Latino Community Foundation (LCF) will have a new leader by the end of the year as current President and CEO Jacqueline Martinez Garcel will be stepping down.

It was announced on June 27 that the LCF Board is working with global executive search firm, Spencer Stuart, alongside Martinez Garcel to identify her successor. 

“With Jacqueline’s leadership, LCF has become a leading organization with a vibrant statewide presence and national voice centered on love, power, and culture. This is the right time for Jacqueline and the Board to ensure a successful leadership transition,” said Board Chair Dan Skaff.

“The Board is deeply committed to the values and culture that have made LCF a transformative catalyst driving social change,” he continued.

LCF’s primary mission is to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos.

Under Martinez Garcel’s tenure, the Foundation has become a force elevating the voices of community leaders and investing in the civic and economic infrastructure of Latino communities. 

“Seven years and seven months ago, I arrived to California with a deep sense of urgency and a bold vision to unleash the power of Latinos. The vision has come to life,” said Martinez Garcel in a statement.

She added, “It has been the joy and privilege of a lifetime to work alongside incredible leaders to strengthen our democracy and build a more inclusive, just economy across communities in California.”

Through core support grants to over 400 Latino-led organizations, the first-ever Latino Nonprofit Accelerator, community-driven advocacy, and the largest Network of Latino philanthropists in the U.S., LCF established itself as an anchor resource for the people and is centered around the voices of the communities.

“Together, we leveraged our role as grantmaker, convenor, and influencer and helped secure over $300 million in federal resources so our families can build the future their children deserve. I am so grateful and proud of our brilliant team and exceptional Board,” Martinez Garcel said.

As the LCF Board embarks on finding the new President, many who have worked alongside Martinez Garcel praise her work over her tenure at the helm.

“Jacqueline has been a bold, visionary leader,” said Beatriz Acevedo, LCF board member and founder of SUMA Wealth. “She not only raised $95 million to strengthen our democracy and build a more inclusive economy, she led with her heart and kept the community at the center.”

Martinez Garcel is no stranger to making an impact at each stop she has worked. Prior to joining LCF, she served as vice president of the New York Health Foundation, where she helped establish the foundation as a resource for policymakers and community leaders across the state.

Prior to NYHealth, she served as executive director of community voices in New York as part of a national initiative of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. During her tenure there, she developed, evaluated, and expanded programs to advance equity, improve health, and quality of life for communities of color. 

She impact she has been able to make with the LCF simply adds to her sustained track record. 

For Martinez Garcel, she is looking forward to continuing to work for the Foundation while the search for her successor marches on.

“Greater things lie ahead for the LCF and the Latino community,” she concluded.