with Peter Munoz

By Nathan J. Comp

By Nathan J. Comp

Many nonprofits have become adept at doing more with less as the purse strings have tightened due to the increasingly bleak economic outlook. Centro Hispano of Dane County is no exception. Yet with a skeleton staff and light wallet, the agency, located on West Badger Road, has managed to increase its programming despite no significant increases in its annual operating budget.
This, says executive director Peter Munoz, is just par for the course. Operating a nonprofit agency in times when federal funding and philanthropic contributions are drying up has forced agencies like Centro Hispano to become creative in finding resources even as the demand for its services grow.
Financial hurdles asides, Centro Hispano, which aims to empower Dane County's Latino community, continues to give back in extraordinary ways. Preparations for the agency's annual banquet are well underway. In addition to a night of fine food, live salsa music, and dancing, the agency will reward nearly a dozen area students with scholarships to honor their academic achievements. The event, which will take place on Friday, Nov. 7, is open to the public.

Munoz spoke this week to The Madison Times to discuss the economy, Hispanic leaders, and what to expect at its upcoming annual banquet. 

TMT: How is the economic downturn affecting nonprofits like Centro Hispano?
Peter Munoz:  It's having an impact, because many nonprofits depend on government resources. They receive funds that come down from the federal government to states and then to agencies. The resources that come from the state and the cities are very limited. They're down if income is down, but mostly contributions from individuals and businesses are down. If the businesses are not doing well, they cannot contribute to support agencies.

TMT: What things can you do to offset the shortfalls?
PM: Well, you tighten the belt as much as you can. Centro Hispano is a very lean agency. It seems that every year we rely more and more on volunteers to run the programs. Our budget has been very steady for a number of years.  Fortunately, we've been able to do more with less. Clearly that is something that is unsustainable. I don't think you can maintain growth while receiving no increases in funding for many years into the future. I don't know where the end is, but I'm sure there is one.

TMT: How has Centro Hispano changed over the years?
PM: Even though the budget has been pretty much the same, we have been able to improve our systems, and we've become extremely efficient. As I mentioned, we've attained these efficiencies by tapping our volunteer resources and by collaborating with other agencies in order to synergize.

TMT: Who are some of the Hispanic leaders you've looked up to?
PM: People within my family. In that regard I've been lucky to have a lot of mentors, including my father and grandparents and aunts and uncles who've been very nurturing in the context of inspiring a work ethic and service in our family. Aside from that, you have people like Cesar Chavez, who have been great champions not just for the Latino community, but everyone, along with Martin Luther King, who has been my role model, if you will.

TMT: I understand that Centro Hispano has a big event coming up?
PM: We have a really important event coming up on Friday, Nov. 7. It's our annual banquet. One of our most important programs is our education program that we have in the school districts, in Verona and Madison. It's an after school program with a goal of improving academic achievement. The banquet is dedicated to the young scholars who perform well and receive scholarships.

TMT: Is this a public event?
PM: Yes. Everybody's invited, but there is a cost associated with it. It's a fundraiser for the agency to help us with the after-school programs. Typically we award about a dozen scholarships.