Para la versión en español de esta historia, haz clic aquí.

An October 7, 2026, Columbia Gorge News investigation, “Turmoil at Comunidades, a prominent Latino-focused nonprofit,” raises serious concerns about financial oversight, workplace conditions, and leadership at Comunidades, a Washington-based nonprofit serving Latino and immigrant communities. Former employees and community leaders described a hostile work environment, high staff turnover, payroll disputes, and inadequate financial management. The organization has received over $2 million in grants since its founding, according to the investigation.

---

Alarming Weaknesses In Financial Management & Board Oversight

The investigation reveals alarming weaknesses in Comunidades’ financial management and board oversight. During an April 2026 meeting about proposed employee pay cuts, Executive Director Ubaldo Hernández reportedly could not produce a total income figure for the organization, while board members lacked even a completed annual budget. These are not minor administrative shortcomings. A nonprofit’s leadership cannot responsibly manage charitable resources, make informed financial decisions, or safeguard donor funds without a basic understanding of its finances. The revelations also raise serious questions about the due diligence and ongoing oversight exercised by foundations that have directed substantial funding to the organization.

---

Alleged Employee Mistreatment

The investigation also uncovered a troubling pattern of alleged employee mistreatment, high staff turnover, and failures to honor compensation commitments. Former employees described a hostile workplace, delayed payments, and administrative breakdowns that interfered with charitable programs. In one instance, an artist hired to lead youth programming reportedly waited two months for payment and a formal contract, while participating children did not receive promised gift cards on time. Other former staff members alleged that leadership conflicts hampered efforts to coordinate assistance for immigrant communities facing increased federal immigration enforcement. These revelations raise concerns not only about how Comunidades manages its money and employees, but whether its internal dysfunction is compromising the charitable services it exists to provide.

---

CharityWatch Weighs In

CharityWatch CEO and Executive Director, Laurie Styron, was interviewed about the challenges of trust-based philanthropy, an approach that reduces administrative requirements and gives nonprofits greater flexibility in how they spend grant funds. While this approach can make funding more accessible to organizations serving vulnerable communities, it can also present oversight challenges. “It’s a double-edged sword,” Styron told Columbia Gorge News. “How quickly do we want to get money to people who need it, versus how much do we need to collect for due diligence?”

The investigation illustrates the importance of balancing flexible grantmaking with meaningful financial oversight. Reducing administrative burdens can help nonprofits focus on their missions, but funders and nonprofit boards must still ensure that organizations have adequate financial controls, qualified personnel, and responsible leadership. Without these safeguards, even well-intentioned charitable funding can fail to achieve its intended impact.

Read the full investigation: “Turmoil at Comunidades, a prominent Latino-focused nonprofit” — Columbia Gorge News, October 7, 2026

---

Will You Help CharityWatch Continue Our Important Work?

As the only independent charity watchdog organization in the United States, CharityWatch relies on your support to fund our in-depth research and analysis in order to bring you the unbiased charity ratings and other information you rely on to help you make more informed giving decisions. We are not directly or indirectly funded by nonprofit industry interests.

We hope you will consider making a donation today so that we can continue to speak openly and critically and call out wrongdoing when we see it without concern for special interests cutting our funding. CharityWatch is a small organization and your donations are noticed, needed, and greatly appreciated. Thank you for giving wisely!