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.


For more than two decades, Progreso Latino 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. 

*A note on our use of Latine.

Our mission

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

We carry out our 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.

EVENTS

Seeds of Legacy: Latina Philanthropic Leaders and Their Daughters

Please join the Progreso Latino Fund Advisory Committee in person on December 3 for an inspiring evening to highlight the journey of Latina leaders and celebrate the Fund’s 2025 milestones.

Educational and economic wellbeing

Our Impact

2025 Grantmaking: From Casa to Career
In 2025, the Fund targeted grants to Latine-led or Latine-serving nonprofits providing wraparound support services to help Greater New Haven Latinas enter and remain in the workforce. 

Denise Santisteban, pictured with daughter Rio, established the Santisteban Family Fund to support Latine Theater Credit: Contributed

Create a Legacy

Start a Fund

The Progreso Latino Fund is working to increase the number of Latine funds at The Community Foundation and invites you to create a personally named fund for directing your philanthropic dollars to support causes that you care about.

Meet our fund founders! Learn more about local Latine individuals and families who have created charitable funds at The Community Foundation and the stories behind their giving. 

The Progreso Latino Fund supports young leaders. Credit: Chiké Photography

Support the Latine Community

Give to The Fund

Please help Progreso Latino Fund expand its impact in our community with your support.

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 (2025)

Board Liaison

  • Fernando Muñiz

Staff Liaison

  • Carmen Burgos
  • Jackie Downing
  • Liana Garcia

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 Latine community guides the actions of the PLF.

How can I help?

Liana Garcia, MS, PMP, CAP®

Director of Gift Planning

203-974-1646

Send Email