Non-profit

La Esperanza, Inc

Website:

hlaesperanzacenter.org

Location:

Georgetown, DE

Tax ID:

31-1606956

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $718,906
Expenses: $687,977
Assets: $736,939

Type:

Immigration Services Group

Formation:

1996

President:

Alina Ferrer

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

La Esperanza, Inc. is an organization serving Latinos and immigrants that operates in the Delaware area. La Esperanza provides legal counsel for immigration cases, citizenship classes, and helps immigrant families enroll their children in schools. 1

History

La Esperanza was founded in 1996 by Hispanic community leaders and three Catholic Carmelite Sisters of Charity: Maria Mairlot, Rosa Alvarez, and Ascension Banegas. 2 In 2023, La Esperanza was integrated with La Colectiva de Delaware, a network of over 60 organizations that serve Latinos. 1

Activities

La Esperanza, Inc. provides services to the Latino community and immigrants. Services include legal counsel, help applying for work authorization, citizenship classes, petitions for family integration, applications for citizenship and green cards, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applications, translation and transportation to court for victimization claims, career and college coaching, English as a second language classes, and financial planning. 1

Funding

La Esperanza, Inc. reported revenue of $853,177 in 2022 and assets of $867,863. 3

Delaware Community Foundation donated $75,246 to La Esperanza in 2022 for “Support for the Development and Pilot of A Collaborative Project/program That Benefits the Education of Latino Youth in Sussex County.” 3 Delaware Community Foundation had nearly $350 million in assets in 2023. Delaware Community Foundation is in turn funded by the Brandywine Creek State Park Trust Delaware Community Foundation, which donated $2.2 million to the foundation in 2020. 4 Brandywine Creek State Park Trust Delaware Community Foundation has since closed its operations. 5

To strengthen third-party nonprofit leadership, the Longwood Foundation created the Catalyst Together program in 2022, with La Esperanza being among the first participants in the program. The program charges participants $3,500 in exchange for leadership development. 6 The Longwood Foundation is a grantmaking organization operating in the Delaware and Pennsylvania areas. 7

People

La Esperanza Inc was founded in part by Catholic Carmelite nuns Maria Mairlot, Rosa Alvarez, and Ascension Banegas. The three sisters retired from their work at La Esperanza, Inc. in 2017. 2

Co-founder Rosa Alvarez was the guest of U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) when Pope Francis addressed a joint session of Congress in 2015. 8 She passed away at 89 years old on February 27, 2019. 9 The La Red Health Center renamed it’s Women’s Health Center to the Rosa Health Center in her honor. 10

Co-founder Sister Ascension Banegas was added to the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame in 2010. 11 She passed away on January 13, 2019, at the age of 87. 2

Alina Ferrer is an interpreter and the current board president of La Esperanza, Inc. 12 13

La Esperanza has two co-executive directors, Bryant Garcia and Jennifer Fuqua. Before her position at La Esperanza, Fuqua worked at the University of Delaware researching the Hispanic community in Sussex County. 14 Garcia formerly worked as an immigration program coordinator for La Esperanza. 15

References

  1. “Sussex County Support Services for Immigrants & Latinos.” La Esperanza, May 17, 2024. https://www.laesperanzacenter.org/services/.
  2. “The History behind La Esperanza’s Mission.” La Esperanza, December 6, 2023. https://www.laesperanzacenter.org/history/.
  3. “La Esperanza.” Cause IQ. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/la-esperanza,311606956/.
  4. “Delaware Community Foundation (DCF).” Cause IQ. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/delaware-community-foundation,222804785/.
  5. “The Brandywine Creek State Park Trust Delaware Community Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-brandywine-creek-state-park-trust-pnc,510251341/.
  6. “Catalysts Together Overview.” Longwood Foundation, February 13, 2024. https://longwoodfoundation.org/catalysts-together-overview/.
  7. “Grantmaking Overview.” Longwood Foundation, January 12, 2024. https://longwoodfoundation.org/longwood-grantmaking-overview/.
  8. “Sister Rosa, Co-Founder of La Esperanza, to Join Sen. Carper at Pope’s Address to Congress.” Senator Tom Carper, November 10, 2022. https://www.carper.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sister-rosa-co-founder-of-la-esperanza-to-join-sen-carper-at-pope-s-address-to-congress/.
  9. The Dialog. “Sister Rosa Alvarez, a Founder of La Esperanza, Remembered as ‘Cheerful, Welcoming.’” The Dialog, April 4, 2019. https://thedialog.org/our-diocese/sister-rosa-alvarez-a-founder-of-la-esperanza-remembered-as-cheerful-welcoming/.
  10. “Georgetown Remembers Sister Rosa Alvarez.” CoastTV, October 21, 2021. https://www.wrde.com/georgetown-remembers-sister-rosa-alvarez/article_254443ea-fc5b-59c7-9d8c-2912567cdc7b.html.
  11. “Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame.” Delaware Department of Human Resources. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://dhr.delaware.gov/women/halloffame/inductees-2022.shtml.
  12. “La Esperanza Inc, Form 990.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311606956/202243199349316524/full/.
  13. “About.” La Esperanza, February 20, 2024. https://www.laesperanzacenter.org/about/.
  14. “La Esperanza Community Center Names New Executive Director.” WBOC TV, October 21, 2021. https://www.wboc.com/news/local/la-esperanza-community-center-names-new-executive-director/article_a581869d-647b-5082-bef5-26ded5037f74.html.
  15. “100 Women Who Care Donates to La Esperanza.” Cape Gazette. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.capegazette.com/article/100-women-who-care-donates-la-esperanza/231073.
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1999

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $718,906 $687,977 $736,939 $21,768 N $688,502 $29,755 $34 $74,015
    2020 Dec Form 990 $694,680 $676,177 $702,326 $18,084 N $672,668 $21,132 $130 $71,701
    2019 Dec Form 990 $852,074 $644,186 $692,261 $26,522 N $791,727 $23,875 $233 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $481,457 $565,896 $480,033 $25,020 N $430,525 $31,961 $212 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $708,763 $616,627 $554,616 $29,094 N $509,831 $24,629 $-11 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $648,693 $596,194 $457,568 $24,182 N $471,038 $21,927 $354 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $688,745 $669,088 $420,326 $39,439 N $540,793 $21,799 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $678,197 $672,455 $432,847 $71,617 N $602,580 $13,464 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $615,380 $716,056 $463,805 $106,874 N $562,998 $13,148 $964 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $424,879 $520,188 $539,601 $81,995 N $353,873 $19,564 $3,063 $37,770 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $411,944 $649,169 $605,088 $52,173 N $373,455 $17,432 $11,401 $58,276 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    La Esperanza, Inc

    216 N RACE ST
    Georgetown, DE 19947-1409