Morales Consulting

10/13/2026

Day 1 of our first in Chicago, and what a meaningful way to begin on Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

The opening plenary brought together Indigenous leaders and philanthropic voices for a powerful conversation about capital, community wealth, self-determination, and what it truly takes to create lasting systems change.

One message from Lance Morgan, CEO of Ho-Chunk, Inc., particularly resonated with me:

“We didn’t need anyone to save us. We just needed somebody to power us.”

A powerful reminder that communities don’t lack vision, innovation, or leadership. Too often, what they lack is equitable access to capital, institutional support, and the autonomy to determine their own futures.

Carla Fredericks, CEO of the Christensen Fund, reinforced another important lesson: Capital is power, and how we allocate it can either reinforce existing inequities or help transform them.

What made this conversation especially meaningful on Indigenous Peoples’ Day was the emphasis on Indigenous leadership, sovereignty, and intergenerational thinking. Indigenous communities are not simply beneficiaries of investment. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, and institution builders whose knowledge and leadership offer important lessons for the entire social impact sector.

For me, this connects deeply to our work at Morales Consulting. Meaningful systems change isn’t just about moving more money or building stronger organizations. It’s about shifting power, strengthening community ownership, and ensuring those closest to the challenges have the resources and authority to shape the solutions.

An inspiring start to the week, with plenty to reflect on as we continue learning, connecting, and imagining what’s possible.

10/12/2026

SOCAP26 brings together the leaders, funders, and innovators shaping the future of impact, and this year the conversation is happening in Morales Consulting’s hometown of Chicago. Founder and CEO Alberto Morales will be in attendance, representing both Morales Consulting and Nuestro Futuro (NF), where he serves as co-chair.

With Latine organizations receiving less than 2% of philanthropic funding in Cook County, despite Latines making up 26% of the population, Alberto is committed to ensuring Latine philanthropy is part of the conversation. He is also eager to connect with organizations working to scale their impact through strategic planning, philanthropic strategy, and capacity building.

Attending SOCAP26? Send Alberto a message to set up a time to meet.



Source: Assessing Philanthropic Support for Latines in the Chicago Area
https://greatcities.uic.edu/news-stories/assessing-philanthropic-support-for-latines-in-the-chicago-area/

10/09/2026

October 9th is National Ageism Awareness Day! Morales Consulting is proud to amplify the work of our client partner, RRF Foundation for Aging. Alongside the American Society on Aging and hundreds of advocates across the aging network, RRF is helping the field .

RRF’s new Issue Brief, “Ending Ageism: Advancing Age Equity,” outlines the three strategies guiding its Age Equity grantmaking: changing norms and understanding, reducing institutional age bias, and strengthening the age equity landscape. Through advocacy, knowledge sharing, and actionable research, RRF is building momentum for lasting change.

Read the brief and join the conversation.

https://www.rrf.org/introducing-rrfs-age-equity-issue-brief/

Fall 2026: We are excited to share Ending Ageism: Advancing Age Equity, the latest issue brief in RRF's series of publications describing the Foundation's approach to grantmaking and improving the quality of life of older people. Read the Issue Brief here.

10/08/2026

During Latine Heritage Month, Morales Consulting reflects on the privilege of supporting organizations that stand alongside immigrant communities.

Morales Consulting recently traveled to Kansas City to facilitate two days of staff and board retreat conversations with Advocates for Immigrant Rights & Reconciliation (AIRR). As the firm leads AIRR's Executive Director search, creating alignment between staff and board around the organization's needs, priorities, and vision for its next chapter is especially important.

As a Latine-owned firm, Morales Consulting extends deep gratitude to this thoughtful and committed team for two inspiring days, and it is an honor to support AIRR during this critical leadership transition. The strongest searches begin with a shared understanding of who an organization is and where it hopes to go.

10/07/2026

Happy Latine Heritage Month! We are proud to have José Mazariegos as part of the Morales Consulting team.

Rooted in Guatemala's Indigenous Maya communities, José's family history informs how he sees identity as layered by history, culture, language, and belonging. At Morales Consulting, José supports clients across all three of our service areas, bringing his experience and perspective to work across the firm.

A fun fact about José: In parallel with his consulting work, he is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach with more than 15 years of experience training youth and adults. He is part of one of the largest academies in Chicago.

José holds an M.P.P. from Northwestern University and a B.A. from Princeton University.

Read José's full reflection by scrolling through the photos.

10/06/2026

"Proud" to see Taskforce Prevention & Community Services featured on WGN’s Daytime Chicago yesterday, spotlighting Vogue for Good 2026 and the organization’s incredible work supporting LGBTQ+ youth across Chicago.

Jagadīśa-devaśrī Dācus, Ph.D., LMSW and Hannah Pewee represented TaskForce beautifully in the interview, while several others vogued like the superstars they are, naturally. ✨

On Thursday, October 15, TaskForce will lalso host the Vogue for Good 2026, its annual signature benefit honoring the creativity, resilience, and legacy of Ballroom culture and LGBTQ+ community leadership.

The evening brings together live performances, remarks, and an auction at 838 W. Kinzie Street in Chicago, with proceeds supporting TaskForce’s work across the city’s West Side.

As an LGBTQ-owned firm, Morales Consulting recognizes Ballroom as both an art form and a lasting model of chosen family, mutual care, and community-built leadership. Organizations like TaskForce carry that legacy forward every day, and we are incredibly proud to partner with them.

Event details and tickets:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/vogufgoo202/event/vogueforgood2026/

Watch the WGN segment here:
https://wgntv.com/daytime-chicago/taskforce-prevention-community-services-lgbtq-youth-support-in-chicago/

Congratulations to the entire TaskForce team on the well-deserved spotlight. We can’t wait to celebrate with you at Vogue for Good!

Taskforce prevention and community services is a cornerstone of the Austin community on Chicago’s west side improving the sexual health and overall well-being of LGBTIQQ+ youth in the city. T…

09/22/2026

This month, Morales Consulting marks five years of equity-centered consulting in Chicago and beyond. To honor the milestone, founder and CEO Alberto Morales, MPA, has written a personal letter reflecting on what the firm set out to become, the lessons learned along the way, and the community whose trust made this work possible.

Alberto also reflects on how people-centered practices became inseparable from strategy itself, how the sector has shifted since 2021, and what he had to rethink about what effective consulting actually requires.

The Morales Consulting team is immensely grateful for the clients and team who believed in this firm before there was a track record to point to.

Five years in, the throughline remains the same: courage to grow, even when the next step is not fully visible.

Read the full letter now.
https://moralesconsultingllc.com/insights/five-years-of-equity-centered-consulting-lessons-from-morales-consulting

09/14/2026

Fundraising in the Age of AI: Smarter Strategies for Mission-Driven Organizations
Tuesday, September 15 | 12:00–1:00 PM CT

Fundraising is evolving alongside artificial intelligence, and mission-driven organizations are navigating what that shift means for how they identify opportunities, build funder relationships, and communicate impact.

Bevon Joseph, founder of Grant Logic AI and a social impact leader with nearly 15 years of experience raising millions of dollars for mission-driven organizations, will lead a webinar exploring how technology and organizational readiness intersect in modern fundraising strategy. The session will address AI's role in grant discovery, how to assess funder fit, and where opportunities exist beyond traditional grant searches.

The conversation will be relevant to nonprofit leaders, grant professionals, and social entrepreneurs seeking to strengthen their approach to sustainable funding.

Reigster now: https://grad.depaul.edu/portal/cpe-webinars?id=d4b37748-1d6f-4669-add5-df68e2965b6e

09/10/2026

A new report from the the University of Illinois Chicago's Great Cities Institute puts a number on something many in our sector have tangibly observed: the economic ripple effects of federal immigration enforcement extend well beyond the individuals and families directly targeted.

Hunkering Down: Immigration Enforcement’s Economic Cost found that as immigration enforcement intensified in early 2025, residents of neighborhoods with larger immigrant populations significantly reduced visits to retail stores and restaurants in other parts of the county. These cross-community trips had long been a routine source of economic activity, underscoring how heightened enforcement can ripple beyond immigrant neighborhoods and affect the broader local economy.

The data points are striking:
→ Cross-community retail visits fell by roughly 9 percent
→ Restaurant visits fell by roughly 10 percent
→ The decline appeared within weeks and held for nearly a year, with suburban retail hit hardest
→ Researchers estimate approximately $1.26 billion in foregone retail and restaurant activity, and $107 million in lost local sales-tax revenue
→ No evidence emerged that this spending shifted elsewhere; it simply did not happen

Learn more and access the report: https://greatcities.uic.edu/news-stories/hunkering-down-the-hidden-economic-cost-of-federal-immigration-enforcement-in-cook-county-il/

Hunkering Down: Immigration Enforcement’s Economic Cost Posted on September 08, 2026 Executive Summary Copy link Hunkering Down: The Hidden Economic Cost of Federal Immigration Enforcement in Cook County, IL examines how heightened federal immigration enforcement beginning in January 2025 affected...

09/08/2026

What does it take to build stronger, more resilient Latine organizations in this challenging moment?

It takes more than funding. It takes the tools, relationships, and fundraising infrastructure that allow organizations to sustain their missions for the long haul.

Earlier this summer, Morales Consulting joined Hispanic Federation’s Encuentro Midwest in Milwaukee, a gathering of nearly 100 Latino nonprofit leaders, philanthropy partners, and advocates from across eight Midwestern states.

Morales Consulting led a session focused on one of the biggest opportunities for many growing nonprofits: building an individual giving program that turns relationships with supporters into lasting investment in the mission.

For us, this is what meaningful capacity building should do. It should meet leaders where they are, acknowledge the realities they are navigating, and leave them with something they can actually use when they get back to their organizations.

We’re especially proud that this marked our second partnership with Hispanic Federation, building on our previous capacity-building work together in Kansas City.

At a time when Latine-serving organizations are being asked to respond to enormous community needs while navigating an increasingly complex funding landscape, strengthening the institutions serving our communities matters more than ever.

Five years in, that remains at the heart of our work: helping mission-driven organizations build the strategy, infrastructure, and capacity they need not only to respond to this moment, but to thrive for the long haul.

We’re grateful to Hispanic Federation for continuing to invest not only in the work, but in the leaders and organizations making that work possible.