small-staff operations.

Emerging players

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI): Provides scholarships, internships, and leadership development for Latino college students. Comparable to CLF in combining financial aid with leadership programming for Hispanic students, though with a stronger national policy and public service orientation.

Regional players

• Latino Community Foundation: California-based community foundation focused on investing in Latino-led organizations across the state. Comparable in geographic footprint (California) and Latino-focused mission, with overlapping donor networks and foundation grant-making activities.
• California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation: California-focused foundation supporting Latino student scholarships and educational programs. Comparable as a California-rooted, Latino-focused scholarship entity with overlapping regional donor networks.

Broad incumbents

• MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund): National Latino civil rights organization with a scholarship program for law students. Overlaps with CLF in serving Mexican-American educational advancement and shares donor and community networks, though primarily focused on legal advocacy.
• UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza): The largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., with educational programs supporting Latino college attainment. Broadly comparable mission of advancing Latino educational equity at national scale.

Others

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): Membership association representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) with scholarship and internship programs. Comparable educational-access mission for Hispanic students, though operating through institutional partnerships rather than direct student scholarships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CLF_says
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicanaLatinaFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicana-latina-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicanalatinafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chicana Latina Foundation