Small Business Development | Latino entrepreneurs are a driving force in the US economy.

Over the past decade, 8 out of 10 new businesses were Latino-owned. At NALCAB, we view small business ownership as a powerful strategy for building wealth, creating jobs, promoting self-determination in Latino communities, and advancing a more prosperous nation for all.

NALCAB supports a national network of nonprofit organizations that deliver locally informed  small business development services. Through grantmaking, technical assistance, and access to capital, we help our members reduce barriers to entrepreneurship, expand services, and strengthen local economies.

Across the country, NALCAB’s members provide business training, increase access to capital, and lead efforts to create commercial corridors, incubators, and mercados. Together, we are building the infrastructure small businesses need to thrive.

Capacity Building & Technical Assistance

For the past 15 years, NALCAB has supported Network members to invest in small business growth through small business development services tailored to community needs, business lending, and place-based economic development. NALCAB supports small business-serving members through grant-making and technical assistance to build capacity in the following key areas:

• CDFI certification and loan fund capitalization
• Local and national small business policy
• Small business development and lending best practices
• Developing performance indicators and data management tools
• Enhancing program and organizational sustainability

In addition to funding and technical assistance, NALCAB develops resources that reflect the needs and realities of the communities served by our Network. These tools help inform local strategies, strengthen organizational capacity, and drive measurable impact. Resources are available to NALCAB members.

Financial Capability: At NALCAB, we believe everyone deserves access to financial knowledge, literacy, and resources. We strive to create and strengthen financial capability programs and strategies to meet individuals where they are in their financial journey.

Why Does Financial Capability Matter?

Financial capability is not just about knowledge; it is about having the willingness, confidence, and opportunity to act. 

Individuals new to the US financial system and those with limited English proficiency face significant challenges. Obstacles  include conducting basic financial transactions, building a credit history, accumulating savings, and reducing debt.

What We Do

NALCAB provides technical assistance and capacity-building grants that promote generational wealth building to our members and nonprofit financial capability programs. We also offer professional development opportunities that increase and expand organizational staff and practitioner knowledge within financial wellness.  Support is focused on helping organizations to:

• Strengthen Current and New Programs: Implement financial capability curriculum to maximize learning impact.
• Financial Coaching to Access Capital and Innovative Financial Products: Access to, or encouraging the use of, financial products that are low-cost, convenient, and secure to create measurable impact in family assets.

• Optimize Outcome Tracking: Strengthen capacity to track and report outcomes, focusing on financial health metrics. 
• Build a Strong Curriculum: Provide technical assistance for member organizations to enhance their financial capability curriculum.
• Access to Peer-to-Peer Connections: Connect with resources and peer networks to optimize program effectiveness and learning.
• Sustainable Growth: Strategize for long-term program sustainability to ensure lasting community empowerment.

Project Highlights

FinTech

Capital One supported a three-year partnership for NALCAB and Change Machine to pioneer financial empowerment with the development of a guide on implementing Fintech into financial capability programming. Through this project, NALCAB and Change Machine developed and integrated cutting-edge FinTech solutions into community work, revolutionizing how people manage budgets, build credit, save, and plan for the future.

Our Approach: 

• Assess Readiness for FinTech: Evaluate organizational readiness to adopt and implement FinTech solutions effectively.
• Identify Outcomes & Develop a Theory of Change: Define clear goals and outcomes, shaping a strategic path towards financial empowerment. 
• Recommend FinTech Solutions: Identify and recommend tailored FinTech tools that align with organizational needs and client goals.
• Create a Customer Journey Map: Design seamless user experiences to enhance engagement and outcomes.
• Apply Coaching Skills: Equip staff with essential coaching skills to support clients in navigating FinTech tools effectively.
• Collect Data & Measure Impact: Implement robust data collection methods to track progress and measure the real-world impact of FinTech integration.

Through the strategic integration of innovative financial technologies, NALCAB and Change Machine are making financial processes more accessible and inclusive. Families gain streamlined access to financial products, paving the way towards lasting financial stability and generational wealth. Committed to accelerating financial stability for individuals served by NALCAB’s Financial Coach Empowerment Training (NFCE)

Practitioners will have priority access for up to two staff to participate in NALCAB’s industry-recognized financial coach training curriculum, created by CNM Ingenuity, as well as Credit as an Asset, developed by Credit Builders Alliance (CBA). This virtual certification training will be at least 60 hours and will be provided at no cost to participants. For additional training description, dates and requirements, click here

Discover how NALCAB empowers organizations to enhance community impact through tailored financial capability services. 

For more information on NALCAB’s Financial Capability work, please contact one of the following: Associate Director of Financial Capability – Brenda Jimenez at bjimenez@nalcab.org

Financial Capability Program Manager – Nicole Andonie at nandonie@nalcab.org

Financial Capability Program Specialist – Victoria Lopez at vlopez@nalcab.org

Neighborhood Development

Neighborhood Development is a practice of building and maintaining neighborhoods where all individuals and families can thrive. This means ensuring that development is community-driven and responsive to the needs and aspirations of all community members, particularly the most vulnerable. NALCAB supports our members in community organizing, policy advocacy, and real estate development work through capacity building, technical assistance, training, direct investment and research, data analysis, and mapping.

Intentional policy and practice are necessary to ensure that low- and moderate-income people and small businesses can share the benefits of appreciating real estate markets and minimize involuntary displacement. 

Analyzing Neighborhood Change

Since 2015, NALCAB has worked with local community development organizations in more than fifteen urban markets to analyze trends and develop strategies related to housing and neighborhood development that reflect and support the needs of existing residents and small businesses

Drawing on this experience, NALCAB developed a methodology for analyzing neighborhood change that provides a forward-looking framework to anticipate displacement and market shifts, rather than simply examining them in hindsight. This approach has been a valuable asset to our local partners, informing both practice and policy in rapidly changing communities. Additional resources, tools, and insights are available to members and partners upon request.

How We Serve Communities

NALCAB’s Neighborhood Development initiative informs and supports communities nationwide and shapes the asset-building field by undertaking activities in urban and rural areas. A contributing factor that sets us apart in the field is having a data-driven approach to analysis, planning, and development by utilizing tools like Geographic Information Systems. The Neighborhood Development team provides technical assistance to local governments and nonprofit organizations on a range of affordable housing and economic development issues. For a complete list, please see our Advisory Services page.

If you would like to learn more about NALCAB’s neighborhood development work, please contact Senior Director of Programs, Colton Powell at cpowell@nalcab.org 

GIS & Data Mapping | NALCAB’s GIS & Data and Mapping team provides members with specialized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services including data acquisition, visualization, research, and training. NALCAB has also partnered with local universities to develop specialized mapping tools such as the Neighborhood Change Atlas, which allows members to better understand how their neighborhoods are changing. 

Rural Capacity Building | enhances the capacity and ability of local governments, tribes, housing development organizations, and rural-focused Community Development Corporations (CDCs) to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-and moderate-income people in those areas.

Community Compass | is a program designed to help HUD grantees gain the knowledge, skills, tools, and capacity to implement HUD programs and policies efficiently. NALCAB produces bilingual webinars, factsheets, problem-solving clinics, and other communication materials, and also works directly with HUD grantees to address compliance or implementation challenges. 

Training & Leadership Development
Pete Garcia Community Economic Development Fellowship

The Pete Garcia Community Economic Development Fellowship is NALCAB’s flagship training program designed for emerging Latino leaders in the field of community economic development. Established in 2010, the Fellowship was created to address the leadership pipeline gap in nonprofit organizations working to expand economic opportunity in communities across the country. 

This intensive 11-month program equips next-generation professionals with the practical, personal, and professional skills needed to succeed. Through leadership development, technical training, and the facilitation of peer networks, fellows strengthen their capacity to lead, collaborate, and drive impact within their organizations and communities. To date, the Fellowship has graduated 205 leaders from 122 nonprofit organizations across 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The application cycle for the Pete Garcia Fellowship typically opens between November and January each year. Selected fellows begin the program in the spring and participate in both in-person and virtual training sessions throughout the 12-month period.

 Fellows are expected to:

• Attend all four in-person and virtual sessions
• Develop and present a Community Development Project
• Engage in peer learning and collaborative group work
• Secure support from their organization to participate fully, including time for travel, training, and coaching

For questions about program eligibility or details, please contact the NALCAB Training & Leadership Development Team at fellowship@nalcab.org.

To learn more about becoming a NALCAB Member, reach out to membership@nalcab.org.

CONGRATULATIONS to our Pete Garcia Fellowship Class of 2025!

NALCAB pledges to provide an environment of mutual respect where participation is available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Latino Executive Advancement & Development (LEAD) 

The Latino Executive Advancement & Development (LEAD) Fellowship is NALCAB’s executive-level leadership program designed for Latino Presidents, CEOs, and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations focused on economic asset building.

Launched in 2023 with support from Capital One and presented in partnership with the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at The George Washington University, this 15-month fellowship offers a unique learning experience rooted in leadership theory, applied knowledge, and peer collaboration.

LEAD provides more than foundational leadership training. The program addresses the real-world challenges and opportunities that come with leading Latino-focused, community economic development organizations. Fellows engage in a curriculum that includes organizational development, cultural intelligence, effective communication, critical thinking, and organizational culture.

The fellowship is designed for Latino leaders who are committed to public service and plan to continue their careers in the nonprofit asset-building field. LEAD encourages reflection, shared learning, and new perspectives that strengthen leadership and support long-term economic impact in Latino communities to propel national prosperity for all.

Eligible applicants should have at least five years of experience in the community asset-building field, including a minimum of two years in their current organization. Applicants must be currently employed at a NALCAB Member nonprofit or CDFI focused on community economic development.

Participation in the 15-month hybrid program requires a full commitment to both in-person and virtual sessions, including completion of a Personal Leadership Development Plan. Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and community engagement and must have the support of their organization’s board chair to dedicate time for coaching and leadership development activities throughout the program.

For questions about LEAD Fellowship eligibility or program details, please contact the NALCAB team at lead@nalcab.org.

To learn more about becoming a NALCAB Member, reach out to membership@nalcab.org. CONGRATULATIONS to our LEAD Fellowship Class of 2025! Supported by Capital One.  

NALCAB pledges to provide an environment of mutual respect where participation is available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.