“Can I Invest in Community to Do Good?” Samuel Muñeton Jr. Shows Us How.

For Samuel Muñeton Jr., his philanthropy has come full circle. In his youth, Sam benefited directly from mentors and others in his community who encouraged and supported him as he grew up. Many of these initiatives were supported by philanthropic endeavors. He now channels that same spirit of investment and opportunity through his involvement with Chicago Latines in Philanthropy (CLIP), his philanthropic venture, Sovereign Good, and his service on the steering committee of Nuestro Futuro (NF). As the nation’s largest affinity fund dedicated to Latine philanthropy, Nuestro Futuro has awarded more than $5 million in grants to over 100 nonprofits throughout the Chicago region since 2003.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Affinity Funds Specialist Carrie Goodale sat down with Sam to learn more about his journey in philanthropy and the experiences that continue to guide his work.

Tell us about yourself and a moment or experience that first opened your eyes to philanthropy.

Sam: I’m Chicago-born and raised, the oldest son of two Mexican immigrant parents. They’ve taught me a lot about community building, building a family, and finding my purpose in life. My first formal introduction to philanthropy came at the University of Pennsylvania, where I took a course called Philanthropy and the City. During the course, our class received $50,000 in funding to practice grantmaking in Philadelphia. We researched organizations, interviewed nonprofit leaders, and made recommendations on where grant dollars should go. But my personal experience goes much deeper than that. I myself am a product of philanthropy. I attended charter schools, participated in programs like After School Matters, and was a Chicago Scholar. When I reflect on my life, I realize that a lot of people have invested in me. That reinforced the fact that I wanted to be in philanthropy and continue supporting the people and communities that supported me.

What first drew you to join Nuestro Futuro, and what has kept you engaged as your leadership has grown through fundraising efforts and co-chairing the grantmaking committee? How does your work in NF differ from other volunteer-led efforts like CLIP?

Sam: Growing up, I learned a little bit about investing. But I wasn’t interested in investing just to make money. I was asking myself, Can I invest in community to do good? Joining Nuestro Futuro was an opportunity to do just that. NF supports areas like immigration, early childhood education, and mental health, while giving philanthropic and corporate professionals the chance to support the communities that raised them. As the son of immigrant parents, that mission resonates with me. I’m grateful for all the community organizations that have stepped up to support immigrant communities in Chicago for decades.

The work at Nuestro Futuro is different from other volunteer-led efforts like Chicago Latines in Philanthropy, but their commitment to the Latine community is one and the same. CLIP is a professional development and networking organization, while NF focuses on directing resources and grant funding into the community. Both are volunteer-led and driven by people who are passionate about giving back. The vision is that as organizations supported by NF continue to grow, CLIP members can continue to be advocates for them across the broader philanthropic sector.

Tell us a little about your new venture, Sovereign Good. What need or opportunity did you see that inspired you to start this organization?

Sam: Sovereign Good is a philanthropic advisory and consulting firm with a vision to help people start their philanthropic journey and help existing donors think a little more audaciously about their giving. I co-founded the firm with Joanna Aguirre, Francisco Martinez, and Rupal Soni. Collectively, we bring more than 60 years of experience across the philanthropic, public, and private sectors. Our mission is to respond to a world with growing needs. People still need access to healthcare, education programs, summer opportunities, and stable communities. We want to help donors be bold in how they direct resources to those needs. We’re providing expertise in strategic planning, governance, grantmaking, and communications, while intentionally building partnerships across the philanthropic sector. Ultimately, our goal is simple: Can I change systems? And if I can’t change systems, can I still change lives? Both matter.

For someone who wants to give back but doesn’t know where to start, what advice would you offer?

Sam: No matter whether you’re a small-dollar donor or a multimillion-dollar donor, I recommend building relationships and asking people a simple question: What organizations inspire you? The goal is to be curious. Explore the issues you care about and spend time finding out who’s already doing the work. You’ll meet people who have dedicated their lives to serving community and creating solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges. And if you’re not a donor, there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Organizations need event support, professional expertise, consulting, accounting, HR, and so much more. I think it’s really asking: What can I offer, and who can I offer it to? It’s a journey; it’s not really a Google search. It’s important to have conversations with people because that’s how you discover what matters to you, what matters to community, and where you fit in.

In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month, is there a person, family value, cultural tradition, or community experience that continues to inspire your giving?

Sam: For me, it’s community. When I imagine community, I imagine a safe space for people to come together, learn, share what’s on their minds, and create opportunities to collaborate and work together. It’s about asking, what can I do for you? What introduction can I make? How can I support you, your family, and your community? Community building is a practice. If you give something, you often receive so much more in return.

I entered the philanthropic sector because people invested in me and supported the communities I was a part of. Now, I aim to do the same and inspire a new generation of giving. As I launch Sovereign Good, I’ve been blessed by the encouragement and support I’ve received. For a healthy community to thrive, we have to be there for each other. When we are, our future becomes much stronger and more vibrant.