Giving Compass' Take:

• NewSchools Venture Fund released a new report titled,  Talented, Passionate, and Underrepresented: Investing in Latino Edupreneurs, that analyzes opportunities for Latino education entrepreneurs. 

• The key findings from the report suggest that Latino entrepreneurs are passionate about giving back to their communities. How can philanthropists help invigorate these innovators and the surrounding neighborhoods they live in?

• Read about the impact of supporting underserved entrepreneurs.

NewSchools Venture Fund released a new report, Talented, Passionate and Underrepresented: Investing in Latino Edupreneurs. Informed by a combination of qualitative and quantitative research, the goal of the report is to better understand the reasons why there are so few Latino education innovators, and what education philanthropies can do to better support them. One in four students in U.S. schools is Latino, and they are projected to be one in three by 2026. Although Latinos have the highest rate of entrepreneurship in America, they are underrepresented among education entrepreneurs.

This report explores what was behind the low numbers. Were Latino entrepreneurs choosing not to go into education? Were they deciding not to apply for funding from philanthropies, and why? Were they unaware of the opportunities? Were they applying, but just not getting funded?

Key findings from the report:

  • Latino education entrepreneurs are more likely to be juggling multiple responsibilities than other entrepreneurs. 
  • Latino education entrepreneurs exhibit strong enterprising qualities that are often part of a family history of entrepreneurship.
  • Latino education entrepreneurs have a strong calling to improve their local communities and work with students.
  • Low familiarity with philanthropy and limited information can discourage Latino education entrepreneurs from pursuing grant opportunities.
  • Support from professional and community organizations can help Latino leaders make the leap into education entrepreneurship. 

The full report delves deeper into the findings and includes potential next steps and considerations for Latino innovators and funders that could result in a pipeline of entrepreneurs that better reflects the students they serve.

Read the full article about Latino education entrepreneurs at Yahoo Finance.