The State of Latino-Serving Community-Based Organizations in Massachusetts

Over the past couple of generations, Latinos have been central to the revitalization of countless communities across Massachusetts. They currently make up 14.4 percent of the state’s population, and their population total is projected to increase to over 1.3 million by 2040. However, Latino communities face significant socioeconomic challenges, with 23 percent living in poverty and 33 percent having limited English proficiency. Latino-serving and Latino-led nonprofit organizations have long been instrumental in addressing these challenges, providing services that bridge gaps left by government and the private sector.

To assess the reach and impact of Latino-serving and Latino-led organizations in Massachusetts, this study was commissioned by the Latino Equity Fund at the Boston Foundation and conducted by the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Developmentand Public Policy. It builds on the foundation of the 2020 report, State of the Latino Non-Profit Sector in Massachusetts, developed in collaboration with Amplify Latinx. This new research broadens the previous scope by including not just those with official 501(c)3 status, but also less formal organizations with fiscal sponsors and grassroots initiatives, acknowledging their vital contributions to the community. This inventory identifies 153 organizations spanning 36 cities, offering a diverse array of services, including education, housing, healthcare, and human services.

While the number itself tells a story, the report goes deeper in exploring the geography of these organizations, as well as their scale, and finds significant disparities between where Latinos live in Massachusetts and the concentration of organizations designed to support them and help them succeed. By publishing this report as the first step in a longer-term effort to track Latino organizations in the Massachusetts nonprofit sector, we hope to inform the wider public and highlight opportunities and needs not being met throughout the state. Download the executive summary here or the full report from UMass Boston's ScholarWorks portal.