Our Mission
Turning insights into action, FirstImpact Partners is a catalyst for organizations seeking transformative, equity-centered programs that resonate with communities, elevate social causes, and achieve enduring & sustainable impact.
Making an Impact, One Milestone at a Time
Our Vision
For FirstImpact Partners, every vision begins with impact. Fusing deep knowledge with progressive strategies & forward-thinking tactics, our aspiration is a world where transformative solutions are the first step to lasting change, with rigorous person-centered evaluations following suit to continually build on and maximize impact.
At the pinnacle of this work stands a firm and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for communities and individuals in need. Your impact comes first, no matter the project.
Value = Impact
Equity in Practice
We incorporate an array of equity-based & critical theory frameworks across our projects, with the intention of concretely identifying intersectional factors that contribute to disparate health outcomes.
Sustainability & Growth
Our focus is always on the long-term. We plant seeds for growth through strategic program design & fundraising, and fostering creative partnerships that bolster impact across organizations in California.
In a rapidly evolving world, my commitment remains strong: to ignite change that matters. If you're ready to harness the potential of evidence-based strategies, equity-focused programs, and dynamic impact evaluation, contact me.
Let's embark on a journey of transformation together.
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Jake Abarca's driving force is collaborating with organizational leaders and practitioners across a diverse spectrum of projects, enabling them to maximize their impact potential. He specializes in crafting evidence-based, equity-centered, and multilayered programs, forging the path to profound potential for change. Jake's expertise is sought after by a myriad of organizations – businesses, nonprofits, companies, foundations, and government agencies – all seeking to construct robust programming through human-centered design principles, effective grant writing and management, mixed-methods evaluation research and measurement, targeted development strategies, and an unwavering commitment to racial equity.
Jake's commitment to community immersive research, coupled with his background in ethnography, uniquely positions him to understand and measure the nuances of change, ensuring solutions resonate authentically with the communities they serve. By blending qualitative insights with program design and evaluation, he offers a comprehensive depth of understanding, equipping clients with insights that are both holistic and actionable.
Jake holds a BA from UCLA in Anthropology and an MPH in Health & Social Behavior from UC Berkeley's School of Public Health. His Salvadoran heritage and roots in Stockton fuel his mission to reduce health disparities among underserved communities. Beyond his professional pursuits, Jake finds solace in boxing, meditation, home renovation projects, and the delightful company of his cat.
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Meet our partners
Outside of work, Rafael Magana serves his community as the founder and organizer of various groups comprising over 100,000 professionals. These groups enable members to stay connected, volunteer, and give back to their local community through various means such as community engagement and giving circles. Rafael also holds positions on multiple funding committees that support local nonprofits and provides his expertise as an advisor to numerous family foundations.
Furthermore, Rafael is a dedicated Board Member of the Navy League of the United States, Beverly Hills Council, and the Board of Trustees with the Hollywood Schoolhouse (https://bit.ly/40espFv). Both organizations play pivotal roles in serving national and local communities. On a personal note, Rafael is committed to backing numerous philanthropic initiatives, actively supporting a selection of organizations through his family's Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
Over the past decade, Rafael has offered his expertise and advice to a range of nonprofits and leadership bodies in California and Washington D.C. His collaboration spans organizations with international, national, and local reach, focusing on diverse areas such as public health, disability, scholarships, animal welfare, environmental conservation, promoting music and the arts, POC youth initiatives, and military support. His involvement extends to various areas like fund development, management, board leadership, advocacy, and community outreach.
Proudly, Rafael is the founder of Latino Professionals®, Latina Professionals®, and Latinx Professionals®. Born and raised across Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., his passion for philanthropy shines bright. Both personally and professionally, Rafael is deeply invested in connecting people, ideas, and organizations to uplift and improve the community.
As a trusted adviser I fulfill the passions and interests of corporate partners, foundations and individual donors by matching them with many of the programs and funding opportunities they care about.
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