Progreso Latino Fund

The Progreso Latino Fund (PLF) is a permanent resource that brings people together to have a positive impact on the most important issues facing Latines today.

Our mission

To empower a diverse Latine community in the Greater New Haven region through education, leadership, culture and philanthropy.

PLF carries out its mission and creates positive change through:

  • Forums on matters of importance to Latines featuring prominent national and local speakers.
  • Celebrations of Connecticut Latines who lead from where they are.
  • Charitable grants to programs and services that advance Latines.
  • A focus on the youth and young leaders.

Celebrating 20 Years!


This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Progreso Latino Fund. For two decades, The Fund has inspired Latine* philanthropy in our community, fostering gifts of talent, time, and financial resources. The Fund has brought people together to promote and support the Latine culture, celebrate Connecticut Latine leaders, advance education through scholarships and training, and provide charitable grants to programs and services for and with the Latine community.

In recognition of this anniversary, the Progreso Latino Fund will award $100,000 in grants over the next two years to continue positively impacting the most urgent issues facing Latines today.

*A note on our use of Latine.

Two ways to express your generosity.

PLF is 20 in 2023! Credit: Chiké Photography

Double your impact

20th Anniversary Match Campaign

Your gift is matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,000 to grow the Progreso Latino Fund, increase its impact, and ensure that it will continue to support our community in the future.

Maribel Martínez and Fernando J. Muñiz support Latine organizations with their charitable fund. Credit: Chiké Photography

Open a Fund and Receive a $2,000 Contribution

20th Anniversary Fund Challenge

The Progreso Latino Fund aims to establish 40 new Latine funds by November. Each new fund will receive $2,000 in matching funds to charitable dollars from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Individuals, families, and businesses can take up to four years to build their funds with a commitment to annual contributions.

Watch the video of why Fernando Muñiz and Maribel Martínez created their family fund.

Sponsorships available

20th Anniversary Celebration:

SAVE THE DATE! Come celebrate with us on November 10, 6-10 p.m. at at Amarante’s Sea Cliff.

Please consider a sponsorship level for your business or organization. Sponsors will be highlighted during the evening and by The Community Foundation and Progreso Latino Fund to thousands of supporters, website visitors, event attendees, and on press releases, program materials and email communications.

June 29

Cultural Mental Health Services Through the Lifespan: Children and Youth

Please join us as we work to break down the barriers to mental health supports for our Latine community through a three-part webinar series. Our second webinar topic is Children and Youth mental health care, focusing on affordability, access, cultural appropriateness and education on benefits of seeking treatment.

Credit: Chiké Photography

Celebrating 20 years of Latine Philanthropy

Progreso Latino Fund 20th-Anniversary Kickoff

Thanks to all who joined us at Bregamos Community Theater on February 2, 2023 for PLF's 20th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration! Click the button below for a recap of the event and a photo gallery.

Maritza Bond, New Haven Public Health Director. Credit: Contributed

Leading From Where You Are

Celebrating Latine Leaders

Latine Leaders serving Greater New Haven and Connecticut share their inspiring stories in this series of up-close and personal profiles.

The PLF 15th Anniversary Gala was held in 2018 Credit: Chiké Photography

Bringing the Community Together

Past Community Events

Did you miss a past event? View the archive of past event summaries and photos.

Educational and economic wellbeing

Our Impact

  • As of 2021, The PLF endowment is $457,000.
  • Since 2003, $174,264 in grants to the community.

2022 grants supported:

  • Community conversation at New Haven Pride Center.
  • Hispanic Heritage Month events organized by Arte Inc.
  • Curriculum development for the new Latinas In Leadership Institute, Latinas & Power Inc.
  • Puerto Ricans United (PRU) gala and festival.
  • Two scholarships to New Haven seniors.
  • 10 matching grants to Latinx-led organizations during The Great Give.
Arianna Adorno was awarded a 2022 Founders Scholarship. Credit: Photo Courtesy of Arianna Adorno

Supporting New Haven Scholars

Founders Scholarship

In honor if its Founding members, the PLF Advisory Committee awards an annual scholarship to a New Haven Latino student through the New Haven Scholarship Fund.

Stepping Up in a Time of Need

Disaster Response

In 2017, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the massive earthquake in Mexico, PLF joined a Latine-led global fundraising campaign to support disaster relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico and Mexico and assist evacuees who came to Greater New Haven.

PLF Advisory Committee (L-R): Rev. Edwin Perez, Jr., Anaika Ocasio, Tara Davila, Raquel Santiago-Martinez, Yari Ijeh, Gypsy Garcia, Anna Rivera Alfaro, Carolina Parrott (not pictured: Angel Bruno and Atty. Erandi Reiland) Credit: Chike Photography

PLF Advisory Committee (2023)

  • Tara Davila (Co-Chair)
  • Yari Ijeh (Co-Chair)
  • Angel Bruno
  • Gypsy Garcia
  • Anaika Ocasio
  • Carolina Parrott
  • Rev. Edwin Perez, Jr.
  • Atty. Erandi Reiland
  • Anna Rivera-Alfaro
  • Raquel Santiago-Martinez

Use your talents to expand opportunity for Latines in Greater New Haven. Join the PLF Advisory Committee today!

Our History

The Progreso Latino Fund was established in 2003 a small group of community-minded Puerto Ricans as their way to give back to the New Haven community which they called home. Their vision was to create a fund that would “promote the educational and socio-economic well-being of Latinos in the City of New Haven and the region . . . with particular attention to the needs of our children.”

Since then, more than 660 contributors have have built a permanent endowment of more than $440,000 that is used to fund grant making, policy forums, leadership-building activities and community events

The Progreso Latino Fund is permanently endowed, which means it will last forever and never stop doing good. An independent advisory committee picked exclusively from within the Latino community guides the actions of the PLF.

Get in touch for more information.

Liana Garcia
Director of Gift Planning

203-974-1646