NHI launching new Legacy Fund endowment with eye toward future

The National Hispanic Institute is launching a new endowment fund, called the NHI Legacy Fund, to help NHI continue to impact the lives of aspiring young leaders. An anonymous donor recently contributed $40,000 on the NHI founder’s 80th birthday, and if NHI alumni and supporters are able to raise $40,000 toward the new fund by February 28, 2021, the anonymous donor will match that $40,000 with an additional donation.

The new endowment fund is designed to look toward NHI’s long-term growth, according to NHI Executive Vice President, Nicole Nieto, and the anonymous donor’s investment should be seen by NHI alumni as an endorsement of the work NHI is doing.

“We’re thrilled to announce, on the global day of generosity known as Giving Tuesday, this chance to further invest in young Latino leaders of future generations,” Nieto said. “While we’re still driven to support students with tuition with the Change a Life Fund, this new fund gives donors the chance to make a long-lasting impact — not only investing in the 21st Century Latino community, but even looking ahead to the 22nd Century and beyond.

NHI is already on the way to meeting the matching grant challenge. In October, additional donors came together to commemorate NHI founder and president Ernesto Nieto’s 80th birthday with more than $3,500.

And earlier this month, NHI alumna Patty Wolf (née Perez) and her husband Doug, both employees at USAA, made a $2,000 donation to the legacy as well as a $5,000 donation to the NHI at San Antonio alliance chapter of the organization.

The campaign comes at a critical juncture for NHI, which pivoted from its original programming plans this past summer to building and hosting its first-ever Digital Leadership Experience programs. While taking its leadership education programs online was something of a paradigm shift for NHI, it also offered its staff a glimpse into the future and an opportunity to broaden its reach in future years.

“We saw the opportunity for NHI to adapt to digital environments and whatever exciting new technologies might come,” Nieto said. “We know that the global Latino community is going to grow and prosper in the future, and we want to make sure NHI is there for that future.”

To donate to the new NHI Legacy Fund and help NHI meet the $40,000 challenge, donate through this 360Alumni link.