Nonprofit leaders, fundraising isn't just about raising dollars—it's about raising power. In this episode, we delve into the often-overlooked role of Latino fundraisers, the gap between boards and development staff, and why genuine sustainability stems from investing in fundraising, rather than galas or gadgets.

Episode Highlights

• 02:22 Armando's Personal Story and Fundraising Philosophy

• 04:18 Challenges in Fundraising and Nonprofit Sustainability

• 11:52 Board Education and Fundraising Transparency

• 16:42 Latino Community and Fundraising

• 23:55 Critique of Traditional Fundraising Events

• 24:53 Challenges in Securing Funding

• 28:22 The Importance of Prospect Research

• 32:38 Supporting Latino Nonprofits

My guest for this episode is Armando Zumaya.

Armando Zumaya has been a fundraiser for over 40 years, working on billion-dollar campaigns at Cornell and UC Berkeley, and serving in leadership roles across major gifts, annual funds, and development. He is the founder of Somos El Poder, a national Latinx fundraising institute, and a nationally recognized expert on Latino Major Giving. Armando has raised five, six, and seven-figure gifts from the Latinx community, and is a sought-after speaker and writer whose work has appeared in Stanford Social Innovation Review and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2024, he was named to The Nonprofit Times "Top 50 Leaders of Power and Influence." He lives in Northern California and is proud of his Chicano heritage.

Connect with Armando:

www.somoselpoder.org

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