Nonprofit Executive — Open to National Opportunities
Building sustainable communities, scaling nonprofit impact, and elevating grassroots stories to the tables where decisions are made.
Mexican by birth, American by choice — an executive leader with two decades of experience steering organizational growth, navigating complex political landscapes, and championing true inclusion from the ground up.
Washington D.C. preferred — open to national opportunities
Nonprofit CEO
Cross-Sector Strategist
Bilingual EN/ES
Available for frequent travel
At a glance
17×
Revenue growth; from $164K to $2.9M (IRS 990, FY2009–FY2025)
18 yrs
CEO of Latino Memphis; from 1 staff to 30+ and growing
10+
Board seats spanning civic, financial, education, and national advocacy
1st
Latino appointed to Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board — TN's largest district
About
From vision to strategy — and back to community
For nearly two decades, I have led Latino Memphis through one of the most consequential growth periods in its history; guiding the organization from a small community operation into a multi-million dollar anchor institution serving hundreds of families directly, with systemic impact reaching thousands across the Mid-South. The organization's work spans legal services, workforce development, community health, and human services — always rooted in one mandate: transforming complex social challenges into sustainable, scalable infrastructure without losing sight of the people at the center.
I bring a rare duality to this work. I understand the realities of running a small, undercapitalized organization — I lived it, both at Latino Memphis in its early years and through my own entrepreneurial journey before nonprofit leadership. And I know how to operate at the highest levels of civic and institutional power; in foundation boardrooms, legislative chambers, and national advocacy networks. That combination — proximity to community and fluency in power — is what I bring to every room I enter.
I approach every challenge with curiosity and creativity; part of who I am and a driving force behind everything from designing rapid-response programs to building cross-sector coalitions that others said could not be done.
"True strategy cannot be designed in a vacuum. It must be informed by the lived experiences of those we serve. My passion lies in doing the work on the ground, staying rooted in my why, and elevating local narratives to the tables where decisions are made."
— Mauricio Calvo · MauricioCalvo.com
Signature initiatives
Programs built from the ground up
These are not inherited programs; they are models designed, funded, and launched in response to real community need. Each one reflects a belief that innovation and proximity to community are not opposites — they are partners.
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ProBueno
Pro bono meets low bono
A hybrid legal access model combining pro bono and low-bono representation to provide affordable, sustainable legal services to families who cannot access the traditional legal market. ProBueno makes justice accessible without sacrificing organizational sustainability — a replicable model for any community-based legal program.
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Listos!
Ready. Smart. Prepared.
An organizational readiness initiative designed to help institutions better serve the growing Latino community; from cultural awareness training and practical tools like UndocuAllies to helping partners promote their own services. Listos! is collective impact in action — strengthening the entire ecosystem, not just Latino Memphis.
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Qué Pasa Si Pasa
"What Happens If It Happens"
A comprehensive community readiness campaign launched during the 2025 federal immigration enforcement surge; combining legal removal defense (Aquí Estamos!), know-your-rights education, grassroots rapid response infrastructure, and a public awareness media campaign. Funded in partnership with the Kresge Foundation.
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Community Convening & Events
Recipe for Unity · CincoKMayo · Congreso
Built a portfolio of community events that blend civic engagement with celebration; including Recipe for Unity (in partnership with UnidosUS), bringing people of different backgrounds together around food and shared culture; CincoKMayo, a family-friendly 5K with a salsa tasting competition; and Congreso, an annual conference and luncheon convening community leaders across sectors.
The partnership framework
Together, we...
Every mission-driven organization has a vision and a team ready to do the work. Here is how I bring my toolkit, experience, and commitment to pair with yours — and what we can build together.
Your mission and future vision
Ambitious goals for systemic change and organizational growth
Vision to strategy
A track record of turning macro-level goals into operational realities; across three presidential administrations, a pandemic, and constant policy volatility
Turn ambition into action
Scale your highest strategic goals into sustainable infrastructure without losing your core purpose
Complex community challenges
Systemic issues that require more than one sector to solve
Collective impact
Deep experience bridging grassroots realities, corporate interests, and philanthropic goals; from team culture to national board governance, with direct engagement of legislative bodies at the local, state, and federal level
Drive systemic change
Break down silos and build powerful multi-sector coalitions that move the needle on issues that matter most
A story worth telling
Impact that deserves to reach further than your current audience
Media and advocacy
Hundreds of local and national media contributions; used not to chase the spotlight, but to amplify the voices of those we serve
Amplify the narrative
Build community trust, earn press credibility, and fiercely advocate for vulnerable populations from a place of authenticity
Commitment to equity
A genuine desire for diversity, inclusion, and representation at every level
Tod@s means all
A lived, bilingual, bicultural, LGBTQ+ perspective ensuring inclusion is the lens — not the checkbox; rooted in identity and applied to strategy
Build cultures of belonging
Ensure every voice shapes strategy; street-level proximity continuously informs the highest-level decisions
18-year journey
Three chapters. One continuous commitment.
Early years — Blueprint and hyper-growth
Leading an anchor institution through its defining growth chapter
Took the helm of Latino Memphis and led the organization through its most transformative era; growing revenue from $164K to over $2M, expanding from 1 staff member to 30+, and building a full-service ecosystem including legal services (Derechos), workforce development (Senderos and Puentes), community health (Tu Salud), and human services. Earned deep community trust and regional recognition as a vital anchor institution serving hundreds of families directly and thousands more through systemic advocacy and partnerships.
Mid years — Ecosystem stewardship
Navigating macro-crises without losing mission
Guided the organization through the 2008 financial crisis, multiple federal immigration enforcement escalations, and a global pandemic; each time emerging with mission intact and community trust deepened. Built a diversified, resilient funding model anchored by the Kresge Foundation and national partners including UnidosUS; alongside corporate supporters such as FedEx, Nike, AutoZone, and International Paper, plus state and federal subcontracts. Co-designed the DACA-to-college pipeline — a landmark cross-sector partnership with UnidosUS, local colleges, philanthropy, nonprofits, and the Tennessee state government.
Recent years — Rapid response and deliberate transition
Leading on the front lines of today's most urgent challenges
Currently leading Latino Memphis through the convergence of federal funding volatility, an escalating immigration enforcement environment, and broader nonprofit sector headwinds; while continuing to innovate. Designed and launched Qué Pasa Si Pasa, a comprehensive community readiness and rapid-response campaign. Appointed as the first Latino to serve on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board. And now; after 18 years of regional leadership, intentionally and deliberately bringing this battle-tested expertise to a national stage.
Civic leadership
Board governance and community stewardship
A footprint spanning economic development, financial equity, public education, and national advocacy; because systemic change requires showing up at every table. Includes current and former affiliations.
National and regional advocacy
UnidosUS — Board Member & Audit Committee Chair
WeAreMemphis Brand — Vice Chair
Economic and civic infrastructure
Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Memphis Downtown Commission
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
Financial equity and grantmaking
Hope Credit Union CDFI
Urban Child Institute grantmaking org
Alliance Mental Health
Public education
Memphis-Shelby County Schools — District 5 first Latino appointee
Recognition
Third-party validation of the work
FBI Director's Community Leadership Award 2022
Power 100 — Memphis Business Journal 2019–present, consecutive
NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award — Tennessee Titans 2018
Communicator of the Year — PRSA Memphis 2017
What others say
Voices from the field
Testimonials from foundation partners, board colleagues, and community leaders — coming soon.
Citizenship & civic identity
Mexican by birth. American by choice. Leader by conviction.
After 25 years of building a life, a family, and a community in Memphis, Mauricio became a proud U.S. citizen — and immediately put that citizenship to work. He ran for Memphis City Council and the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board; and though not yet successful in every race, those campaigns built the civic relationships, political fluency, and community trust that are the foundation for future public service. As a citizen, he remains committed to using his voice, his vote, and his platform to advocate for others still on their own journey toward their version of the American dream.
