Lago Alianza Newsletter – March 2026

Para leer en español, seleccione la bandera en la esquina superior de su pantalla.

Stay updated with the Lago Alianza newsletter!

Artificial Intelligence Training for Nonprofits

In collaboration with PILU.mx 

March 19 | Two sessions: Spanish & English

RESERVE YOUR PLACE!

Lago Alianza is partnering with PILU.mx to bring practical, hands-on Artificial Intelligence training to the Lakeside nonprofit community.

This training is designed specifically for nonprofit leaders, board members, and staff who want to:

Improve efficiency with limited resources
Strengthen fundraising communications
Enhance grant writing and reporting
Streamline administrative work
Better understand how AI tools can support—not replace—human mission-driven work

Two separate sessions will be offered on March 19. Both sessions are in the South Campus Sala at The Lake Chapala Society. ALL PARTICIPANTS PLEASE BRING YOUR DEVICE/LAPTOP FOR THE SESSIONS.

Spanish-language session (10a.m. to noon)
English-language session (2p.m. to 4p.m.)

Our goal is to ensure accessibility, inclusion, and practical application. Participants will leave with tools they can begin using immediately.

This initiative reflects Lago Alianza’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity in concrete, usable ways.

RSVP TO SAVE YOUR PLACE: velia@lagoalianza.org

ABOUT PILU

Fernanda Ramírez, founder of PILU, brings more than 15 years of experience strengthening socio-environmental organizations across Latin America. Trained in marketing and administration, she specializes in aligning mission-driven purpose with strong organizational structure, governance, and sustainable growth.

Her work spans brand strategy, organizational development, corporate social responsibility, institutional communication, and sustainable business models. Fernanda has supported NGOs, regenerative businesses, and social entrepreneurs in professionalizing their operations without losing their values or community focus.

What distinguishes her approach is practical clarity. She translates complex ideas into concrete tools tailored to the Latin American context—helping organizations review revenue models, governance, digital strategy, technology use, and institutional narrative to ensure long-term sustainability.

Through PILU’s consulting, mentoring, and training programs, Fernanda focuses on strengthening organizations from the inside out—building the strategy, structure, and leadership required for real, lasting impact.

February 18 Quarterly Meeting Recap

Because Lago Alianza is a new initiative, learning and evaluation are central to how we work. After the February 18 gathering and the individual consultations with Marco Pérez, participants were invited to share feedback about their experience. Their responses are already helping guide how future meetings and programs will evolve.

Many participants said one of the most valuable aspects of the gathering was simply meeting other organizations and discovering shared interests or complementary work. These connections are an important step toward building a stronger and more collaborative nonprofit ecosystem at Lakeside.

The nonprofit introductions were also an important learning opportunity. Lago Alianza sees these moments not only as a way for organizations to be visible, but also as a chance to refine a clear and compelling message about their work. Being able to communicate an organization’s mission concisely is an important skill when engaging donors, volunteers, and community partners.

Participants also offered constructive suggestions for improvement. These included interest in more interactive formats, practical examples nonprofits can apply in their work, and adjustments to meeting pacing. Feedback also highlighted the importance of strengthening bilingual interpretation so both English- and Spanish-speaking participants can fully engage.

The individual consultations with Marco Pérez were especially well received. Organizations reported that these conversations helped clarify priorities, identify next steps, and strengthen confidence in their organizational development.

As Lago Alianza moves forward, this feedback will continue to shape future meetings, consultations, and capacity-building programs. Building a strong nonprofit ecosystem takes time, shared learning, and collaboration. The perspectives of participating organizations are essential to making this work meaningful and effective for the Lakeside community.

Impact Accelerator Partnership - Launching April

Beginning in April, Lago Alianza will begin working with Impact Accelerator to implement two foundational strengthening tools:

1. Nonprofit Organizational Questionnaire

A structured assessment designed to help organizations evaluate:

Governance and leadership structure
Financial sustainability
Strategic clarity
Fundraising readiness
Communications capacity

This is not an audit. It is a developmental tool — designed to help nonprofits identify strengths, gaps, and priorities for growth.

2. Donor Research Initiative
Understanding local philanthropy is essential to long-term sustainability. This research effort will explore:

What motivates giving at Lakeside
Barriers to charitable contributions
Donor expectations and preferences
Opportunities to strengthen trust and transparency

This work represents a foundational step toward building a more informed and collaborative philanthropic ecosystem.

Community Awareness Initiative

Ongoing Weekly Social Media Campaign

Every week, Lago Alianza highlights the work of Lakeside nonprofits across our social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

These posts:

Increase visibility for local organizations
Educate residents about community needs
Spotlight impact stories
Encourage volunteerism and informed giving

Many nonprofits do extraordinary work quietly and with limited communications capacity. This initiative helps ensure their efforts are seen and understood.

Exploration: Small Grants Program & Back-Office HUB

Long-Range Development

Lago Alianza is conducting an extended evaluation of two potential structural initiatives:

Small Grants Program

A locally informed, transparent micro-grant program designed to:

Provide targeted funding for specific projects
Increase donor engagement
Encourage collaboration across organizations
Strengthen trust in community philanthropy

Back-Office Support HUB

A centralized support structure that could provide shared services such as:

Accounting assistance
Compliance support
Data management
Technology tools
Administrative training

Both initiatives require thoughtful research, community input, and sustainability planning. Our approach is deliberate: build slowly, build well, and ensure alignment with real needs.