273: How A Funding Collaborative Can Empower Your Nonprofit (Tara Townsend & Carlos Hernandez)

SUMMARY

How can nonprofit leaders navigate the challenges of equitable collaboration and sustainable funding in a sector often marked by resource disparities and systemic barriers? In episode 273 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, two influential nonprofit leaders, Tara Townsend and Carlos Hernandez, discuss the intricacies of collaboration, sustainability, and access to capital within the nonprofit sector. Carlos shares his journey from founding an organization in his basement to navigating equitable collaborations with mainstream institutions and Tara emphasizes the importance of systems change and sustainable funding, particularly through their initiative focused on supporting Chicago's cultural treasures. 

ABOUT TARA

Named President of IFF’s Social Impact Accelerator in June 2022, Dr. Tara Townsend leads IFF’s work to accelerate positive social impact and systems change by meeting nonprofit sector needs and addressing place-based challenges throughout the Midwest. Dr. Townsend previously served as Senior Vice President of IFF’s research and evaluation practice, which informs and guides strategic planning and the investment of resources to maximize the transformational impact on low-income and disabled communities. Townsend brings to her role over 20 years of applied research and evaluation experience in the nonprofit and public spheres within several sectors, including criminal justice, public health, and education. 

ABOUT CARLOS

Carlos R. Hernandez is the founder executive director of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA), and has transformed the organization into one of Chicago's leading Latino arts institutions. PRAA offers a broad spectrum of cultural and academic enrichment programs for youth and children and is renowned for producing the annual Emmy Award-winning National Cuatro Festival. In 2021, PRAA, under Carlos’s guidance, was awarded $500,000 and named one of Chicago’s Cultural Treasurers.

EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES

• Working with You is Killing Me: Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work by Katherine Crowley & Kathi Elster & 1776 by David McCullough
• Ready for a Mastermind?  Learn more here!
• Need more resources? Check out our website: