Hispanics are generous with both their time and money but tend to give and volunteer informally, a new report from the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and the Community Foundation Silicon Valley finds.

Based on data from a 2002 survey, the report, Famila, F� y Communidad: Giving and Volunteering Among Hispanics in Silicon Valley, found that while the habit of giving is well entrenched among Hispanics, Hispanics tend to give informally and volunteer with local groups, rather than to larger nonprofit organizations and broader causes. According to the report, the average Latino household in Silicon Valley gave $1,410, or 3.9 percent of their income, to charitable causes in 2002, compared with $1,365 (1.8 percent) for Asians and $3,055 (3.8 percent) for whites. The figures include money given to relatives and friends, with 30 percent of Hispanic donors reporting that they send money to people outside the United States.

The Hispanic Foundation announced plans to launch a giving circle that would allow Hispanic donors to pool their money and then decide where it will have the most impact, said board president Teresa Alvarado. The organization is also working on a program to develop more Hispanic leaders for the nonprofit sector, as well as a speaker's bureau to spread the word about volunteer and donation opportunities within the Latino community.

"A stronger connection between nonprofits and the Latino community is a two-way street," said Christopher Arriola, an attorney with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. "The nonprofits need to attract Latino donors, volunteers, and board members if they're going to thrive in a California that's soon to be half Latino."

To download the complete report (22 pages, PDF), visit: http://www.hispanicfoundation-sv.org/ReportEnglish.pdf.