2024 Giving Together Catalog

Giving Together

Giving Together

The Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Giving Together program is made possible through the support of our Community Leadership Fund (CLF), which underwrites many of the services we provide to build strong connections in the community and stay attuned to local needs — including our community grants program, donor services, nonprofit skill-building, community partnerships, and more. Please consider supporting our work with a gift to CLF today.

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Letter from the President & CEO

Dear Friends,

Philanthropy has the power to transform lives and communities, but its true strength lies in collective action. When people come together, pooling their resources, time, and care, our impact is far greater than any individual effort.

With this spirit of collaboration, I’m pleased to welcome you to our 2024-2025 Giving Together catalog — a resource designed to showcase the nonprofits that enrich our region and an invitation for you to support their vital work in concert with us.

Since its inception in 2010, Giving Together has generated more than $10 million in grants to our nonprofit partners, with our generous community of fund advisors investing as much as $2 million in Giving Together proposals in 2023 alone. As your community foundation, we’re honored to facilitate this collaborative philanthropy that fosters connections, strengthens our communities, and drives meaningful, lasting change.

To that end, please explore this catalog to help advance your own philanthropic goals in support of our local community. By Giving Together, we amplify our impact and ensure that services and resources reach those who need them most.

Thank you for your partnership,

Christopher Goett | President & CEO

Working together to fund proposals from our region’s nonprofits

The Santa Fe Community Foundation’s annual Giving Together catalog is a summary of all proposals we receive each grant cycle from nonprofit organizations in our funding region.

We’re proud to provide this catalog as a resource for our entire community. We invite our dedicated fund advisors to use Giving Together to amplify the Foundation’s grantmaking power, helping us to address critical local needs. We also encourage our larger community to use this catalog as a resource to learn more about our region’s vital nonprofit sector.

This edition of Giving Together includes initiatives and funds anchored here at the Santa Fe Community Foundation — including our Community Leadership Fund, which enables us to provide our high-quality donor and nonprofit services — in addition to proposals from nonprofits in our funding fields of interest: Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Civic & Economic Opportunities, Education, Environment, and Health & Human Services.

Join us in Giving Together

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Giving Together is easy! Decide whether you want to direct your grant recommendation to the Foundation’s Community Leadership Fund, to the general grant pool, to a specific proposal, or to all three. Don’t forget! You can always make an unrestricted grant to one or all of the Foundation’s field of interest endowments (Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Civic & Economic Opportunities, Education, Environment, and Health & Human Services) used for our community grant cycles.

Fill out and return the fund advisor grant request form by email to giving@santafecf.org or by mail to P.O. Box 1827, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Alternatively, fund advisors may log into the new Fund Advisor Portal to initiate your grant request online. Please indicate “Giving Together” in the Grant Purpose section. The minimum grant amount is $250. To request a copy of the grant request form, please email giving@santafecf.org.

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If you are interested in learning more about any of the enclosed grant proposals, we would love to assist you. Please reach out to Diane Hamamoto at 505.988.9715 ext. 7008 or dhamamoto@santafecf.org.

Your contacts for Giving Together

Sandra Session-Robertson Vice President, Development & Donor Relations

srobertson@santafecf.org

505.988.9715 ext. 7006

Diane

Hamamoto Director, Grants & Community Impact

dhamamoto@santafecf.org

505.988.9715 ext. 7008

Santa Fe Community Foundation Initiatives & Funds

Our community initiatives and funds strive to advance equitable access to opportunities in Santa Fe and our surrounding communities. We use strategies that go beyond traditional grantmaking to emphasize community outreach, partner collaboration, skill strengthening, research, and narrative sharing. We thank you for learning more about initiatives and funds and joining us in this vital work.

Community Leadership Fund

santafecf.org/community-leadership

Mission | Our Community Leadership Fund supports the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s general operations and underwrites many of the services we provide that allow us to build strong connections in the community and stay in tune with local needs.

Proposal | Contributions to CLF are among the most critical resources that contribute to the work we do here at the Foundation each day — from our identity-based giving circles to our nonprofit Learning Hub, donor services, community partnerhips like Empty Stocking Fund, and beyond.

Noteworthy | Among the many services CLF underwrites is the production of our annual Giving Together catalog, which made as much as $2 million in additional grant dollars possible in 2023.

Native American Advised Fund

santafecf.org/native

Mission | To enhance Native lifeways now and for future generations in New Mexico by promoting a spirit of sharing and supporting Native-led and serving community initiatives.

Proposal | Led by an advisory committee that reflects the diversity of our region’s many pueblos, tribes, and nations, the Native American Advised Fund provides grantmaking to nonprofits that emphasize a commitment to the Native core values of community, language, culture, and environment.

Noteworthy | With a legacy spanning over three decades, the Native American Advised Fund is the longest-running identity-based giving circle at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. It was originally founded in 1993 with a seed gift from the late Allan Houser, renowned artist and teacher. To date, the fund has granted over $825,000 to over 180 initiatives and nonprofits.

Envision Fund

santafecf.org/lgbtq

Mission | To promote the health, safety, and empowerment of at-risk and underserved LGBTQ+ New Mexicans.

Proposal | Your gift will help us support nonprofit organizations that are working toward creating an HIV-free generation in New Mexico; combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ people (such as employment, housing, immigration, access to health services, etc.); supporting school-based programs that create a safe environment for all students; and/or promoting holistic reproductive health and gender-affirming health care by ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education, voluntary contraception, abortion care, and other reproductive/sexual health services.

Noteworthy | Established in 1997, the Envision Fund is the first and largest endowment dedicated solely to LGBTQ+ causes in New Mexico.

Empower! Black Futures Community Fund

santafecf.org/empower

Mission | To support Black life, arts, and culture in New Mexico.

Proposal | Through targeted grants, strategic partnerships, and an equitable approach to community philanthropy, the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund will foster Black artistic expression, promote cultural heritage, advance community development, and build up financial literacy for generations to come.

Noteworthy | Donations made this year will help seed the fund’s permanent endowment, which will grow over time and serve Black New Mexicans in perpetuity. An inaugural round of grants will be made to celebrate Juneteenth in 2025.

Community Resiliency Fund

santafecf.org/community-resiliency

Mission | To build the resilience of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Proposal | On October 15th, 2021, the Santa Fe Community Foundation turned 40. In honor of this milestone, we created a Community Resiliency Fund to support programs that build the resilience of those most vulnerable to emergencies, including efforts to adapt and recover from the effects of climate change, such as drought, extreme weather events, floods, and other natural disasters; organizations responding to urgent public health needs, including pandemics and behavioral health crises; and initiatives for long-term systemic changes that prevent hate crimes and promote anti-racism.

Noteworthy | Communities across our funding region of Mora, San Miguel, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties are still recovering from the devastating effects of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history. This fund continues to support long-term recovery efforts.

Dollars4Schools

santafecf.org/dollars4schools

Mission | Dollars4Schools is 100% committed to student success and classroom support. Our unique grassroots structure provides Santa Fe public school teachers with a local web-based “helping hand.”

Proposal | With your support, Dollars4Schools will be prepared to meet the requests of Santa Fe’s public school teachers — ensuring they have what they need for their students and their classrooms. From books and math tools to science kits, school supplies, and warm winter coats, Dollars4Schools is a trusted local resource for student success. 100% of every dollar donated to Dollars4Schools goes directly into a Santa Fe classroom.

Noteworthy | “Dollars4Schools has been instrumental in bringing quality programming to our students, and supporting STEAM for the second year in a row. These programs are vital to students as they provide a chance to extend their learning. Thank you Dollars4Schools!” – Célangé Santiso Black M.A., NBCT, Digital Learning Coach, Santa Fe Public Schools

Learning Hub

santafecf.org/learning-hub

Mission | Our Learning Hub is an educational gathering place for the nonprofit sector. We partner with local facilitators to support skill building, peer connection, leadership development, and ecosystem strength. We are committed to fostering equity through this work.

Proposal | Funding supports our annual work providing learning opportunities that address nonprofit board responsibilities, finance, communication, fundraising, program delivery, and leadership skills. Programs include the BIPOC Leaders Growing Nonprofit Power Together, Executive Director Learning Circle, Fundraising Immersion, Nonprofit Board Fundamentals, Racial Healing & Renewal, and support for Women of Color nonprofit leaders.

Noteworthy | “I have deep gratitude for the 2024 Racial Healing Program, the facilitators and all of the group members. It was especially valuable to have a forum where authenticity, self reflection, and open and nonjudgmental dialogue were celebrated and encouraged to such a great degree. In untangling the complexities of these topics and themes, there is a natural healing that arises, and to share in that with others through active listening and expressing has been inspiring and meaningful. Thank you to all involved!” – Naveen Kanithi, 2024 Racial Healing cohort

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Santa Fe Baby Fund

santafecf.org/early-childhood

Mission | To promote the healthy development of babies and toddlers in northern New Mexico and raise awareness about the critical importance of investing in the early years of life.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Baby Fund has served our region’s youngest and most vulnerable neighbors for over a decade. The Fund’s priority focus areas include: 1) increasing access to affordable, high quality early childhood care and education; 2) supporting programming for young parents ages 29 and under, and their infants and toddlers; 3) supporting grandparents or other non-parent kin raising infants and toddlers; 4) supporting ongoing training, professional development, and programming for the early childhood workforce; and 5) improving access to reproductive health services for adolescents and young adults.

Noteworthy | For every $1 invested in high quality early childhood programs, there are $4 to $9 in returns over that person’s lifetime. Last year, the Santa Fe Baby Fund granted $70,000 to nonprofit organizations in Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel counties addressing early childhood needs.

Fund for Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Mission | To support a diverse array of responses to refugee needs.

Proposal | Needs the fund will address include, but are not limited to, transportation for affected persons toward permanent housing and/or settlement; basic services for affected populations including medical and behavioral healthcare, food access, and employment support services; and legal advice and representation of affected populations.

Noteworthy | Opened in 2019 in partnership with the City of Santa Fe, the Fund’s grants have supported refugee and asylee work in Santa Fe and on the New Mexico border. Populations served represent individuals and families, including LGBTQidentifying people, from a wide refugee diaspora.

Nonprofit Merger Fund

santafecf.org/funds/nonprofit-merger-fund

Mission | To support area nonprofits that are considering a merger.

Proposal | The merger process can be very expensive due to attorney fees and due diligence. Contributions to this fund will allow us to make grants in support of the merger process.

Noteworthy | In Santa Fe County alone, there are over 850 nonprofits registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. While the number of nonprofits, per se, does not tell us anything about their effectiveness or redundancy, there are certainly instances where some nonprofits may be able to find strength and greater effectiveness by joining forces with like organizations.

Safe, Stable, and Supportive Housing Fund

Mission | To protect and provide safe, stable, and supportive housing for our most vulnerable residents, as well as affordable housing for all community members.

Proposal | The Safe, Stable, and Supportive Housing Fund provides grant support to nonprofits advancing the aims of the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative, a collaborative effort between local governments and philanthropic organizations, including Anchorum Health Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, Thornburg Foundation, City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homeless.

Noteworthy | We have helped the city and county re-launch the “Built for Zero” model, a datainformed framework, to address homelessness in Santa Fe. The fund has also incorporated the six goals adopted by the City and County of Santa Fe in a joint resolution to collaborate on homelessness and uses these goals to guide funding decisions. Noteably, cost-burden among renters (43.9%) is higher than homeowners (28.4%), largely due to lower income levels among renters. A decreasing supply of affordable housing options, for both renters and homeowners, coupled with increasing demand as the state’s population grows, threatens to worsen cost burden rates (Housing New Mexico 2024 Affordable Housing Needs Assessment). Santa Fe County had a larger number of cost-burdened homeowners per capita than did New Mexico and the United States, with 78% of renters below 30% Area Median Income (AMI) and 74% of renters between 31-60% of AI being cost burdened (2020 Fe Housing Report - SF Assoc of REALTORS).

Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) Grants

Mission | We created quick turnaround SUN grants to address the short-term needs of nonprofits. With a relatively small amount of funding, SUN grants help an organization take advantage of an unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive opportunity or emergency that will enhance or preserve the ability of the organization to meet its mission.

Proposal | Funds further our support for nonprofits who apply for funding in times of critical and unforeseen situations.

Noteworthy | Given the very small size of this pool of funds and the overwhelming need in this area, we do not have the capacity to consider requests for operating expenses due to budget deficits or shortfalls.

Native American Advised Fund

In 1993, Allan Houser (Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), a humanitarian and one of the world’s great artists, established the Native American Advised Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. His vision was simple: to enhance Native lifeways now and for future generations in New Mexico by promoting a spirit of sharing and supporting community initiatives.

Today, Allan’s legacy lives on through the Native American Advised Fund, which continues to be led by an all-Native advisory committee whose members reflect the diversity of New Mexico’s 23 pueblos, tribes, and countless nations.

This year, the Native American Advised Fund welcomed proposals from Indigenous-serving organizations across the state that emphasize a commitment to the Native core values of community, language, culture, and environment.

Changing Woman Initiative

cwi-health.org

Mission | To empower diverse Indigenous communities to protect cultural birth resiliency and the fundamental Indigenous human right to reproductive health, dignity, and justice.

Proposal | Changing Woman Initiative requests general operating funding for our “Corn Pollen Path: It Begins in Beauty” multi-strategy implementation approach.

Noteworthy | Native American maternal health is underserved and underrepresented in the United States and, right now, Changing Woman Initiative is the only organization serving our community through a three-strategy approach. Our work is innovative regarding our use of cultural interventions like centering cultural birth practices, reintroducing traditional foods to support pregnancy, and integrating traditional medicine as a normal part of care.

Church of the Flowering Sun

Mission | To preserve and perpetuate Native people’s culture and sacred ceremonial practices, including the Lakota Sweat Lodge, Hanblechya (Vision Quest), and Sun Dance. The foundation also fundraises and donates directly in support of traditional Native families passing on ceremonial ways. We strive to maintain the integrity and spirit of these traditions, ensuring their continuity for future generations.

Proposal | A crucial part of fulfilling our mission is ensuring that our ceremonial leaders and tribal members have access to safe and comfortable accommodations during these ceremonies. Our two dormitory spaces as well as the commercial kitchen on our new community property in Lamy are in need of renovation. To continue hosting these sacred ceremonies and to honor our commitment to the well-being of our guests, we seek funding to transform these areas into clean, useful spaces.

Noteworthy | According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate among Native American and Alaska Native communities is 25.4%, nearly double the national average. This widespread economic hardship affects nearly all Native American tribes, making it challenging for many tribal members to afford travel and accommodations when participating in cultural and spiritual ceremonies. Preservation of Native culture and language significantly increase self-esteem, confidence, and pride.

Jemez Enterprises

Mission | To be an economic arm of the Pueblo, our business is to inspire, engage, educate, and serve all visitors as well as our local community with Jemez culture, language, food, and wisdom. We aim to sustain and generate prosperity (e.g., relationships, financial, cultural exchange) for the Jemez Pueblo and to support a strong local economy through ecocultural tourism and other enterprises.

Proposal | We are looking to update our free museum. As it currently stands, we cannot house many of our own ancestorial artifacts because we don’t have the proper equipment. In our museum’s current state, we cannot tell the full story of our Jemez people. Not only are we looking for new equipment to house our artifacts, but we also plan on expanding the museum. Our museum is too small to properly store and display all our artifacts.

Noteworthy | We currently only display less than 5% of our total ancestorial artifacts in our museum. Without this remodel project and American Alliance of Museums accreditation, it will be impossible for us to house our own artifacts.

Keres Children’s Learning Center

kclcmontessori.org

Mission | To reclaim our children’s education and honor our heritage by using a comprehensive, cultural, and academic curriculum to assist families in nurturing Keres-speaking, holistically healthy, community minded, and academically strong students.

Proposal | We request support for our Annual Native Language Symposium, which will be held in November 2024. Gaining momentum since 2016, the Symposium expanded from a one-day event to a two-day event. Its discussions improve the quality of Indigenous language and education programs for Native American/Indigenous children throughout New Mexico and the U.S. Our focus on educational tribal sovereignty, including preserving Indigenous languages, is best understood through our annual symposium with its approaches of language revitalization in early childhood, and anti-biased and anti-racist education.

Noteworthy | Since 2012, Keres Children’s Learning Center has grown, developed, and launched other endeavors, helping to broadly pollinate tribal education sovereignty. The Symposium has allowed us to share with other tribes and educators what we have learned along our journey toward language revitalization and educational sovereignty.

Kha’p’o Community School

khapoeducation.org

Mission | To nurture our children through education that embodies Kha’p’o Owinge culture, language, and values that is academically challenging and enjoyable. Working together as a community, we enable children to be proficient Tewa and English speakers, support their physical and emotional well-being, encourage their critical thinking and imagination, and inspire their love of learning.

Proposal | Our Voice, Our Stories is a documentary filming curriculum that we would like to provide students of Kha’p’o Community School. Teaching traditional arts and digital storytelling captures culture, language, and intergenerational learning. We request support for art materials, stipends for artists, and an end of the year trip to Ancestral Puebloan sites, including Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon. This is a unique opportunity that our students deserve.

Noteworthy | About half of the world’s 7,000 recognized languages, which are mostly Indigenous, are endangered, with 1,500 at particular risk. Some estimates say that by 2100, 40–95% of spoken languages could be extinct or endangered, with Indigenous languages making up the majority of those. In the U.S., about 167 Indigenous languages are spoken, but it’s estimated that only 20 will remain by 2050. We think it is vital to learn traditional arts and language to understand past as it connects to identity.

Little Globe

littleglobe.org

Mission | Little Globe envisions a world where we connect, heal, and thrive through the art of storytelling. Little Globe’s multi-generational team works with people to tell their own stories. Through partnerships, we provide tools, programs, training, and platforms to co-create and share artistic works with the wider world. Our collaborative process models a community in which everyone is seen and heard.

Proposal | For 20 years, our team of storytellers, facilitators, and filmmakers have reached millions of audience members with stories of calling this place home. Led by young artists from local communities and working in partnership with the region’s diverse organizations and residents, we gather powerful stories and connect them with the public through civic discourse, schools programs, and community policymaking. We humanize the decision making processes to be more responsive to our community’s

PHOTO: NATIONAL INDIAN

needs.

Noteworthy | 2021 CHART indicates half of the Santa Fe community represented in the survey report feeling that the community does not care about them or their well-being. With growing disparities in income, and breaks in rapport across parts of the northern New Mexixo population, there’s a sense of anxiety, conflict, and disconnection. Little Globe provides safe means where people can connect afresh, can hear one another’s life experiences, and thereby work together for the well-being of our community.

National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project

projectventure.org

Mission | To help Native and Indigenous youth embrace their potential through outdoor adventure and service. The National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project (NIYLP) is an Indigenous-led nonprofit that envisions a world with generations of healthy, capable, caring, resilient Native/Indigenous youth, who contribute to their groups, families, communities, and nations. NIYLP is a national leader in the field of experiential education and Indigenous positive youth development.

Proposal | NIYLP’s evidence-based positive youth development program Project Venture has been adapted for suicide prevention, substance-abuse prevention, and much more. Among our current work is Project Radical Hope, which incorporates culturally responsive mindfulness practices into Project Venture, convenes a Council of Elders to advise on traditional mindfulness practices, and stimulates community discussion to address the lack of access to mental/behavior health for young people in Indian Country.

Noteworthy | A 2022 ProPublica report exposed Gallup-McKinley County Schools (GMCS) as expelling Indigenous students from school far more often than any other group, and at least four times as often as White students. GMCS students faced 735 disciplinary incidents involving law enforcement — a rate nearly four times as high as the rest of the state. Rather than referring troubled Indigenous students to mental/behavioral healthcare services, GMCS relegated them to the school to prison pipeline.

Native Health Initiative

lovingservice.us

Mission | To address health inequities with Indigenous youth, families, and communities. By providing Movement as Medicine, Building Youth Leaders and Indigenizing Wellness as our focus and strategies, we aim to increase the health and wellbeing of all Indigenous people in New Mexico and beyond.

Proposal | Native Health Initiative seeks funding for our Healers of Tomorrow program. This unique 9-month mentorship program aims to increase the number of Indigenous healthcare workers in the state of New Mexico through career-readiness. Throughout the program, high school aged youth who are interested in healthcare careers are paired with a health professional or graduate level adult. This program is unique to New Mexico and we are seeking funding for this program’s general operating costs.

Noteworthy | According to the New Mexican Native American Indian Nurses Association, only 4% of nurses in New Mexico have tribal affiliation. While statistics for physicians in New Mexico are not easily found, only .3% of physicians nationwide identify as Indigenous. This grant will help us educate a new generation of Indigenous healthcare providers at all levels and help them reach their potential.

New Mexico Trade Alliance

nmtradealliance.org

Mission | To grow New Mexico’s global connectivity and to foster economic growth and collaboration across industries in New Mexico. The New Mexico Trade Alliance is a 501(c)(6) economic development nonprofit with a mission that bridges diverse communities and sectors to create a more inclusive and prosperous economic landscape. Our initiatives focus on building trust, promoting collaboration, and ensuring that all voices are heard in the development of key industries in our state.

Proposal | The New Mexico Trade Alliance and SpaceValley Foundation seek funding to build trust between Native communities and the space industry through 25 one-on-one facilitated conversations. This initiative aims to include Indigenous voices in the growing space sector, identify education and economic opportunities, and foster collaboration. The program will culminate in a report and proposal for a community dialogue to promote an inclusive space industry that respects the region’s cultural heritage.

Noteworthy | The 2023 National Science Foundation report titled Diversity & STEM reported that: American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) individuals make up only 216,000 of the 34.9 million workers in the STEM workforce; Collectively, Hispanic, Black, AIAN, and other underrepresented groups make up 31% of the U.S. population but only 24% of the STEM workforce in 2021; and that bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering earned by AIAN students declined between 2011 and 2020.

Northwest New Mexico First Born

nwnmfirstborn.org

Mission | To support the health and wellness of firstborn babies and children by building relationships with families in our community.

Proposal | General operating funds received from this request would be used to support the following organizational performance measures: Prevent Adverse Childhood Events (ACES) and improve maternal health outcomes, as well as family stability. We hope to improve maternal mental health outcomes and improve infant and child health outcomes through home visiting services focused on early childhood development and community referrals; while focusing on culturally appropriate interactions.

Noteworthy | Northwest New Mexico First Born provides Home Visiting services to predominately tribal enrolled families on the Navajo Nation, and Zuni Pueblo, making up approximately 90% of our case load.

Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation

nb3foundation.org

Mission | To ensure Native children achieve their full potential by advancing cultures of Native American community health. The vision of the organization is that all children live healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives.

Proposal | This funding request is to support the second year of the NB3 Foundation Native American Youth Council. This youth council was initiated in 2023 to inform leaders and stakeholders about community health concerns and to help propose health-related policy changes from a youth lens and perspective. The Native Youth Council members are the future of change for their communities and will drive systemic change regarding Native youth health.

Noteworthy | The National Institutes of Health states 17.4% of Native Americans report fair or poor health compared to 10% of non-Hispanic, white populations. This may be due to a lack of relevant health information or misinformation. Traditional health research in Native communities can be extractive and predatory and can perpetuate deficient-based false narratives leading to mistrust. The NB3 Foundation is working from youth perspectives to return native-designed community health assessments and information to native communities.

Santa Fe Indigenous Center

santafeindigenouscenter.org

Mission | To support, promote, and enrich our vital and diverse community. We identify and serve the needs and interests of our people.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Indigenous Center requests financial support for our bi-weekly food distributions, traditional food package giveaways, and for an Indigenous Harvest Feast during the holidays. All of our programs focus on community building and connection.

Noteworthy | In Santa Fe County, there are over 11,000 different Native Americans, both rural and urban; there are many families with children and individuals that are in need of additional support services such as food security, housing, rental assistance, and utility assistance. In 2023, 510 women participated in our bi-weekly food distributions; 1,089 children were also reported in those households.

Silver Bullet Productions

silverbulletproductions.com

Mission | To encourage educational achievement in New Mexico’s Native American communities through filmmaking programs that empower tribal students, impact academic opportunities, and preserve heritage. Since 2005, Silver Bullet Productions (SBP) provides relevant learning two ways: 1) the production of documentaries on culture and history; 2) workshops for students and teachers on filmmaking and storytelling with new equipment remaining in communities.

Proposal | SBP is producing a documentary on the Pueblo resistance from the 1500s to 1700, and Pueblo Resilience that continues. This is a period of time with no photographs or written records. SBP is asking for funding for graphics and animations to support the historical and oral content of the film. A full film budget is available for your review. We have the funds for the remainder of the budget items in preproduction, production, and postproduction.

Noteworthy | At least three connections between the 1600s and today highlight how historical events are tied to modern issues, making the revelations in this film crucial. In 1540, the land and population of the pueblos encompassed over 110 sovereign nations with more than 100,000 people. Today, there are 19 Pueblos, but they still represent a significant force in New Mexico, with 229,000 citizens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Mexico’s Indigenous communities were disproportionately infected, drawing a parallel between epidemics of the past and present. Additionally, servitude and slavery is linked to the ongoing tragedy of over 5,000 missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Three Sisters Collective

threesisterscollective.org

Mission | To restore our relationship to Mother Earth, Rematriation, and relearn to uphold matriarchs as natural leaders while strengthening our Pueblo/Indigenous community to offset the ongoing impacts of colonialism and environmental racism. Our values are land, culture, community, healing, and access. We are an Indigenous womenled organization engaging in land-based praxis to restore wellness and uplift traditional lifeways through art, actionism, education, and community building.

Proposal | We are seeking general operating support. Funding will go directly to developing farm programming and operating Full Circle Farm, our community-based, Indigenous heirloom crop farm and community space. In addition to overhead, this grant will pay our facilitators for the workshops and teach-ins that they will continue to do as matriarchs, artists, organizers, and healers in our community — reconnecting urban Indigenous people to the land and teaching self-sustaining skills.

Noteworthy | We have various educational/cultural workshops throughout the farm season, which we offer at no cost to the community. Programming includes adobe oven making, pottery making, preparing corn using the ancient nixtamal process, a precolonial foods cooking class, and upcoming workshops include herbal remedio making and land defense. We create community murals that highlight the ongoing environmental impacts we face in our region. We host twice-weekly BIPOC Family Nights, and Intersectional Fridays at our farm.

Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab

underdogrescuemoab.org

Mission | To rescue and rehabilitate companion animals from the tribal lands in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest through vet care, spay/neuter clinics, and adoption services, all while supporting Native Americans in the care of their animals. Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab is a nonprofit organization based in Moab, Utah.

Proposal | Underdog Animal Rescue & Rehab (Underdog) seeks funding to support our mobile veterinary clinics serving the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. These clinics provide essential spay/ neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and medical care to underserved pet populations on the reservation, addressing significant barriers such as poverty and limited access to veterinary services. Your support will help us continue our life-saving work in this remote region.

Noteworthy | Since 2020, we have performed over 3,300 spay and neuter surgeries and administered over 12,000 life-saving vaccines to owned pets on the Navajo Nation through our mobile veterinary clinics. These free/low-cost clinic events target underserved areas of the Navajo Nation where access to veterinary care is extremely limited or simply doesn’t exist.

Envision Fund

The Envision Fund of the Santa Fe Community Foundation is the first and largest philanthropic entity in New Mexico dedicated solely to LGBTQ+ causes. Since 1997, Envision has proudly promoted the health, safety, and empowerment of at-risk and underserved LGBTQ+ New Mexicans through its grantmaking, advocacy, and community convening.

The Envision Fund has established four priority areas for funding:

Creating an HIV-free generation in New Mexico;

Combatting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people (such as employment, housing, immigration, access to health services, etc.);

Supporting school-based programs that create a safe environment for all students, including LGBTQ+ students;

Promoting holistic reproductive health and gender-affirming healthcare by ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education, voluntary contraception, abortion care, and other reproductive/sexual health services.

Casa Q

casaq.org

Mission | To provide safe living options and services for LGBTQ+ youth, as well as allies, who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Unlike emergency shelter programs, Casa Q provides residential and transitional living services in a home-like environment, complemented with comprehensive and individual case management. Casa Q’s services are vital in addressing the disproportionate homelessness populations of LGBTQ+ young people.

Proposal | Casa Q is a small and mighty team. Funding will be used to ensure that team members are being trained in topics that young LGBTQ+ youth are facing and how to support young people. It will also support operating programs and case management for each client to meet their individual needs.

Noteworthy | In 2023, Casa Q provided 11 LGBTQ+ youth with housing and case management, five young people were enrolled in the Transitional Living Program with Casa Q, and 12 youth engaged in aftercare case management. Casa Q provided five youth emergency housing in hotel rooms. Our youth participated in 1,000 hours of educational programs.

Closet Cinema

wayoutwestfilmfest.com

Mission | To showcase queer cinema to highlight the richness and diversity of the LGBTQ+ experience through the annual Way OUT West Film Fest, a 10day event in Albuquerque, founded in 2003.

Proposal | Way OUT West Film Fest seeks funding from the Envision Fund to support our 22nd annual festival, dedicated to showcasing diverse LGBTQ+ stories through film. This year, we aim to expand our reach with more in-person screenings and community events, enhancing queer visibility in our region. Funding will help us maintain high-quality programming, engage new audiences, and ensure the festival remains a vital platform for LGBTQ+ voices during challenging economic times.

Noteworthy | In 2023, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the U.S., targeting queer rights and visibility. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for platforms like Way OUT West Film Fest, which provides a vital space for LGBTQ+ voices and stories, fostering community resilience and promoting understanding in a climate increasingly hostile to queer identities. Your support helps us combat this wave of discrimination through powerful, visible representation.

The Community Resource Fund

h2academicsolutions.net

Mission | To serve the vulnerable populations of New Mexico by providing them with access to resources that enable them to achieve their personal and educational goals. We believe in creating an inclusive space where everyone is welcome, regardless of their financial status or background. Through community engagement and partnerships, we secure funds and resources that allow us to fulfill our mission of providing opportunities for personal/educational development.

Proposal | As an organization, we have worked hard to create an inclusive space for all to enjoy and use. Individual clients need individual care. Our funding request is to offer quick access emergency packs for LGBTQ+ youth during breaks from school, or if something were to happen in their living situation resulting in having to leave quickly. These packs would include resources, safety plans, stress relief tools, blanket, journal, coloring book, basic first aid kit, shelf stable snacks, water.

Noteworthy | A CYFD report states New Mexico LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the Juvenile Justice System. Additionally, the National Network for research has shown, those who identify as LGBTQ+ are 120% higher risk of experiencing some form of homelessness. Our youth face obstacles such as family rejection, bullying and lack of support. Which can lead to foster care/ homelessness, running away, dropping out and police contact. We must stay proactive in the potential situations these risks can lead to and have resources available.

Dar a

Luz

Birth and Health Center

daraluzbirthcenter.org

Mission | To improve birth and breastfeeding outcomes by offering evidence-based, highquality healthcare that respects all individuals. We provide education to support healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, and newborn care, along with ongoing breastfeeding support. We strive to increase access to community-based midwifery care and uphold reproductive justice in New Mexico, ensuring everyone has the right to choose their birth environment and access safe, communitybased reproductive care.

Proposal | Midwife-led maternity care in New Mexico significantly decreases neonatal deaths, stillbirths, preterm births, C-sections, while reducing maternal mortality. New Mexico midwives oversee 25% of births, twice the national average, yet they face chronic underpayment. We are requesting funds to enable Dar a Luz Birth and Health Center (DAL) to hire diverse, experienced midwives with competitive compensation and benefits, easing the workload on the team and improving staff retention while enhancing client experience and strengthening the team.

Noteworthy | DAL is the oldest functioning birth center in New Mexico and employs the most midwives in a birth center who support the most couplets in the out-of-hospital setting per year. We’ve provided comprehensive healthcare services — including prenatal, labor, birth, postpartum, newborn, gynecological, mental health care — to over 4,000 families. DAL has overseen over 1,600 births with an exceptional 10% cesarean section rate, saving New Mexico over $2 million, along with a 99% breastfeeding initiation rate.

Equality New Mexico

eqnm.org

Mission | To build power for our communities through leadership development, policy advocacy, culture, systems shift work, and community organizing. Equality New Mexico is building power with LGBTQ communities across the state and has been doing so for 31 years!

Proposal | Equality New Mexico (EQNM) seeks support for an intensive Policy Development and Passage Fellowship that creates an opportunity for Queer and Trans New Mexicans to enter the policy world through a more compassionate, shorter process than is available through formal postgraduate study. EQNM and the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico will collaborate on this project to support three to five LGBTQ young adults whose talent and passion for impacting their community outstrip their formal education.

Noteworthy | There are only five openly queer members of the Legislature and only four openly queer lobbyists in New Mexico. The New Mexico legislature is the last all-volunteer legislature in the nation, so the role of lobbyists and communitydriven policy experts has greater weight than in other states making this under-representation in the Roundhouse even more significant. Existing educational opportunities for LGBTQ young adults fail to meet the unique needs of this population and therefore do not close this gap.

Forward Together

(Strong Families New Mexico)

Mission | To bring together organizations and community leaders statewide to build strong communities and create policies by and for our families.

Proposal | Strong Families is co-building the first of its kind full spectrum reproductive and genderaffirming healthcare center in southern New Mexico to open in 2025. Our commitment to this project is to ensure that there is a community driven and community-centered process in the visioning, planning, and operation of this comprehensive reproductive healthcare center in Doña Ana County. This integrated model of care designed by those most impacted by the lack of access to reproductive and gender care.

Noteworthy | Only three of New Mexico’s 33 counties have healthcare centers that provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare services including abortion and none of these reproductive healthcare centers provide the type of culturally relevant, community-centered, and comprehensive healthcare services, including gender-affirming care, that the new southern New Mexico healthcare center will have.

GLSEN New Mexico

glsennm.org

Mission | To create safe and inclusive K-12 learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth and educators. Championing LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education since 1990, we believe that every student has the right to safe, supportive, and affirming learning environments. GLSEN New Mexico works at a local level to make this right a reality, in collaboration with a network of advocates, educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters across the country.

Proposal | General operating support is vital to GLSEN’s mission of creating safe, inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ youth. The flexibility of general operating support allows us to respond swiftly to emerging policy threats, sustain our programs, and meet the growing needs of the community. This funding ensures we can continue to empower students, train educators, and fight back against harmful policies, ultimately creating a safer, more equitable educational environment for all students in New Mexico.

Noteworthy | The 2021 National School Climate Survey showed that 97% of New Mexican students hear “gay” used in a negative way and 82% hear negative comments about transgender people. Over 52% of New Mexico students experience verbal harassment and over 22% experience physical harassment based on their gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. For more details, visit bit.ly/GLSEN_NM

Health Equity Alliance for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans

healplusnm.org

Mission | To address risk across social determinants of health for lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, transgender, gender nonconforming, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, and pansexual (LGBTQ+) people and their intersectional lives. Health Equity Alliance for LGBTQ+ (HEAL Plus) New Mexico works to advance education, research, and support for the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people. We center joy, resilience, community, and artmaking as an organizing principle.

Proposal | Behavioral health disparities are a top concern and primary avenue to achieve health equity for queer and trans people. HEAL Plus requests funds to continue advocating for LGBTQ+ health. Our programs include SQUINCH (Sharing Queer Understanding, Inclusion, Nonviolent Communication, and Health) for GSA’s and SQUINCH 4 Families, digital curricula for LGBTQ+ youth and their families, and Bright Spaces directory, connecting queer and trans people to health providers that affirm our identities.

Noteworthy | One in three New Mexicans believe homosexuality should be discouraged (Pew Research, 2014). In 2019, one in four bisexual adults in New Mexico attempted suicide, a rate four times that of the New Mexico population. Gay and lesbian people attempted suicide at twice the rate of heterosexuals (NMDOH 2018). HEAL Plus New Mexico focuses on changing environments to be more supportive of LGBTQ+ BIPOC lives and support resiliency skills in LGBTQ+ community groups such as GSA’s.

Justice, Access, Support, and Solutions for Health

casadesaludnm.org

Mission | To interweave traditional and conventional medicines to meet the physical and spiritual health needs of its patients in a welcoming, just, creative, and inclusive environment; to provide fair priced health care to anyone in need; and to promote a learning and leadership development environment for practitioners, staff, volunteers, and patients. Casa de Salud is a permanent project of Justice, Access, Support and Solutions for Health, a nonprofit organization.

Proposal | Casa de Salud is a nonprofit integrative clinic in Albuquerque, and is expanding to Valencia County. Casa provides affordable primary care, queer and trans healthcare, and addictions care. We embrace a holistic approach using a wide range of conventional, natural and traditional medicines, we train the future healthcare workforce of New Mexico, and advocate for health system change. We aim to expand our capacity to support queer, trans and gender nonconforming New Mexicans with dignified high-quality healthcare.

Noteworthy | 75% of our patients are uninsured and do not have access to affordable healthcare. Among those who are insured, there are significant struggles finding culturally humble and queer/ trans competent healthcare. Our patients trust care at Casa, and come from all over New Mexico and beyond. We have provided gender affirming hormone therapy for 20 years. This year, we are expanding capacity, training new providers, and expanding care to Valencia County, where there are no known providers for gender affirming care.

La Casa, Inc.

lacasainc.org

Mission | To support everyone affected by domestic violence and work toward a just, safe community free from violence and abuse. We have made a significant impact in the tri-county area of Doña Ana, Luna, and Hidalgo counties. La Casa, Inc. has been a dedicated provider of service for survivors of domestic violence since 1981. Last year, we served a total of 1,652 individuals. Our commitment to inclusivity ensures that all community members receive the care and respect they deserve.

Proposal | We aim to enhance support for New Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community by providing cultural sensitivity training to staff and statewide partners, and developing bilingual outreach and marketing materials that will foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all domestic violence survivors. With this project specific funding, we will increase awareness, improve service delivery, and ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe when seeking help, leading to stronger community impact.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico, approximately 85,000 individuals identify as LGBTQ+, which makes up about 4.5% of the state’s population (Williams Institute). Despite our anti-discrimination policies and the state’s anti-discrimination laws, currently, only 1% of our clients identify as LGBTQ+. This may reveal a statewide outreach gap in areas of safety and support within domestic violence shelters. Our project specific grant will help bridge these gaps and better support LGBTQ+ clients in our community.

The Mountain Center

themountaincenter.org

Mission | To promote wellness, personal discovery, and social change through innovative learning experiences in wilderness, community, and cultural environments.

Proposal | Our NM Genders and Sexual Alliance Network received funding to empower at-risk LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 in New Mexico. Funds support stipends for Youth Council members, fostering leadership development, and adventure programming to build confidence and provide positive role models. Additionally, the grant funds swag and prizes for contingency management, boosting engagement in weekly queer meetups. This grant has strengthened resilience, leadership, and community support for LGBTQ+ youth facing limited resources and challenges.

Noteworthy | According to a recent survey by The Trevor Project, 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. This rate is even higher among specific groups, with 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth reporting suicidal ideation. Additionally, one in five LGBTQ+ youth made a suicide attempt in the past year.

New Mexico Community AIDS Partnership

nmaidspartnership.org

Mission | To build a world in which LGBTQIA+ people and all Americans have access to supportive, high quality health care and behavioral health services and no group finds their access to care or quality of life reduced by stigma or discrimination. We focus on disparities affecting Sexual and Gender Minorities and partner with groups who target intersecting populations, working toward equity for all. We work to develop supportive environments for sexual and gender minority people in all areas of life.

Proposal | New Mexico Community AIDS Partnership’s work includes policy, training, convening and research. We support state agencies and provider organizations in amending their policies, procedures, and documents to ensure they are supportive of LGBTQIA+ people. We host an annual summit on LGBTQIA+ health for providers, researchers, and community members. We host professional training on LGBTQIA+ cultural fluency and gender-affirming care. We collaborate with researchers at the University of New Mexico and PIRE on projects to promote LGBTQIA+ equity. Noteworthy | Based on data provided by the New Mexico Department of Health, LGBT adults are more than three times as likely as straight, cisgender adults to experience sexual assault and suicide ideation. LGBT youth report experiencing frequent mental distress at more than double the rate of their straight, cisgender peers and report engaging in non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempts at more than triple the rates of their straight, cisgender peers.

New Mexico Dream Team

nmdreamteam.org

Mission | To build power for multigenerational, undocumented, LGBTQ+, and mixed status families toward liberation. Through trainings and leadership development, we work to engage our community and allies, in becoming leaders using an intersectional, gender, and racial justice lens. We aim to develop and implement an organizing and advocacy infrastructure for policy change fighting to dismantle systematic oppression.

Proposal | New Mexico Dream Team’s (NMDT) UndocuQueer initiative and programming is dedicated to empowering queer immigrant students through a series of transformative events and programs in and outside schools. These youths face unique challenges that intersect both their LGBTQ+ identities and immigrant experiences, by providing funding, you enable us to offer essential resources, create safe and inclusive spaces, and facilitate mentorship and networking opportunities that affirm their identities and promote their wellbeing.

Noteworthy | Overall, there are an estimated 1,274,500 LGBT foreign-born adults in the U.S., including 289,700 (22.7%) who are undocumented (LGBT Adult Immigrants in the United States -UCLA Report). Because LGBT undocumented immigrants lack legal status, they are ineligible for health insurance subsidies and benefits offered by the Affordable Care Act, and as a result often lack affordable options and forego care entirely (Funders for LGBTQ Issues).

Santa Fe Dreamers Project

santafedreamersproject.org

Mission | To uphold the dignity and rights of immigrants to pursue their goals and dreams by offering high-quality legal services and representation. We partner with the immigrant community and supporters to transform the immigration system through advocacy and education.

Proposal | Santa Fe Dreamers Project provides top quality legal services to undocumented immigrants and their families across the state of New Mexico. Our staff’s 99% success rate is on par with the best private firms in the country. We offer high quality pro-bono and low-bono legal services across a wide variety of case types including asylum, release from detention, deportation removal defense, humanitarian visas for victims of violent crimes, permanent residence, citizenship, DACA, and more.

Noteworthy | According to Human Rights Watch, “... at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. In addition, at least nine countries have national laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target transgender and gender nonconforming people.”

Santa Fe Public Schools, Office of Student Wellness

sfps.info

Mission | To provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students. We know that when students feel included, welcomed, and affirmed, they are better able to fulfill their full potential in all areas of their lives, including academic achievement.

Proposal | Santa Fe Public Schools creates safer and more inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ students by developing strong inclusive policies and practices, training school staff to recognize and respond to the unique issues LGBTQ+ students face, and providing direct gender support services to students and families.

Noteworthy | Students whose identities are marginalized suffer disproportionately from negative health and psychosocial outcomes, including low self-esteem, self-harm, depression, suicide, substance use, and harsher punishments.

According to the 2021 New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey, sexual minority (LGB) and gender minority (TGQF) youth experienced significantly higher rates of persistent sadness or hopelessness (1.8x higher for both), suicide attempts (3.4x for LGB and 3.7x for TGQF), and being bullied at school (~2x for both).

SITE SANTA FE

sitesantafe.org

Mission | To be an internationally recognized destination for art and artists and a trusted community resource for creativity and learning. Founded in 1995 to nurture innovation, discovery, and inspiration through the art of today, SITE SANTA FE believes that contemporary art has the power to stimulate and strengthen empathy, bring people together, and drive social change. Guided by artists, rooted in New Mexico, SITE SANTA FE celebrates contemporary creative expression.

Proposal | SITE SANTA FE requests support for its PRAXIS Program (theory + practice = praxis), a series of eight hands-on workshops taught by local arts practitioners and provided free of charge to participants. Designed to empower arts workers with opportunities to develop career skills and explore economic opportunities, SITE anticipates serving 250 community members annually. Workshops will be filmed, edited, and hosted on SITE’s website for a secondary audience and increased accessibility.

Noteworthy | A report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the NEA reveals that New Mexico’s arts and culture industries employed 23,766 individuals and provided $1.7 billion in arts worker compensation in 2021. The arts added $3.2 billion in value to New Mexico’s economy, demonstrating the strength of the arts and culture fields in New Mexico, and the potential for those seeking a creative career. SITE is committed to creating accessible career development and educational opportunities for arts workers.

Solace Sexual Assault Services

findsolace.org

Mission | To create a safe and supportive environment where all voices are heard, and every survivor is treated with dignity and respect, fostering healing and resilience in our community. We provide compassionate and free bilingual support and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, sex trafficking, dating violence, and stalking. We strive to empower individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, through inclusive services, education, and prevention programs.

Proposal | Solace seeks support to better connect with LGBTQ+ youth by strengthening partnerships with Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) and LGBTQspecific organizations. This funding will help establish Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in SFPS middle and high schools and create SafeZones for LGBTQ+ youth.

Noteworthy | For 20 years, Solace has developed LGBTQ-inclusive curricula for SFPS Sex Health Education Week (SHEW) with Planned Parenthood and Resolve. DOH data shows 87% of participants report increased bystander intervention and advocacy intentions. Despite this, New Mexico schools remain unsafe for LGBTQ youth (GLSEN 2021). Your funding will support our team of four preventionists, including two queer staff, in expanding outreach to establish SafeZones and GSAs while maintaining our middle school programming.

The Sky Center / New Mexico Suicide Intervention Project

skycenter.nmsip.org

Mission | To meet the challenge of youth suicide in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico through lasting solutions that encourage resiliency, courage, connection and hope. The current Board of Directors and Staff Strategic Plan includes the core value of “Love, through inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, listening, paying attention, setting clear boundaries, living with integrity, and offering kindness.”

Proposal | The Sky Center meets the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ and all youth by reducing suicide risk factors, strengthening resilience, and increasing supportive relationships that can transform a young person’s hopelessness and thoughts of suicide into a meaningful desire to live. The requested funds will sustain, enrich, and advance programs that aim to address the multi-layered factors that contribute to a young person’s likelihood of suicide.

Noteworthy | New Mexico has the second highest youth suicide rate in the United States. According to the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide — far more than heterosexual students. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer or Questioning* (LGBQ+) students were more likely to report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and LGBTQ+ students were nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

Transgender Resources Center of New Mexico

tgrcnm.org

Mission | To support transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming communities through direct services, education, and advocacy.

Proposal | Transgender Resources Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM) is seeking general operating support as we continue our work as one of the only Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) led and serving direct service organizations in New Mexico. Our funding request will assist in funding our transitional housing program and expanding services in our community drop-in center.

Noteworthy | TGRCNM’s Casa Lola transitional housing program, which opened on January 29, 2024, is New Mexico’s first housing program for and by TGNC people serving TGNC adults experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Our communal housing site serves up to six participants at a time with wraparound supportive services.

Únashay Sanctuary

unashayhome.com

Mission | To offer land-based and mobile presence in our grief sanctuary on the red earth of Tewa lands, space and creation for the under-resourced grieving of northern New Mexico, whilst forging a new emergent culture for grief in all its many forms.

Proposal | Grief Residency sponsorship brings under-resourced individuals and groups into the rest, connection and community care they need. Companion Teams are assembled for each residency and are tailored to specific individual and group needs. Teams might be comprised of therapists, artists, body workers, group facilitators, and cooks (to name a few) who bring presence to the grieving process, insisting that no one should be unnecessarily isolated while grieving.

Noteworthy | Lack of proper support for the grieving process has far-reaching consequences on public health. Rising rates of suicidality, an escalating drug epidemic, depression, interpersonal violence, and loneliness are among the collective outcomes of this oversight. Notably, even before the pandemic, loneliness posed a greater public health risk than smoking. Honoring the natural and intrinsic process of grieving is crucial. It not only repairs connections but also fosters a sense of cohesion with life.

The University of New Mexico Foundation

unmfund.org

Mission | To use a team model to provide the highest quality of care with respect for human dignity through effective medical care, behavioral health services, complementary therapies, and community support. We seek to enhance the physical and personal well-being of people living/ accessing care in New Mexico.

Proposal | THS YOUTH2PrEP program started with increased awareness and linkage to services. With additional funding, we would like to increase utilization of PrEP in risk at risk of HIV through continued efforts at education and linkage and reduction of financial barriers to access.

Noteworthy | According to the CDC, youth are at elevated risk for contracting HIV due to engaging in sexual risk-taking behaviors. Youth ages 13 to 24 made up 21% of all new HIV cases. At UNM THS, approximately 383 patients receive PrEP services, and only 13% are under 25. The need to create a plan to facilitate access to PrEP for youth and create an HIV-FREE Generation is shown with the increasing number of new HIV infections referred to UNM THS.

Santa Fe Baby Fund

The Santa Fe Baby Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation promotes the healthy development of babies and toddlers in northern New Mexico and raises awareness about the critical importance of investing in the early years of life.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

Increasing access to affordable, high quality early childhood care and education; Supporting programming for young parents ages 29 and under, and their infants and toddlers;

Supporting grandparents or other non-parent kin raising infants and toddlers; Supporting ongoing training, professional development, and programming for the early childhood workforce; and

Improving access to reproductive health services for adolescents and young adults.

CareNet of Las Vegas, NM

carenetlasvegas.org

Mission | To provide compassionate care in a confidential, non-judgmental, and hopeful manner. CareNet of Las Vegas, NM recognizes that every human is valuable, therefore with our Christcentered and life-affirming community support we offer realistic alternatives for every family facing crucial pregnancy decisions.

Proposal | We seek funding to provide necessary resources — such as car seats, highchairs, bassinets, cribs, as well as new and gently used clothing — for young parents to help in raising their babies and children. We also have a diaper giveaway program for babies.

Noteworthy | We help the families with serious needs in Las Vegas and surrounding areas up to 150 miles in distance. The items that are most requested and needed are toddler car seats and pull ups. The diaper program we are involved in only gives up to size 6 and as the kids grow the need is still there. We seem to have newborn car seats donated but not the ones for toddlers and older children. The other thing requested frequently is food. We have foodbanks available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays but not on the weekends.

Family Learning Center

flcespanola.com

Mission | To empower everyone to move, learn, laugh, and grow in order to create a powerful culture of health by providing equitable access to wellness activities in a supportive community of diverse individuals.

Proposal | Family Learning Center requests funding for the completion of a licensed kitchen renovation that will provide healthy and appropriate meals for our toddlers. We have been using vendors who provide meals that are not appropriate for toddlers. We want to do our own cooking so toddlers in our program will have access to a variety of foods that promote healthy choices. We want to use this facility to promote nutrition education for young families to learn about meal planning, preparation, and nutrition.

Noteworthy | There was a 34% increase in the number of diabetes diagnoses in Rio Arriba County between 1980 and 2016 (healthdata.org). By 2020, a rate of 15.3% of adults were diagnosed with diabetes (ibis.doh.nm.gov). Family Learning Center is being proactive in encouraging healthy food choices, healthy cooking habits, and healthy buying practices for toddlers and their families. We encourage the use of local produce.

Fathers New Mexico

fathersnewmexico.org

Mission | To provide support, resources, and skills to promote healthy and responsible fathering in young families. Fathers New Mexico nurtures connections between the father, the family, and the community to promote self, family, and community health.

Proposal | Fathers New Mexico engages, equips, and empowers dads while building a positive community of fathers and families. We request support for this programming in Santa Fe and the infrastructure required for its effective operation.

Noteworthy | According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 85% of fathers with children under 18 years of age view fatherhood as the most important, or one of the most important, aspects of their identity.

Growing Up New Mexico

growingupnm.org

Mission | To engage the whole community, bringing together people and resources to create increased opportunities for young children and the adults in their lives to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

Proposal | Growing Up New Mexico creates opportunities for young children, their families, and their caregivers to thrive through communityoriented direct service, and systems building state advocacy and policy, with each body of work continually informing the other. Our high-quality early childhood programs promote long-term resiliency by connecting families to community resources and other tools needed to thrive, empowering them to be their own goal setters, problem solvers, and advocates.

Noteworthy | Research shows that a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development during their earliest years is essential to future learning. Since 85% of brain development occurs by age five, positive early experiences, combined with family stability, are critical to future outcomes in academic success, employment, physical health, and mental well-being.

Kiwanis First Born of Northern New Mexico

firstborn.org

Mission | To improve the health and well-being of expectant parents and families with children up to kindergarten age, so that the families and children in northern New Mexico thrive within their communities.

Proposal | As a Preventive/Promotion Model, Kiwanis First Born of Northern New Mexico (FBNNM) will provide enhanced, quality home visiting services to expectant parents and families with children up to five years old. The program’s target population includes families residing in San Miguel, Mora, and Harding counties, identified as communities continuing to recover from trauma and the aftereffects of the largest the state’s largest wildfire disaster in 2022 (the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire), including subsequent flooding and lack of drinking water.

Noteworthy | Since the fire, FBNNM has provided services to 154 adults, 55 prenatal families, and 134 children. Home visiting services include information related to the importance of accessing quality prenatal care and support through the postpartum period. Ongoing services for parents include information related to supporting their child’s learning through the program’s emergent literacy program.

Many Mothers

manymothers.org

Mission | To provide in-home services and wraparound care to achieve health equity and wellbeing for babies and their caregivers in northern New Mexico.

Proposal | We seek funding to continue to provide and expand our services. Our flagship home visiting program is unique in that it addresses the critical need to engage with mothers directly after birth for the support they may need to take care of their newborns. Essentially, we are making postpartum doula care a reality for mothers that may otherwise not have access to this supportive service. Additionally, because we operate a volunteer-focused model, for every $1 we invest in our volunteer program, we see a $1.95 return that we can invest in our other tangible programs.

Noteworthy | We have several programs focused on infant/maternal health. We offer: 1) home visiting; 2) safe sleep education and cribs; 3) basic needs, including diapers, formula, prenatal vitamins, and hygiene items; 4) a village closet, which includes infant equipment and clothing, and maternity clothing; 5) The Family Center, which offers groups and classes for pregnant women and families with children 0-3 years old; 6) navigation services; and 7) farm-to-families, which offers mainly organic foods.

MathAmigos

mathamigos.org

Mission | To help teachers in northern New Mexico inspire kids to love math through innovative workshops, teacher coaching, and math competitions. Math proficiency in our schools still hovers at 24%. Our workshops promote best practice strategies for teaching and learning that excite students, deepen their mathematical thinking, and instill the math skills and problem-solving so vital to success in life and work in the 21st century.

Proposal | MathAmigos has provided professional development (PD) in math for K-8 teachers since 2017. The Santa Fe Community Foundation has contributed much appreciated annual support for 27 MathAmigos workshops reaching over 230 K-8 teachers. Early childhood (EC) is a critical but underutilized time to excite children about math in the world around them. We seek funding for workshops that bring innovative best practices to early childhood professionals teaching math in northern New Mexico.

Noteworthy | The case for math PD in EC is compelling. Studies show that children lacking solid early math skills underperform during elementary school and beyond. According to the National Education Report Card, only 19% of 4th graders and 13% of 8th graders in New Mexico reached math proficiency (2022). Young children need enriched opportunities to relate math to daily experiences and develop the math language that promotes literacy and critical thinking (Chesloff 2013; Harris & Peterson 2019).

Presbyterian Ear Institute

presbyterianearinstitute.org

Mission | To support people with hearing loss (HL) to better listen, speak, and integrate into mainstream society. Presbyterian Ear Institute (PEI) offers hope in breaking the silence for children and adults, providing comprehensive early diagnosis, intervention, education, and rehabilitation of deafness. Through its programs and services, PEI works daily to mitigate the lifelong effects that hearing loss has on literacy, educational achievement, and vocational opportunities.

Proposal | Childhood HL is a race against lost brain time, so PEI’s specialists intervene quickly, use cutting-edge technology, and partner with families to teach deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH) children to listen and speak. Support for our Newborn Hearing Screening, Parent-Infant, and School for Oral Deaf Education programs changes lives by empowering children with the fundamental human right of communication so they can connect with their families, communities, and educational/ employment opportunities.

Noteworthy | Occurring more than any other condition screened at birth, HL affects families of all linguistic, racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. Over 90% of D/HH children are born to hearing parents, so PEI’s family-led, listening/ spoken-language option is crucial and helps families connect with their children. Teaching children to hear/talk changes lives, mitigating 25% higher rates of abuse/neglect, 64% un/underemployment, and average 2.8-4.5 grade reading levels affecting D/HH populations.

Presbyterian Medical Services

pmsnm.org

Mission | To design and deliver quality, accessible, integrated health, education, and human services in response to identified community needs of the multicultural people of the Southwest.

Proposal | Presbyterian Medical Services (PMS) provides primary medical and behavioral health services to Santa Fe students through two Teen Health Centers and on-site behavioral health services at every Santa Fe school. PMS addresses health inequities by providing easily accessible services that are unbiased against race/ethnicity, income, and sexual orientation, as well as being culturally and linguistically accommodating.

Noteworthy | New Mexico is 10th in the nation for the number of births to teens. The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey reveals the number of students in Santa Fe who feel sad or hopeless has increased 43%. In Santa Fe County, over 9% of children are uninsured; however, that number jumps to 13.5% for children living in poverty. Untreated or poorly managed physical and mental health in youth can lead to overuse of the healthcare, education, welfare, and juvenile justice systems for years to come. PMS provides unbiased, accessible healthcare.

Prosperity Works

prosperityworks.net

Mission | To help New Mexicans get out of poverty, to end poverty, and to build the capacity of organizations and advocates for policies that generate economic prosperity for all New Mexicans. We envision a New Mexico where every person has access to the opportunities, knowledge, and relationships they need to achieve economic prosperity. Our work is guided by our core values, each of which is cast through a lens that centers racial equity: community-centric solutions building, intentional capacity building, and authentic partnership development.

Proposal | Prosperity Works has several strategies to close the racial wealth gap in New Mexico. We work on access to safe and affordable checking accounts through our Bank On New Mexico coalition. We work on building assets for children and adults through our matched savings programs. We help families become more energy resilient through our energy efficiency and advocacy work. Finally, we are helping New Mexicans access cleaner and cheaper electricity through community solar. Each of these builds strong families.

Noteworthy | The poverty rate in New Mexico is 18.2% and is the third highest in the U.S. New Mexico ranks 45 out of 50 in the U.S. for wealth equality. Our state has one of the widest income gaps between richest and poorest households. Studies show that being born into poverty limits economic mobility, decreases overall health and well-being, and reduces opportunity for education and higher paying jobs.

Santa Fe Birth Center

santafebirthcenter.com

Mission | To enhance birth outcomes and experiences by expanding place-of-birth options in our community. As Santa Fe’s only nonprofit birth center, we offer a vital alternative to hospital or home births, providing a safe, satisfying, and cost-effective environment rooted in the midwifery model of care. Our center welcomes clients from all cultural traditions, ensuring that every individual receives the personalized care they deserve.

Proposal | We are seeking funding to support critical operating costs at the Santa Fe Birth Center, including staff salaries, building expenses, and the purchase of essential medical and birth supplies. This funding is crucial to ensure the continued operation of our center and to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our diverse community.

Noteworthy | According to the National Birth Equity Collaborative, nearly 700 women die each year in the U.S. from pregnancy-related complications, with a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority populations. Ensuring access to safe, supportive, and affordable birth options like those offered by the Santa Fe Birth Center is crucial in addressing these disparities and improving maternal health outcomes.

Santa Fe Children’s Museum

santafechildrensmuseum.org

Mission | To foster children in discovering the joys of learning, play, and community. The Santa Fe Children’s Museum builds upon a child’s sense of joy and discovery by cultivating habits of inquiry in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Children’s Museum (SFCM) seeks funding to support its programming for babies, including four separate weekly programs, a discounted admission and family membership program, complimentary Mobile Museum visits to rural and Tribal communities, and free field trips for Title 1 daycares and Head Starts to visit the 30+ exhibit spaces at its campus. SFCM’s programs annually serve 74,500 people across northern New Mexico and beyond with its engaging curriculum for children ages 0-8.

Noteworthy | Voices for Children reported a child poverty rate of 18% in Santa Fe County, where SFCM is located. 30% of all children had one or more parents unemployed, and 24% of family units were grandparents raising grandchildren while living in poverty. An active support network is vital for babies to develop properly, and these statistics point towards barriers that may limit both babies and adults. SFCM’s progressive and informal environment provides spaces for children and their caregivers to grow.

Animal Welfare

RESULT: THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR REGION’S DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS IS PROTECTED.

Thanks to bequests from the estates of Carla Freeman and Deborah & Martin Fishbein, the Santa Fe Community Foundation established the Animal Welfare Fund to address animal welfare-related needs existing in the community. We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

1. Population Control

• Free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics

• Trap/neuter/release programs

• Transportation for stray dogs/cats from overcrowded shelters to areas where they are more likely to be adopted

• Free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics

2. Cruelty Prevention

Humane education/public information

• Rescue/adoption programs

• Support for local and/or statewide trapping ban

3. Well-being

• Training/socializing animals with goal of re-homing

• Providing emergency and preventive care

• Providing food and other supplies for pets of low-income owners

4. Reintroduction/conservation of native New Mexico species

A Chance of A Lifetime

achanceofalifetime.org

Mission | To honor transformational healing between humans and horses, one pause at a time.

Proposal | Founded in 2019, A Chance of a Lifetime (COLT) is a place where horses deemed dangerous, untouchable or worthless are treated with compassion and provided time to heal from trauma. While some horses are adopted out, others stay with us and learn to work with people who are likewise challenged in their personal lives. Funding for COLT supports the health care and training expenses for 14 horses who are skilled at mirroring hope, reviving spirit, and helping people who seek solace and healing.

Noteworthy | New Mexico is home to approximately 150,000 horses — many of whom are abused or abandoned each year. COLT addresses this issue through our rescue efforts. COLT also seeks to help behavioral health recipients recover and heal. Since the pandemic, mental health conditions have increased throughout the U.S. by 30%. In a recent study conducted by the New Mexico Behavioral Health Collaborative, 53% of 26,174 people surveyed reported symptoms of suicide ideation, PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.

ABQ Chihuahua Rescue

abqchihuahuarescue.org

Mission | To rescue, nurture, rehabilitate, and relocate Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes into loving, permanent homes, as well as to raise public awareness of companion animal issues.

Proposal | The ABQ Chihuahua Rescue would like to request funding for general support to rescue homeless chihuahua and chihuahua mixes throughout New Mexico.

Noteworthy | Chihuahuas are the second most euthanized breed in the United States, behind Pit Bulls. More than 359,000 dogs were euthanized in 2023, a five-year high for the United States.

Animal Protection NM

apnm.org

Mission | To advocate statewide for the rights of animals by effecting social change, resulting in the humane treatment of all animals. We create policies, infrastructure, and services that protect animals and strengthen our communities. We design and implement humane and pragmatic solutions to seemingly intractable problems involving animals. Our vision is to make humane the new normal in New Mexico.

Proposal | Animal Protection NM (APNM) advocates for pro-animal policies and provides comprehensive services to ensure companion animals, equines, captive chimpanzees, and wildlife are treated with respect. We seek support for our extensive programs, such as teaching people of all ages empathy for animals, promoting safe co-existence with native species, helping communities provide free or low-cost spay/neuter services, providing emergency equine feed and veterinary clinics, and establishing infrastructure to protect animals.

Noteworthy | Each year, 135,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats are taken in by animal shelters in New Mexico. More than 65,000 are euthanized. APNM addresses complex issues that lead to so many companion animals to be abandoned. We lead the effort to establish a funding stream for spay/neuter services statewide, provide education on proper care of companion animals, help communities organize and fund spay/neuter clinics, and facilitate a network of safe havens for animals of domestic violence survivors.

Animal Welfare Coalition of Northeastern New Mexico

animalwelfarenewmexico.org

Mission | To elevate the welfare of animals in northeastern New Mexico through a multifaceted approach. We are dedicated to promoting and facilitating spay and neuter programs, recognizing these practices as crucial steps in addressing the issue of animal overpopulation and ensuring a humane future for all animals. We will engage with the community to offer education initiatives aimed at preventing cruelty, cultivating empathy, and instilling responsible pet ownership values.

Proposal | The main goal of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Northern New Mexico (AWC) is to serve as a resource. We believe the most significant ways we can help turn the tide on overpopulation and neglect in our community are through offering free or low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccine and microchip clinics, and bringing humane education into our schools. In addition, the AWC would love to spearhead a Trap/Neuter/Return program, expand our Food Pantry program, and provide winter support for pets living outdoors.

Noteworthy | Despite pivoting and rebranding in 2022, the AWC retained its focus on the importance of spay/neuter. Since November 2022, the AWC has provided approximately 950 free spay/neuter surgeries, with the number increasing with each clinic. We have hosted five spay/neuter clinics, two vaccine/microchip clinics, and served 636 households.

Athena Fund

Mission | To assist individuals of low or moderate income with veterinary expenses related to cancer care for their pet, including chemotherapy, radiation treatment, pain management, and supportive care.

Proposal | Funds will support animal medical care and services for the pets of low and moderate income individuals.

Noteworthy | Approximately eight million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately four million are cats. Each year, approximately three million animals are euthanized (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Felines & Friends New Mexico

fandfnm.org

Mission | To rescue and place cats in need of a second chance, working towards zero pet overpopulation by facilitating low cost spay/neuter and improving the lives of companion animals through on-going educational programs.

Proposal | We are looking for funding to expand our free and low cost spay/neuter program for the community’s cats. Currently, we are projecting spaying/neutering approximately 100 cats per year at an average of $150 per cat. We would also like to expand our education program in support of spay/ neuter so that the community understands the impact of lack of spay/neuter on the community — including overcrowding of shelters, increased feral populations, abandoned litters of kittens and cats, etc.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico in 2023, 24% of pets entering shelters were euthanized. Although Santa Fe Animal Shelter has attained a “no kill” status in 2023 (which signifies a 90% save rate or better), the save rate for cats is 91.7%, meaning that over 8% of cats entering the shelter are euthanized. Many of these cats are feral, or have health issues due to age, abandonment, abuse, neglect, etc. It is our goal to reduce the number of cats being euthanized at our local shelters due to unwanted litters.

Friends of Estancia Valley Animals

fevanimals1.org

Mission | To help reduce the number of unwanted pets in our communities by providing low cost spay neuter options and educating the public about the importance of spay-neuter in keeping our community pets happy and healthy. Friends of Estancia Valley Animals (FEVA) is an all-volunteer organization that has been partnering with local vets to offer low cost spay/neuter options to the Estancia Valley and East Mountain communities since 2004.

Proposal | We seek funding to continue providing our services. FEVA charges a nominal fee from the pet owner, which has not increased in 20 years, and never rejects an application for lack of funds. We also work with local municipal shelters to help with requests for spay/neuter.

Noteworthy | In six years, if unchecked, a dog mating pair can produce 62,000 puppies. Cats can double that number. Many of these puppies and kittens are euthanized because there are not enough loving homes. FEVA is an all-volunteer organization that has been partnering with local vets to offer low cost spay/neuter options to the Estancia Valley and East Mountain communities since 2004. In 2024 we saw a request for help with 70 dogs and 45 cats.

The Horse Shelter

thehorseshelter.org

Mission | To rescue, rehabilitate, and facilitate the adoption of abused, abandoned, and neglected horses throughout New Mexico.

Proposal | The Horse Shelter currently provides shelter to 96 horses. Between September and December of 2023, we admitted 31 feral horses into rescue, most of them of young age, to save them from going to slaughter. These were all found by the Livestock Board of NM and were in dire need of placement. Training these horses to become good equine citizens will take considerable time and each horse will require at least six months of training, which costs us $1,000 per month/horse.

Noteworthy | In 2023, the Horse Shelter admitted a total of 69 horses into rescue (a 50% increase over 2022) and we were able to adopt 43 horses into good homes (a 65% increase over 2022). After the horses have been vetted, re-fed, and rehabilitated from any medical issues, training is the single most important task and expense on their road to adoption. A well-trained and safe horse is much easier to adopt and also much more likely to stay in their new home.

Horseshoe Canyon Rescue Ranch

horseshoecanyonrescueranch.org

Mission | To ensure that no animal endures the pain and suffering of a life of abandonment and neglect. We provide care, comfort, and compassion to horses and animals in need. A forever home where they will live out their lives in a beautiful natural setting treated with kindness and respect, strengthening the human-animal bond. We committed to rural communities ensuring that every animal and person we touch experiences hope, healing, and a brighter future.

Proposal | Horseshoe Canyon Rescue Ranch (HCRR) addresses the urgent need as our region lacks adequate resources for horse rescue leading to a higher rate of abandonment and neglect. We seek funding to support our rescue operations, veterinary care, facility maintenance, expansion of horse fencing, and specialized training. Additionally, we aim to expand community outreach to promote responsible animal ownership. Your support helps us save lives, build compassionate communities, and ensure a brighter future for these majestic animals.

Noteworthy | On average, it costs $3,000 to rescue and rehabilitate a horse. This past year we have successfully rescued over 20 horses to loving homes, and three horses joined our forever sanctuary at HCRR due to health conditions, daily medical needs, and ongoing veterinary care. We need 1,000 bales of hay each year, specialized feed and supplements to assist in recovery, farrier, veterinary, and dental care. At HCRR we are just finishing the expansion of the horse facility using pipe fencing, ensuring their safety.

Lap Dog Rescue of New Mexico

lapdogrescue.org

Mission | To rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home small companion dogs. Our goal is to place them in loving, forever homes and do this through a rigorous screening and adoption process. We operate strictly through volunteerism, counting on the generosity of others and of ourselves to further our mission.

Proposal | We cannot keep up with the demands of taking in dogs from shelters and individuals, so we have developed a program to reduce unwanted pregnancies and shelter over-population by providing low cost/no cost spays and neuters using a voucher system and the cooperation of local Veterinarians.

Noteworthy | Each year, New Mexico’s animal shelters take in over 135,000 homeless, lost and abandoned dogs and cats; of these, over 65,000 are euthanized annually (Animal Protection New Mexico).

Light In the Desert Sanctuary

facebook.com/lightinthedesert

Mission | To provide the best quality of life in our permanent care sanctuary for abandoned, abused, and neglected dogs in New Mexico. We focus on dogs that have previously been deemed unadoptable. Many of our dogs are from hoarding cases or were on the euthanasia list in New Mexico shelters. We are a 100% volunteer organization.

Proposal | Recently, we have been partnering with other local animal rescues, and we would like to bring in a trainer to assess some of our dogs that we believe, with some training, could be adoptable. We would also have the trainer work with these dogs so that they learn the necessary behaviors to become family pets. This will require funds that we currently do not have.

Noteworthy | Light in the Desert Sanctuary was formed when we pulled 73 dogs from an abuse/ hoarding situation in 2019. All but 24 were adopted out and those that weren’t remain at the sanctuary. We also brought in other dogs from euthanasia lists and many of those were adopted out as well. Although most of the dogs were unsocialized, now are accustomed to people and exhibit friendly behaviors when someone comes to the kennel to feed them or give them water. We believe that some of these dogs could be trained to become household pets.

Max & Tucker Canine Welfare Fund

Mission | Established by a single donor, the Max and Tucker Canine Welfare Fund assists individuals of low or moderate income over age 60 with veterinarian expenses for their companion dog.

Proposal | Your gift will support treatment for a curable condition for seniors’ pets.

Noteworthy | Seniors who own a dog spend an average of 22 more minutes per day staying active and take an additional 2,760 steps per day (globalnews.ca).

New Mexico Horse Rescue at Walkin N Circles Ranch

wncr.org

Mission | To provide all rescued equines with new beginnings and productive lives with caring adopters. We are also dedicated to educating the community on responsible equine care and handling to help ensure safe, healthy futures for all equines. New Mexico Horse Rescue at Walkin N Circles Ranch, Inc. (WNCT) is a nonprofit organization that has rehabilitated, trained, and found adoptive homes for abandoned, abused, and neglected equines since 2002.

Proposal | We seek support to expand our equine rescue efforts, ensuring comprehensive care, consistent training, and successful rehoming for atrisk horses, donkeys, and mules in our community.

Noteworthy | In 2024, our herd experienced notable expansion, with a 32% increase overall and a staggering 400% rise in unsocialized equines alone. This increase results in extended stays, significantly escalating our costs for food, medical care, farrier services, and training. Feeding an equine is a substantial ongoing expense for WNCR. On average, it costs approximately $6 per day to feed a single horse, with 50 horses on the property, and sometimes more, this means feed alone costs $300 or more a day.

New Mexico Wildlife Center

newmexicowildlifecenter.org

Mission | To connect people and wildlife through conservation education and rehabilitation because a world with wildlife is a better world.

Proposal | For more than three decades, New Mexico Wildlife Center has been providing veterinary care and rehabilitation to injured, ill, and orphaned native wildlife with a goal of releasing these animals back into the wild. General operating support allows us to continue providing care to the 900-1,000 wild patients brought to us annually by the general public from across the state. New Mexico Wildlife Center (NMWC) provides its services free of charge and relies on the generosity of donors and grant funding to support its work.

Noteworthy | NMWC is one of very few facilities providing veterinary care and rehabilitation to wildlife. NMWC is unique in having the only Level 2 veterinarian working full-time in wildlife care in the state. Since opening in 1986, over 30,000 animals of more than 260 species have been treated in our hospital. A key part of our work is New Mexico’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need. From 2006 through 2023, we cared for over 800 animals representing 25 Species of Greatest Conservation Need species.

Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project

nmshap.org

Mission | To alleviate suffering of companion animals living as bonded family in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico’s homeless communities. Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project (SHAP) provides vital veterinary care (preventative, emergency, spay/neuter) for these beloved companion animals living with their homeless guardians, as well as food, water, harnesses, leashes, and other supplies. We are the only nonprofit offering all these critical services for the companion animals of our homeless amidst this challenging community crisis.

Proposal | Your support provides vet care, food, and supplies for companion animals living with their homeless, guardian families. Companion animals ease depression, loneliness, provide emotional support, and a reason to keep going in tough times. As a unique, nonprofit treasure in Santa Fe, SHAP does this life-sustaining work every day. We’ve built essential trust within the homeless community by working one-on-one, seven days a week. Please help keep our vital work in motion, sometimes love has no address.

Noteworthy | Since 1998, we’ve helped the northern New Mexico homeless community with this crucial support. Each year, we handle 299+ client calls for help with 38% being under age 21. Demand for aid increases each month. 26% of homeless folks have companion animals for protection, unconditional love, and to ease mental/emotional stress. We offer a hands-on Street Team approach that communicates directly with homeless families. We assess situations, provide support, and offer compassionate understanding without judgment.

Pueblo of San Felipe Department of Natural Resources

sfpueblo.com

Mission | To protect, conserve, sustain, and manage the land, water, and air resources of the Pueblo for enhancement and the beneficial purposes of this and future generations in a manner that reflects the cultural and traditional beliefs of San Felipe Pueblo and its Tribal Council.

Proposal | There is an abundance of horses on the Pueblo of San Felipe range lands. The wild horses are considered wildlife here on the Pueblo. They have a place on the land, and have been here from time immemorial. However, changes over time including the transition to a motorized society, increased urbanization of the state, prolonged drought, and lack of funding from the federal trustee to manage the rangeland has resulted in a system out of balance and both the horses and the range suffer.

Noteworthy | The problems in New Mexico and across the West stem largely from herd overpopulation. There are around 300,000 freeroaming horses, including on tribal lands, according to a July 2021 study in the Journal of Wildlife Management (stateline.org). “The bottom line is Rome is burning,” said Terry Messmer, a professor of wildland resources at Utah State University and one of the study’s authors. “You have to be innovative in seeking some of these solutions, and we have to do it now.”

PHOTO: NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STREET HOMELESS ANIMAL PROJECT

The Santa Fe Raptor Center

santaferaptorcenter.org

Mission | To provide excellent and necessary care to all injured and orphaned wild birds that come our way, with the goal of returning these animals back to the wild. Additionally, our educational goals are to engage, excite, and interact with the public using our non-releasable birds at public and private venues, with an emphasis on children’s programs.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Raptor Center’s funding requests are to aid with nutritional and medical needs for rescued birds. This includes food, vitamins, and medication, which are the bulk of where requests support these animals. The dietary needs are as diverse as the birds rescued, which usually require vitamin and mineral supplements for the those being rehabbed. Special medication for leadpoisoned eagles is necessary as we get them in yearly. Generous donations sustain birds for release.

Noteworthy | Requesting capital for food and nutrition is a necessary part of our work and success. Food and vitamin supplements are an integral part of keeping birds healthy and continuing their healing. One third of the birds that come to us are in starvation with the rest being at risk, needing attention. Their inability to hunt from another injury or illness perpetuates this. Starvation requires special formulas which must be ready for starvation cases. Nutritional care is a big part of this work.

Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary

skymountainwild.org

Mission | To create healthy ecosystems for wild horses and other wildlife while giving refuge to vulnerable mustangs where they roam free forever.

Proposal | Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary (SMWHS) works for healthy wild horses, healthy wildlife, and healthy range lands. We balance herd numbers with range capacity by reducing reproduction via the immunocontraceptive PZP. We’ve treated 65% of herd mares on the 55,000 acre forest of this project. Using immunocontraception science, technology, and on-going results monitoring is a more humane, cost-effective, and livable way forward for wild horses now and in the future. We request funding for PZP treatment and project monitoring.

Noteworthy | National Academy of Science researchers have noted that the primary management practice of round up and removal of wild horses is facilitating high rates of population growth, requiring more removals (National Academy of Sciences, 2013). Today, 63,034 wild horses and burros live in government holding facilities after removal from the range, at a cost of over $108 million in 2023 alone (Bureau of Land Management).

WildEarth Guardians

wildearthguardians.org

Mission | To protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West. A key focus area is working to protect wild species and to shift the paradigm of wildlife management across the West from persecution to protection.

Founded in Santa Fe in 1989, WildEarth Guardians takes bold action and has been a relentless voice for the vulnerable for over three decades, working at the local, state, and federal level to push for lasting change.

Proposal | The WildEarth Guardians’ Wildlife program is focusing our energy on several key campaigns, ranging from protecting wild and endangered species to fundamentally reforming Wildlife Services. Our work spans across New Mexico and the American West, weaving coexistence into our work to protect critical habitat and healthy rivers. We seek partners in this work and funding to assist with our ongoing, successful work to protect critical species and habitat in New Mexico. Join us in this fight for the wild!

Noteworthy | In April of 2022, a ban on traps, snares, and poisons on over 30 million acres of public lands across New Mexico went into effect following a decade of advocacy by WildEarth Guardians. Using the things we learned doing this work, we are focused on similar bans in states like Nevada. We have also continued to focus our efforts on strategic and lasting protections for threatened species like beavers in New Mexico and wolves, grizzlies, lynx, and lesser prairie chickens across the West.

Wildlife for All

wildlifeforall.us

Mission | To reform wildlife management in the U.S. to be more democratic, just, compassionate, and focused on protecting wild species and ecosystems.

Proposal | Wildlife for All seeks support to expand our campaign to prevent animal cruelty by reforming New Mexico’s wildlife management policies. Through legislative and regulatory changes, we aim to reduce bias toward trophy hunting and ensure compassionate, science-based protections for maligned carnivores like black bears, mountain lions, and wolves, fostering a more just and humane approach to wildlife stewardship.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico, where nearly 40% of native vertebrate species are left unprotected by the current wildlife management system, carnivores like cougars, wolves, and bears are particularly vulnerable to cruelty. With a state agency lacking the legal mandate to protect this natural diversity and the will to listen to diverse constituents who value native carnivores, comprehensive legislative reform is urgently needed to prevent animal cruelty and ensure the humane treatment of all wildlife.

Arts & Culture

RESULT: ARTS AND CULTURE IS CELEBRATED AND REFLECTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• Sense of community – residents feeling connected to the community and each other

• Openness and acceptance of the community toward people of diverse backgrounds

• Diverse participation in art and cultural community programs and events Preservation and strengthening of cultural and historical heritage, traditions, and a creative economy

Through direct service, policy advocacy and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Lifting up and preserving cultural and historical heritage, tradition, and assets of the region;

• Using art as a bridge to communicate across cultures and languages and build transformational relationships to advance equity;

• Using art, culture, language, and community stories to shift narratives, shape public conversations, and influence policy;

• Improving access to arts and cultural programs to benefit youth and families who otherwise would not have the opportunities; and/or

• Systems change, including public policy, civic engagement, community organizing or public information to preserve and strengthen the arts and cultural segment of the creative economy locally.

PHOTO: SANTA FE PLAYHOUSE

516 ARTS

516arts.org

Mission | To connect contemporary artists and diverse audiences. 516 ARTS presents relevant exhibitions and public programs, which feature a mix of local, national, and international artists, and inspire curiosity and creative experimentation. 516 ARTS is a non-collecting contemporary art museum that celebrates thought-provoking art in the here and now.

Proposal | 516 ARTS requests funds to enhance its capacity for supporting and presenting innovative, socially relevant contemporary art exhibitions and educational programming, with a focus on Indigenous and Latinx perspectives.

Noteworthy | Since 2006, 516 ARTS has worked with over 1,500 established and emerging local, national, and international artists. Always seeking to increase the support of artists, 516 ARTS established the Fulcrum Fund in 2016 with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and has distributed more than $800k in unrestricted grants to over 320 independent artists and art spaces in New Mexico. In 2022, 516 ARTS received a prestigious five-year grant from the Ford Foundation to bolster our Latinx Initiative.

Alas De Agua Art Collective

alasdeagua.com

Mission | To provide resources and opportunities for artists of color, Native artists, immigrant, undocumented, and queer artists who have been marginalized and not afforded the same resources, both historically and in the present day. Alas De Agua Art Collective is an intersectional grass roots space that removes barriers and goes around them. We believe in abundance where there seems to be scarcity. We believe in compassionate conflict. We help support artistic visions that are counter narratives to dominant culture.

Proposal | We are a BIPOC-led grassroots organization requesting operational funds in support of our southside Santa Fe-based arts program. The funding will cover facility costs and program administration.

Noteworthy | We are the only People of Color arts organization that is fully BIPOC and provides art resources and services on the southside to youth and adults. We are the only BIPOC arts organization housed near Airport Rd. Our summer arts program provides an enriching and intensive opportunity to 20 BIPOC teens every summer. We have been around for seven years and our Barrio Arts School Summer program has serviced the community for three years now. We want to create sustainable funds for our organization to thrive.

The Archaeological Conservancy

archaeologicalconservancy.org

Mission | To build a national system of archaeological preserves that ensures the survival of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. The Archaeological Conservancy is the only national nonprofit organization that identifies, acquires, and preserves the most significant archaeological sites in the U.S. Since its beginning in 1980, the Conservancy has preserved more than 585 sites across the nation, ranging in age from the earliest habitation sites in North America to a 19th-century frontier army post.

Proposal | The Archaeological Conservancy is requesting funds for general support. This will help all our preservation efforts including acquisition, maintenance, and site interpretation.

Noteworthy | In the 1840s, the Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution surveyed the ancient mound builder sites of the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. During the survey, investigators recorded over 20,000 mound sites. Today, archaeologists estimate that less than 1,000 of those sites remain. Looting, road construction, agricultural practices, erosion, and increasing development have contributed to the leveling of mounds and destruction of sites.

Art Through The Loom

Weavers Guild

artthroughtheloom.org

Mission | To promote the exchange of techniques and ideas, to further the expertise of weavers and other fiber artists, and to further the knowledge of New Mexico residents and visitors of the history, tradition, variety, and quality of weaving, spinning, dyeing, and related fiber arts fields in New Mexico.

Proposal | We are a local guild of fiber artists, each of whom own their own fiber arts business. We wish to get financial support for hosting events and shows that introduce children and families to the rich world of fiber arts in New Mexico, starting with the animals that produce the local fiber to the finished goods our guild members create that are made from animal fibers and worn everywhere in the state.

Noteworthy | In the past two years, the Art Through The Loom Weavers Guild hosted two introductory fiber arts events that were each well attended by 200-300 people. These events were held at a Santa Fe Library. We brought three alpacas for attendees to see and feed. Eight to 10 guild members participated in these events by demonstrating combing, spinning, weaving, and needle felting. Visitors were able to weave their own bookmark or wet felt their own coaster. We have a third one scheduled in October at the Children’s Museum.

ArtWalk Santa Fe

artwalksantafe.com

Mission | To provide New Mexico artists at all levels, and especially those whose careers are emerging, with low-barrier opportunities to sell their goods, get exposure, and connect with the Santa Fe community through our monthly arts and crafts markets and networking events. Our long-term vision is to become a leading source of opportunities and a resource hub for New Mexico’s artists at all levels, from emergent to seasoned. ArtWalk was created by two local women artists in 2021.

Proposal | ArtWalk Santa Fe is actively seeking sponsors and funding for our monthly arts & crafts and networking events. Supporting our organization means providing opportunities for local artists, especially emerging artists, to establish and grow their businesses, while helping us activate a variety of locations throughout the city.

Noteworthy | We have a database of 413 local artists (and growing!) that have signed up to be invited to our monthly events to sell their creations. Depending on the venue, we can fit anywhere between 25-65 artists each month, but about 100 apply for each event, which means every time we host an event we have a waitlist; this is testament of the need for these types of low-barrier opportunities in our arts community. In 2023, we generated over $100,000 in economic development for our participating artists.

ArtWorks

sfpartnersineducation.org

Mission | To marshal resources and create alliances to foster excellence in Santa Fe’s public schools. The Partners in Education Foundation for the Santa Fe Public Schools (Partners) is an independent nonprofit organization. As a program of Partners, ArtWorks seeks to make the arts personally meaningful to Santa Fe’s public school students and teachers through an integrated program of art-making, viewing live performances and exhibits, and achieving understanding through inquiry and reflection.

Proposal | For over 20 years, ArtWorks, a program of Partners, has been connecting the public school community with Santa Fe’s worldclass art museums and performances. ArtWorks pairs professional teaching artists with local arts institutions and public school classrooms in a series of inquiry-driven workshops that build lasting community connections, nurture creative potential, and provide the opportunity for continued arts integration in the classroom. Funding will directly support these workshops.

Noteworthy | ArtWorks reaches more than 75 Santa Fe Public School classroom teachers and over 1,800 Santa Fe Public School students on average every year, 76% of whom come from economically disadvantaged families. Research has shown that economically disadvantaged young people who have high levels of arts engagement and arts learning experiences are more likely than their peers to succeed academically and become more active and engaged citizens (March 2012, The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth, National Endowment for the Arts).

Atrisco Heritage Foundation

traditionalspanishmarket.org

Mission | To promote and preserve New Mexico’s ancestral and cultural heritage. Through the Traditional Spanish Market, founded in 1926, the Foundation celebrates New Mexico’s artistic and cultural essence, seeking to educate, promote, and safeguard this rich and unique cultural heritage by providing an immersive experience for the community where the history of Spanish Colonial Art comes to life in Santa Fe’s Historic Plaza.

Proposal | The Traditional Spanish Market seeks funding to support New Mexico’s artist community and preserve cultural art forms while creating a memorable experience for locals and visitors. The Market fosters economic opportunities and nurtures a youth market where young people are mentored by juried artists and learn ancestral traditions. By preserving these unique artistic practices, we aim to safeguard an essential part of New Mexico’s cultural heritage, keeping our rich history alive and vibrant.

Noteworthy | In 2023, the Traditional Spanish Market’s attendance figures underscored its cultural and economic significance. Drawing nearly 10,000 visitors, with an impressive 4,000+ from out of state. This highlights the market’s crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and driving local economic growth. The attendance alone emphasizes the event’s importance as a regional attraction, bringing diverse audiences together and showcasing the enduring appeal of Spanish traditional arts and crafts.

Canyon Road Summer Walk

canyonroadsummerwalk.com

Mission | To breathe new life into this historic artery, creating a dynamic, living museum that honors the past, actively shapes Santa Fe’s artistic future, and sets an example for sustainable cultural tourism. Our goal is to ensure that Canyon Road remains a thriving artistic and community hub for generations to come, while respecting and preserving the natural environment that has inspired artists for centuries.

Proposal | Our funding request is largely to support security, traffic directors, signage, and other safety measures. The rest goes to local artists, musicians, and businesses. Surveys from businesses and attendees show that we brought locals and a wide range of demographics to Canyon Road. Our event has also directly led to art and retail sales on Canyon Road, with some businesses doubling and tripling their usual revenue during our event. Both participants and attendees are all thrilled with the events.

Noteworthy | We hold five events total each summer. The approximate number of attendees per event is 2,500+ (geofencing data), and 100% of funds have gone directly back into the community. Each event has 60 participating Canyon Road businesses and 85+ participating local businesses. The cost to produce each event is $12,000.

Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe ccasantafe.org

Mission | The Center for Contemporary Arts celebrates the creativity of our community, through our cinema and arts, generating transformative experiences designed to ignite minds and connect people.

Proposal | Since 1979, the Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe (CCA) has operated as a welcoming, community-based arts center. Each week, CCA presents the best independent and foreign films and documentaries, contemporary classical music, immersive theater, contemporary visual arts, and more. We also host many events each year for other Santa Fe nonprofits at our facility. Your gift will help ensure the year-round community programming we feature at this treasured local institution.

Noteworthy | Our weekly activities now attract more than 40,000 annual visitors to CCA, and readers of the Santa Fe Reporter recently voted CCA one of the Best Nonprofits for the Arts and Best Movie Houses in Santa Fe. Collaboration is key to our success, and we’re proud to have Chatter (music), Exodus Ensemble (theater), and Tia Collection (visual arts) as artistic partners. CCA also serves as the main venue for the annual Santa Fe International Film Festival, the largest film festival in New Mexico.

Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association

chimayomuseum.org

Mission | To celebrate and preserve the living culture, land, and history of the Chimayó region.

The Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association’s (CCPA) goals include fostering community pride and encouraging community members to preserve and sustain Chimayó’s cultural heritage; educating the community and young people through active outreach; and preserving and protecting historic buildings, agricultural land, and water essential to the cultural heritage of the Chimayó region.

Proposal | The Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association seeks general operating support to maintain core programs and the Chimayó Museum, support our cultural programming and events, and foster community-led efforts to restore the historic Plaza del Cerro to a community hub where Chimayo’s cultural history is alive.

Noteworthy | The Plaza del Cerro is one of the most celebrated, and least protected, historic sites in northern New Mexico. Scholars have noted its significance as “the best surviving example of a Spanish colonial plaza in the Southwest,” but it has received almost no preservation funding. General operating support would increase the CCPA’s capacity to develop a community-led master planning process to restore the Plaza del Cerro as a community hub.

Classical 95.5 KHFM

khfm.org

Mission | To provide access, without cost, to classical music for New Mexican audiences and beyond on the air and online. To promote, provide, and support live music, the performing and visual arts, and arts continuing education in New Mexico. To promote New Mexico arts and artists worldwide.

Proposal | KHFM requests general operations support for the station, which provides classical music around the clock, on air and streaming, to 40,000 listeners per week at no charge, and which supports the local performing and visual arts ecosystem in the state of New Mexico by bringing awareness to local events and performances, and by connecting listeners to the arts organizations in their communities.

Noteworthy | Many find the cost of a night at the symphony or opera to be out of reach, especially in a state like New Mexico, which has persistently high poverty rates (the highest in the nation in 2022). At KHFM, we believe that all people deserve access to the centuries-old art form of classical music, and we provide that resource for free, day-in and dayout. In addition, we partner with more than 60 arts organizations in the Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, Ruidoso, and Roswell areas to highlight their work.

Coro de Cámara

corodecamara-nm.org

Mission | To enrich northern New Mexico with captivating chamber choral music. We are dedicated to excellence through a diverse repertoire and innovative programming, sharing our artistry with the community through concerts, outreach, and educational opportunities for students.

Proposal | Coro de Cámara is an amateur, auditioned chamber chorus creating enchanting choral music for northern New Mexico, educating and developing area musicians of all ages, from seasoned singers to promising youth, as evidenced through rigorous rehearsals and an apprentice program for young singers. Over our 36 years of operation, we’ve amassed a library of music scores by diverse composers; this year we hope to purchase insurance for our music to protect it for many more seasons to come.

Noteworthy | Communities with a vibrant arts scene report 18% higher civic engagement and a 50% higher rate of volunteerism compared to communities with fewer artistic opportunities

Creative Santa Fe

creativesantafe.org

Mission | To drive positive change in Santa Fe and throughout New Mexico, partnering with missionfocused organizations. We advance community initiatives geared toward building a more vibrant, inclusive, and adaptive future.

Proposal | For nearly 20 years, Creative Santa Fe has bridged silos and created meaningful community engagements to educate, inspire, and rally aligned actions to advance initiatives that fosters creative placemaking and entrepreneurship. Our current flagship initiative is PechaKucha Night, which is a quarterly storytelling night celebrating local changemakers and creatives from all walks of life. These gatherings showcase the diversity, creativity, and cultural richness of Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | Creative Santa Fe’s PechaKucha Night Initiative provides a platform for approximately 32 presenters and 1,000 audience members annually, ranging from 11-80+ years old. Presenter gender profiles include 7% non-binary, 53% women, and 40% men. Diversity profiles include 34% People of Color and 66% Anglo. Through PechaKucha Night’s global platform, we also elevate our community on the global stage. There are over 32,000 online views from our most recent 20 events. PechaKucha Night is co-presented with SITE Santa Fe.

Dancing Earth Creations

dancingearth.org

Mission | To create contemporary dance and related arts through global-Indigenous and intercultural relationships centered in ecological and cultural diversity for creativity, health, and wellness. Dancing Earth Creations is fiscally sponsored by the New Mexico Dance Coalition.

Proposal | Dancing Earth’s annual Summer Institute, “Dream Visions: Intercultural Eco-Arts festival,” ignites Global-to-Local Climate Justice arts advocacy in Santa Fe and beyond with EcoArtivism education and experiences, featuring community workshops and performances led by world-class international, national, and local cultural artist leaders. Our 2025 focus is Water; from water issues/rights to sacred water dances, shifting hearts towards repair of our relationship with this precious force of Life.

Noteworthy | “Climate change observations indicate that the already water-stressed lands in the Southwest United States are becoming increasingly drier as warmer temperatures increase evaporation and reduce soil moisture. The Southwest will also experience more precipitation variability including extreme precipitation events that cause disruptive flooding. Since 2000, the Southwest experienced a “megadrought” that were the driest ~24 years in 1,200 years.” - Pacific Institute, March 2024

El Rancho de las Golondrinas

golondrinas.org

Mission | To protect the legacy of the land and the cultural traditions of New Mexico.

Proposal | El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is the Southwest’s premier living history museum. Located in the lush La Cienega Valley, our costumed interpreters bring history to life through demonstrations of weaving, blacksmithing, horno baking, tin smithing and more; they encourage visitors to get hands-on with history. Las Golondrinas is open June through October and welcomes over 55,000 visitors each year, 20,000 under age 18. We seek funding for the day-to-day running of our 500-acre museum.

Noteworthy | Unlike a four walls museum, our entire 500-acre property is our collection and exhibition space. We feature 34 historic buildings, a nationally registered acequia, wetlands, mature cottonwood trees, agricultural fields, heritage churro sheep, goats, burros, bees and more. Las Golondrinas is open June-October. Funding will help us continue to maintain this incredible New Mexico treasure.

Ensemble Music New Mexico

chatterabq.org

Mission | To create approachable and authentic musical experiences. Chatter performs in unconventional, intimate venues and offers adventurous programming, interweaving new and traditional classical music. Chatter offers engagement between musicians and audience, plus challenging opportunities for professional musicians. Chatter brings music and poetry together every week, and brings youth to the stage and to the audience.

Proposal | Ensemble Music New Mexico requests funding to support our weekly Chatter North concerts at the Center for Contemporary Arts. Each program features 40-45 minutes of classical and contemporary chamber music performed by local professional musicians, along with 10 minutes of poetry/spoken word and a two minute celebration of silence.

Noteworthy | The number of paid admissions expected for Chatter’s Santa Fe events over the next year is 6,500.

The Exodus Ensemble

exodusensemble.com

Mission | To redefine and reimagine theater through original, immersive, and transcendent theatrical experiences that thrust audiences into the epicenter of the story. Our innovative, donationbased model broadens our reach, allowing us to engage diverse audiences with immersive adaptations of classic texts.

Proposal | The Exodus Ensemble is Santa Fe’s only professional immersive theater company, presenting over 100 performances each year of innovative adaptations of classic texts using a repertory model — completely free to the public. By operating on a 100% donation model, we attract a diverse range of audiences and provide many with their first experience of live theater. We seek funds for our 2025 performance season that includes seven original adaptations of classic texts to audiences free of charge.

Noteworthy | The Exodus Ensemble was awarded the 2023 Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the category of innovator as well as the 2023 New Mexico Entertainment Award for Top Performing Arts Group.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

okeeffemuseum.org

Mission | To celebrate the art, life, and independent spirit of Georgia O’Keeffe. Inspired by O’Keeffe’s remarkable story, the Museum champions creativity and lifelong learning for local, national, and global audiences. Through its programs and services, the O’Keeffe strives to be relevant and responsive to the needs of its community by centering the people, landscapes, and cultures of northern New Mexico.

PHOTO: TOMORROW’S WOMEN

Proposal | The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum requests support for Art to G.O., a new mobile art studio that expands access to creative learning opportunities for children and adults in communities throughout New Mexico. In collaboration with schools, libraries, and community organizations, Art to G.O. provides free hands-on creative projects in painting, drawing, printmaking, and more led by local teaching artists in safe, trusted neighborhood settings where families live, work, and play.

Noteworthy | In its first year on the road, the Art to G.O. truck has traveled more than 7,500 miles, expanding the Museum’s reach beyond Santa Fe and Abiquiú to connect with communities in Albuquerque, Farmington, Roswell, and Taos, as well as Jemez Pueblo and Santa Clara Pueblo. Onboard are the tools and supplies needed to provide handson art projects tailored to the needs and interests of each community partner. To date, Art to G.O. has served more than 2,060 families in 78 unique events.

High Country Supported Living

hcsliving.org

Mission | To create a community living and learning center for New Mexicans of all abilities where culture, art, land, and diversity are celebrated. In addition to offering residential opportunities, High Country Supported Living (HCSL) offers free Day Programs that incorporate the natural environment of its rural property in Jacona, New Mexico with visual art, music, movement, and cooking activities that are engaging and educationally appropriate for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Proposal | Adults with intellectual disabilities have historically been one of the most underserved populations in northern New Mexico. Once these young people graduate from high school, they lose their school communities they have relied on for learning new skills and social interactions. HCSL requests support to re-create this sense of community through its free Day Programs where young disabled adults can nurture friendships, increase their access to the arts, and learn how to become more independent.

Noteworthy | According to the CDC, 15% of New Mexico adults have a cognitive disability and, of that number, 40% experience depression. HCSL’s Day Programs create a welcoming environment where intellectually disabled adults can develop thriving social connections with their peers and experience the joy of self-expression through the visual arts, music, dance, and cooking. HCSL’s Day Programs offer intellectually disabled adults an opportunity to become engaged members of a stimulating and creative community.

Historic Santa Fe Foundation

historicsantafe.org

Mission | To preserve, protect, and promote the historic properties and diverse cultural heritage of the Santa Fe area, and to educate the public about Santa Fe’s history and the importance of preservation.

Proposal | Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF) hosts monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly exhibits on New Mexico architectural preservation, local arts, and New Mexico’s cultural heritage, along with other mission-related programming. Each exhibition features artwork, visuals, interpretation panels, expert or artist-led talks, workshops, and public programming. HSFF displays relevant books and archival materials from our reading room connected to the exhibitions.

Noteworthy | Our preservation initiatives began in 1961 with our Register of Properties Worthy of Preservation now with over 100 sites. We offer 14 unique preservation easements, partnering with homeowners to preserve their historical features in perpetuity. In 2025, we celebrate 20 years of our hands-on preservation internship for graduate students. The Endangered Properties Program aids low-income families in repairing historic homes. Our education program supports students through two Fellowships.

IndigenousWays

indigenousways.org

Mission | To promote living in balance for diverse communities through music, arts, outreach, and events. Our vision is to reach Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through outreach with music, the arts, and Indigenous Wisdom that creates and enhances survival and sustainability. IndigenousWays bridges cultural exchange with people globally.

Proposal | On January 15, 2025, the IndigenousWays Wisdom Circle (IWWC) program series is to be presented at the Vital Spaces Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico. IWWC scholars, artists, and presenters are connected in our shared mission statement; to serve Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and Deaf & Hard of Hearing, and all allied communities, to preserve Indigenous Wisdom, to promote healing and social justice, and to enrich others to be a part of our ways of being through humanities and the arts.

Noteworthy | Our IWWC program creates relevant expressions to work towards creative solutions, and promotes healing and social justice to enrich all others to be a part of our ways of being through the arts and humanities. Unemployment rates for Native Americans nationally stood at 10.5%; suicide is their second leading cause of death; 54% of Americans say parents should be able to opt their children out of learning about 2S issues; and more than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents (2024).

Institute of Contemporary Art, Santa Fe

icasantafe.org

Mission | To support artistic practice through the creation of exhibitions, performances, research, and publications for a diverse public audience. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Santa Fe is dedicated to the exchange of ideas across disciplines, cultures, and generations through the arts.

Proposal | The Institute of Contemporary Art, Santa Fe is a dynamic arts platform that hosts a rigorous cross-pollination of ideas and practices to explore and build creative and sustainable culture. Funding will support diverse programs featuring artists, thinkers, and practitioners, centering artistic practice and imagination as catalysts for social engagement and change.

Noteworthy | Three artists were given $10,000 to create new commissioned visual art projects. Three artists were given $3,000 for new commissioned performance projects. 10 artists were given $500 for additional performance projects. 67 community members attended workshops. There were approximately 1,000 in-person and 1,000 online attendees at events, including performances, lectures, and screenings.

The International Folk Art Market

folkartmarket.org

Mission | To create economic opportunities for and with folk artists worldwide who celebrate and preserve folk art traditions. The International Folk Art Market (IFAM) envisions a world that values the dignity and humanity of the handmade, honors timeless cultural traditions, and supports the work of artisans serving as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change.

Proposal | Every summer, IFAM transforms Santa Fe into a global cultural hub, welcoming over 150 international artists. This extraordinary gathering not only fosters economic opportunities worldwide but also creates a space for profound cultural exchange. The Market enriches the lives of artists and attendees alike, celebrating diversity and sparking meaningful dialogue. IFAM seeks operational support to further promote global perspectives and foster harmony in our community and around the world.

Noteworthy | IFAM brings the world to Santa Fe. In 2024, IFAM welcomed 18,500 visitors to its 20th anniversary festival, including over 10,000 New Mexico families and youth. The Market provides a rare opportunity for our local community to engage with artists from over 50 different countries — sharing diverse cultural traditions, languages, art, and customs.

Juneteenth New Mexico

Mission | To provide and promote positive cultural, social, and educational programs, events, and activities to the citizens and communities of New Mexico.

Proposal | A week-long camp, the Juneteenth African-American Academic and Arts Camp, filled with positive cultural activities offered to youth ages 10-14 focusing on African-American leaders in New Mexico past and present.

Noteworthy | The Juneteenth African American Arts and Academic Camp was created in 2020 during Covid. The camps have operated in two states, one camp in Las Vegas, Nevada and four camps in Omaha, Nebraska for a total of five successful camps. We have also been successful in recruiting 10 to 15 participants with the retention of 11 students completing the camp.

KMRD Inc

kmrd.fm

Mission | To provide a platform for diverse local content and cultivating meaningful communication. With operating principles rooted in participation and accessibility, KMRD serves the extended community of Madrid, New Mexico, as a grassroots resource for entertainment, information, skillbuilding, and creative social connection. KMRD-LP is a freeform, volunteer-run, commercial-free, and listener-supported Low Power FM community radio station.

Proposal | KMRD-LP 96.9FM Madrid Community Radio seeks multi-year, unrestricted funding to expand its role as a rural media hub, enhancing local quality of life through broadened outreach, strengthened community connections, and expanded educational opportunities. This support will address governance and capacity challenges, enabling deeper volunteer engagement, improved financial stability, and more impactful programming for our diverse audience.

Noteworthy | KMRD, a community media outlet in a rural, unincorporated Santa Fe County, serves as a critical resource by hosting over 90 individual volunteers weekly and potentially reaching more than 15,000 listeners on the FM dial. Through promoting access, encouraging participation, and offering diverse programming, KMRD actively contributes to economic justice and strengthens rural resilience.

Media Arts Center San Diego

mediaartscenter.org/home/about-us/fiscal-sponsorship

Mission | To support the development of a documentary film exploring the life of a remarkable 19th century Catholic priest and political leader from northern New Mexico whose story has been erased from our regional history. As a longtime filmmaker in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, Paul Espinosa, who grew up in New Mexico, is exploring the historical, cultural, and multi-generational connections between his own family and that of Padre Antonio José Martínez, who lived in Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos counties.

Proposal | We seek support for preproduction activities, including travel, interviews, and research in historical sites and archives in Abiquiu, El Rito, Santa Cruz, Embudo, and Chimayó. Espinosa’s ancestors were contemporaries of Martínez, living in the same towns. Neither they nor Martínez crossed the border, the border crossed them. The film presents the rich cultural heritage of New Mexicans to a general audience, shifting the narrative for those who often associate Latinos only with recent immigration.

Noteworthy | Today, as we witness alarming assaults on our democratic institutions, our film presents an overdue re-telling of the birth of our democracy from the site of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Educated in a Jesuit seminary in Durango, Padre Martinez was an activist priest who believed that education was critical for democracy to flourish. He taught people like Espinosa’s ancestors, who became citizens of a democracy almost overnight, how to read, write, and participate in their community’s civic life.

Nat Gold Players

natgoldplayers.com

Mission | To entertain, educate, and inspire through the performing arts. Politicians and business people may determine next week or even next year’s world, but it is the artists who determine the direction for humanity. Societal forecaster Joel Lapin essentially says that the future is determined not by those who control but by those who inspire. Nat Gold Players (NGP) seeks to do just that for the people of the Las Vegas, New Mexico area.

Proposal | As part of the process of renovating a theatre in a historic building, NGP is currently striving to raise $50,000 for productions and key renovations.

Noteworthy | The nonprofit community theatre sector contributed $2.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2019 (SMU DataArts, National Center for Arts Research). Theatre has a direct impact on economies. As Keating said in the movie Dead Poets Society, “The human race is filled with passion, poetry, beauty, romance, and love. This is what we stay alive for.” Community theatre touches the heart, and when the heart is touched, people and communities have the will to build, to believe, to succeed.

National Institute of Flamenco

nifnm.org

Mission | To preserve and promote flamenco’s artistry, history, and culture by presenting the finest flamenco in the world and by educating the American family in this art form while emphasizing the positive influence of art on family and community.

Proposal | The National Institute of Flamenco respectfully requests support to expand its Flamenco in Your Neighborhood program into San Miguel and Santa Fe counties, offering free flamenco classes, supplies, subsidized performance attendance, and cultural engagement opportunities to underserved communities, while ensuring equitable compensation for local teaching artists. This support will empower youth and families by fostering community engagement, cultural enrichment, and access to flamenco.

Noteworthy | On average, Flamenco in Your Neighborhood has engaged approximately 500 students per season across six seasons from Fall 2022 to Summer 2024. This consistent and significant level of participation underscores the program’s impact and the importance of securing continued funding to sustain and grow these opportunities for New Mexico communities.

The New Mexico Actors Lab

nmactorslab.com

Mission | To focus on the work of the actor in plays that touch the heart and challenge the mind. Our ensemble of professional actors, directors, and designers is dedicated to collaboration, experimentation, and outreach.

Proposal | New Mexico Actors Lab seeks funding for a season of five fully-staged theater productions and free readings of new scripts by playwrights from marginalized groups, followed by Talk Backs to engage the audiences in dialogue about the plays. The readings will be free and open to the public, with particular outreach aimed at community members who don’t typically attend theater performances. Readings also help determine future fully-staged productions.

Noteworthy | A 2019 report by Americans for the Arts found that among local arts agency grantmaking organizations, the largest 16% of grant recipients (by budget) received 73% of the dollars awarded. The report noted, “Ensuring equitable funding for arts and culture organizations is a vital step in creating an inclusive, balanced, and vibrant cultural landscape.”

New Mexico Performing Arts Society

nmpas.org

Mission | To bring high quality performances to communities throughout the state. We train talented young people to become even better performers, and we do so with a sustainable model that both pays our artists a living wage and keeps our overhead costs low. New Mexico Performing Art Society (NMPAS) is the leading nonprofit performing arts organization in New Mexico that exclusively uses and develops New Mexican talent.

Proposal | NMPAS is seeking operating support to diversify participation in our fiscal year 2025 concert series and educational events for New Mexicans by New Mexicans. In the wake of the pandemic, we saw audience numbers decline among presenters nationally and worldwide. We seek grant support to implement our new marketing strategy, to stage our season programs, to continue to move further toward professionalization, and to fully realize the goals of our six-year Sustainability Plan, Fostering Excellence.

Noteworthy | In fiscal year 2024, ticket sales covered 23% of NMPAS’s operating costs; this needs to increase to 33% or more. We aim to increase attendance through a careful update of our Marketing Plan for fiscal year 2025 and have made a grant request through the ABQ Community Foundation to bring programs into four schools in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Clovis. This request for a Santa Fe Community Foundation Fall Grant in the Arts & Culture area will help us to bridge the gap during the Succession Planning period (2024-2026).

New Mexico Rural Library Initiative

nmrurallibraryinitiative.org

Mission | To advocate for and address the needs of New Mexico’s rural libraries by providing services and connecting them with resources.

Proposal | More than books, libraries help sustain small villages and pueblos, providing gathering space, promoting economic development, being a hub during natural disasters, and providing cultural programs, adult education, STEM, after school, and early childhood programs. Some provide essential services like telephone use and potable water for people without. Unfortunately, many lack sufficient funding. New Mexico Rural Library Initiative advocates for and connects these libraries with resources.

Noteworthy | As a result of our advocacy, 55 rural libraries throughout New Mexico will receive about $15,500 each this year to help hire staff, increase salaries toward a living wage, or repair infrastructure.

New Mexico School for the Arts

nmschoolforthearts.org

Mission | To provide access to a rigorous mastery arts and academic high school education for youth with passion and aptitude in the arts, leading to post-secondary learning, careers in the arts, and lives that contribute to society.

Proposal | Support the New Mexico School for the Arts in shaping the future of New Mexico’s talented young artists. Your donation, whether directed to specific programs in music, creative writing, theater, visual arts, dance, or ArtReach, or to our community engagement initiative, will make a lasting impact by inspiring and empowering students across the state with a high-quality, tuition-free arts and academic education that prepares them to succeed and thrive. By supporting our programs, you help sustain an institution that exceeds state and national educational benchmarks and expands arts opportunities to underserved communities.

Noteworthy | The 2024 graduation rate for New Mexico School for the Arts is 95%, compared to the state average of 77%. Approximately 40% of our students come from rural areas across New Mexico.

New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus

nmgmc.org

Mission | To be an empowering voice for the LGBTQ+ community and to enrich our greater New Mexican community through choral excellence. We believe that our strength grows as we add voice to voice, and that understanding between people of diverse cultures and orientations blossoms each time we present our musical offerings. Our motto is Changing the World Through Music.

Proposal | Primary focus for this funding request is to continue our collaboration with other artists in the state in helping to make our performances be even more impactful and attract larger audiences. The New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus (NMGMC) is also requesting funding support for our first rural University tour featuring our Spring performance, “The Unbreakable Harvey Milk.” This event highlights the powerful civil rights history of the LGBTQ+ movement. Performances will be held at Eastern New Mexico University, Western University of New Mexico, New Mexico State, and Highlands University.

Noteworthy | NMGMC would like to continue to provide high-quality entertainment in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas that brings the community together in celebration through music and performance. We also plan to extend our reach to serve the college age population in select rural areas of New Mexico with our Spring performances.

Nuestra Senora del Rosario Foundation

nuestrasenoranm.org

Mission | To preserve, protect, and maintain historic buildings, artwork, and artifacts (Santos, Reredos) in our communities. The beauty and stability of our historic sanctuary, Nuestra Senora del Rosario Church, located in Truchas, New Mexico, needs to be conserved. It is imperative that our Church remain a vital and active part of our communities and heritage.

Proposal | A four-foot base of the mission church is mud plaster and, with the passage of time and weather, the mud has deteriorated and has to be replaced. We need to mud the building in the year 2025.

Noteworthy | Mission churches were adobe structure. Stucco was added to the building to beautify the building. However, as moisture gets between the adobe and the stucco, the adobe deteriorates. If the stucco is not removed from the base of the building, the building is at risk to collapse. Removal of the stucco has been done, but now we need to add mud to cover the adobe bricks every five years to keep it in good condition. 2025 is the year we need to redo the mudding.

Old Santa Fe Association

oldsantafe.org

Mission | To preserve the priceless heritage, historical structures, traditions, cultural assets, and environment that distinguish the city and county of Santa Fe.

Proposal | Contributions develop Old Santa Fe Association (OSFA) programs that educate locals and newcomers on the virtues of preserving our city’s historic built environment and cultural traditions. This programming dips into our city’s history but also reflects on contemporary issues such as land development code reforms, affordable housing, and historic monuments. Santa Fe’s histories and their representations in architecture are particularly threatened when the city changes without stewardship of people, places, and processes.

Noteworthy | As shown by controversies surrounding the Obelisk and large-scale developments in town, Santa Feans are engaged in debates at the nexus of history, culture, and our built environment, but need more information and structure to have meaningful conversations about our shared future as a city. According to the city’s Residential Development Pipeline indicates, affordable housing accounts for only a fraction of built housing, yet design standards on new luxury apartments are lacking.

Performance Santa Fe

performancesantafe.org

Mission | To delight our audiences with extraordinary performing artists as we provide area students opportunities through arts education.

Proposal | Now in its 88th year, Performance Santa Fe greatly appreciates contributions toward artistic and operating expenses, which allow us to provide a cross-cultural assortment of programs to the Santa Fe community and surrounding areas statewide. Our award-winning educational programs have expanded this year to include our very first summer program as well as private musical instruction. Such outreach can only continue to grow with the support of generous community funders.

Noteworthy | Our 2023-2024 season was closed with a performance by the Isidore String Quartet. The appearance of this young, but already renowned award-winning ensemble, was a significant milestone for Performance Santa Fe and our education program in that it marked the professional homecoming of violinist Phoenix Avalon, who is not only a founder of the Quartet, but is also a Santa Fe native whose performance career was enriched during his high school years by his participation in our education program.

Pomegranate Studios

pomegranatestudio.org

Mission | To create and present high quality artistic dance productions in New Mexico, as well as to educate the community and empower young women’s lives through an innovative dance education program.

Proposal | Support the Pomegranate SEEDS (Self-Esteem, Empowerment, and Education through Dance) program by making a donation to help empower under-served students through mentorship and educational opportunities in the arts. Your contribution will directly impact their academic growth and future success.

Noteworthy | Studies show that youth participating in afterschool programs experience a 20% increase in academic performance and a 30% reduction in risky behaviors compared to their peers who do not have access to such programs.

Pueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center

abiquiulibrary.com

Mission | To provide support services, promote learning and literacy, host programs and events, and be a safe space to collaborate, create, and engage with community. Pueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center (PALCC), located in the plaza of a Genizaro land grant community, is the primary source for educational, cultural, and historical information.

Proposal | PALCC works to preserve the history, culture, and traditions of the Genizaro heritage. The PALCC Walking History Tour would provide an opportunity for visitors to connect with a deeper history of Abiquiú.

Noteworthy | PALCC is a community asset, and the primary source for library services, as well as educational, historical, and cultural support, learning, and literacy for over 26 years. Everyone is welcome!

Queen Bee Music Association

queenbeemusicassociation.org

Mission | To cultivate connection through learning, creating, and sharing music. Our vision is a vibrant local music community of professionals, learners, and enthusiasts strengthened by quality hands-on education and joyful experiences in our nonprofit community music school.

Proposal | Queen Bee Music Association requests funding to support our music education programs for folks of all ages living in northern New Mexico. Since our founding in 2019, we have strived to create a music community where all are welcome and can experience the joy of making music with others. From our group classes at our main location in Santa Fe, to our programs in the community, we encourage everyone to find their inner musician. It’s in there, we promise.

Noteworthy | Our free community programs are at the heart of our mission and belief that everyone can have access to music education and experiences no matter their age, aspiration, ability, financial status, or geographic location. Of the nearly 13,000 music engagements completed in 2024 so far, 72% were at no-cost to participants in accessible community spaces, and 50% were held in partnership with Santa Fe Public Schools.

Radius Books

radiusbooks.org

Mission | To create and promote through our publication, education, and donation programs an ongoing dialogue among writers, thinkers, and artists. Radius Books is a nonprofit publishing company based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is our firm belief that all of the arts are vital to our nation and our culture’s future.

Proposal | Radius Books seeks crucial funding to ensure the continued success of our Donation Program, which distributes free copies of our art publications to educational sites. Since its inception in 2007, our Donation Program has donated over 90,000 thoughtfully crafted art books to libraries, schools, and art programs across the U.S. Requested funds will support the expansion of the program within New Mexico, allowing us to provide as many books as possible per year to underserved communities of readers, educators, and aspiring artists across the state.

Noteworthy | Each year, Radius Books provides 1,000 free art and photography books to 52 New Mexico-based organizations across 25 counties. From tribal libraries to public K-12 classrooms, our donation sites represent a broad cross-section of community organizations and libraries serving diverse publics. For communities with limited access to museums, galleries, or studio resources, art books offer transformational and intimate access to artists of all backgrounds, mediums, and ranks.

San Gabriel Historical Society

Mission | To promote the preservation of the history of the Española Valley by the collection and preservation of artifacts, promotion of exhibits at the Bond House Museum, and education of our community and the general public.

Proposal | The San Gabriel Historical Society (SGHS) requests support for our general operating costs that promote volunteer docent activities, which includes but is not limited to: 1) community collaboration and outreach to the general public, school districts, and art and cultural organizations; 2) curating new exhibits; 3) printing, marketing, and advertising; 4) developing an inventory database; 5) recruiting additional volunteers to expand hours of operation; and 6) increasing the number of guest speakers via the Speaker’s Bureau.

Noteworthy | Through consistent outreach activities, the number of visitors to the Bond House Museum grew by over 50%, from 242 visitors in calendar year 2023 to 578 visitors as of mid-August 2024.

Sangre de Cristo Chorale

sdcchorale.org

Mission | To entertain, educate, unite and inspire singers and audiences by performing great choral music.

Proposal | The Sangre de Cristo Chorale requests support for its Apprentice, Scholarship, and Outreach programs to continue providing highquality choral music experiences to the youth of northern New Mexico. As evidence of the value of these programs, we note the case of a former Apprentice and Scholarship recipient who, following his master’s degree in music in another state, returned home to become Choral Director at the same northern New Mexico middle school he himself attended.

Noteworthy | For 46 years, the Sangre de Cristo Chorale has made a significant cultural contributions to the community through choral music. It has united a diverse audience (700 annually) and membership (avg. 36 annually) to build bridges of understanding for a shared humanity through choral music. It has provided choral experiences for high school students through an apprentice program (70 participants), a music scholarship program (49 awards), and an outreach program to over 1,500 young singers.

Santa Fe Art Institute

sfai.org

Mission | To forge critical inquiry and cultural exchange among artists, creative practitioners, and the broader community. The Santa Fe Art Institute (SFAI) is an independent arts organization that supports and amplifies dynamic artistic practices that engage complex social issues, inspire individual transformation, and inform collective action.

Proposal | Funding will support SFAI’s 40th anniversary programs in 2025 with a focus on civic and community engagement. Our core programming — artist residency, open studios, exhibitions, and creative workshops — engages artists and community members in what it means to be in a Community of Practice, which is our 2025 theme. Santa Fe Community Foundation funding will support free public programming that invites the local creative community of all ages into meaningful exchange with diverse local, national, and international artists.

Noteworthy | Practicing artists have always been diverse, but national statistics still reveal significant disparities in support between BIPOC and white artists. For example, works by white artists in 18 major U.S. museums comprise 85% of their collections. Diverse artists encourage diverse audiences. SFAI prioritizes support for BIPOC, women, and LGBTQIA+ artists and artists with disabilities by addressing structural barriers and providing opportunities to expand diverse participation among local audiences.

Santa Fe Artists’ Medical Fund

santafeartistsmedicalfund.org

Mission | The Santa Fe Artists’ Medical Fund was founded in 1998 by a group of Santa Feans who were concerned about the problems encountered by professional artists who are under- or uninsured, and thus at risk of serious financial difficulties in the case of medical emergencies.

Proposal | Contributions will support assistance depending on the applicant’s circumstances. Funds are distributed to pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare providers, and medical equipment suppliers — not individuals.

Noteworthy | The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate 10.2% of New Mexico’s two million people have no insurance of any kind.

Santa Fe Classic Theater, Inc.

santafeclassictheater.org

Mission | To promote and present the works of classic playwrights, from Sophocles to Shakespeare to Simon, for multi-cultural audiences in New Mexico. Santa Fe Classic Theater (SFCT) is a nonprofit theater company whose annual flagship production since 2019 presents live “Shakespeare in the Garden” each summer at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Proposal | SFCT requests funding support from the Santa Fe Community Foundation as part of the $145,000 in operational expenses it expects to spend in 2025 on multiple theatrical productions. It will present Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” in reading format in January, 2025; Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” in March, 2025; and a tragedy in July/August, 2025 with its Shakespeare in the Garden program (likely, “Macbeth”).

Noteworthy | The premiere season of SFCT’s summer Shakespeare performed “Romeo and Juliet” nine times in 2019, with 890 audience members. Its 2019 income totaled $35,575.00. In its fifth production in 2024 (“Twelfth Night”), even with four rainouts, SFCT reached 2,200 audience members with box office income of $100,000. Our audiences included over 110 students from Dulce Schools in the Jicarilla Apache Nation, a program we will again do in 2025. This diverse cultural programming deserves your support.

Santa Fe Desert Chorale

desertchorale.org

Mission | To excite, engage, and inspire diverse audiences with the beauty and power of great choral music. The Santa Fe Desert Chorale sings for our common humanity, hoping to deepen our collective enjoyment and understanding of music by performing both traditional works of enduring excellence and modern choral pieces in programs designed to highlight our common bonds and bring us together as a community.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Desert Chorale offers choral music of unmatched quality performed by 24 worldclass vocal artists who come from across the United States to form one of America’s premier chamber ensembles. Our Summer Festival offers three programs of both familiar and rarely performed works, along with newly commissioned music, as well as chamber recitals and educational programs. Our Winter Festival offers joyous holiday themed concerts, along with free performances of carols throughout Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | Our nation is increasingly polarized by political, ethnic, and racial differences, but choral singing helps bring people together. 54 million people in America participate regularly in choirs, and a Chorus America survey (2018) found that 82% of choral groups include African Americans, 75% include Latinx members, and 75% include Asian Americans, making choirs a nexus of racial and ethnic inclusion in today’s America.

Santa Fe Film Institute

santafefilminstitute.org

Mission | To advance independent film, filmmaking, support of the local community, and underserved youth. Santa Fe Film Institute (SFFI) is the fiscal sponsor of Santa Fe International Film Festival (SFiFF). SFiFF’s mission is to demonstrate the value of investing in the arts, creativity, and culture by showcasing the forward-thinking artistic spirit and energy of Santa Fe in a celebration of cinematic and media accomplishment that sets an example for the rest of the country.

Proposal | SFFI presents the acclaimed Indigenous Film Program at the SFiFF each October. This program features films created by an Indigenous Director and/or Creative Producer and supports the cinematic creativity of Indigenous filmmakers. This program also benefits New Mexico’s Native American audiences with access to films that have accurate and sincere representations of Indigenous people and promote awareness among a widespread audience.

Noteworthy | According to the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s 2023 study of 1,600 popular films released from 2007-2022, less than one percent of film characters were Native American. Similarly, the University of California, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Diversity Report reported on 2023’s English-language, theatrical releases that were ranked in the global box office top 200 that, “None of the top theatrical films in 2023 were directed by a Native person,” and, “there were no Native leads in theatrical films in 2023.”

Santa Fe International Literary Festival

sfinternationallitfest.org

Mission | To connect writers, readers, and thinkers from around the world and close to home in the celebration of words and story. To provide space for meaningful conversations, intellectual exchange, and shared experiences that create community and strengthen social ties across diverse groups. Santa Fe International Literary Festival (SFILF) recognizes the power of story as a catalyst for building a more just, equitable, and connected world.

Proposal | The SFILF seeks support for the May 2025 Festival. SFILF showcases diverse voices and perspectives, fostering a love of literature and appreciation for the human experience. Funding enables SFILF to engage high-quality regional, national, and international authors, keep ticket prices accessible, and provide free tickets to New Mexico students and educators to encourage attendance by young writers and readers.

Noteworthy | Building on the city and state’s rich, centuries-long history of storytelling, SFILF is Santa Fe’s only major annual celebration dedicated to the literary arts. Since its inception in 2022, attendance has surged from 9,000 to over 15,000 seats, with 893 free tickets provided to New Mexico students, educators, and residents with financial need.

PHOTO: TEATRO PARAGUAS

Santa Fe Performing Arts Collaboration dba

Santa Fe Improv

santafeimprov.com

Mission | To bring the benefits of improv to every New Mexican by teaching comedy improvisation. At Santa Fe Improv (SFI), we strongly believe in the power of improvisation to inspire creativity, promote teamwork, and build self-confidence. Our goal is to create an inclusive community where students of any culture, age, and background can learn and showcase their talents, and individuals can participate in learning experiences that nurture their educational, personal, and professional growth.

Proposal | The SFI Improv4Schools program is a multi-week, free, high school program for public school students in northern New Mexico. We invite teens to showcase their learning at the SFI Theater at the close of each semester where they meet students from other public schools and backgrounds. Your donation will help local teens develop skills such as teamwork, confidence, and public speaking; all the while building a sense of community and benefiting from the anxietyreducing properties of improv.

Noteworthy | A 2019 study conducted specifically with middle and high school age youth across a ten- week period indicated that teens screened for social phobia showed reduced anxiety after improv training, and the reduced anxiety was correlated with improved social skills, hope, and creativity. They reported “increases in social skills, hope, creative self-efficacy, comfort performing for others, and willingness to make mistakes, along with marginal decreases in symptoms of depression.” -Dr. Peter Felsman

Santa Fe Pro Musica sfpromusica.org

Mission | To bring together outstanding musicians to inspire and educate audiences of all ages through the performance of great music. During Santa Fe’s fall-winter-spring season, Pro Musica presents an Orchestra Series, a Bach Festival, String Quartet Series, Youth Concert Series, and Organ Recital Series, in addition to varied educational programs. Pro Musica’s excellence and innovation have received national recognition including a GRAMMYnominated recording for Best Classical Album.

Proposal | In addition to 43 years of performing concerts for public audiences, Santa Fe Pro Musica also presents a Youth Concert Series. These guided-listening concerts are free to all students from throughout northern New Mexico grades K–12, however, they are not without cost to create, administrate, and perform. Santa Fe Pro Musica is seeking financial support for this Series to ensure that all students can experience the power of live classical music.

Noteworthy | Every year, Santa Fe Pro Musica’s free Youth Concert Series reaches 3,000 students, with a total attendance of 90,000 students since the program’s inception in 1994. This series assists the teachers in meeting the New Mexico Department of Education Benchmarks and Standards for Arts Education, and has provided many students with their first experiences with the power of live classical music.

Santa Fe Teen Arts Center

dba Warehouse 21

warehouse21.org

Mission | To support diverse, inclusive, positive programs for young people by encouraging art, mentoring, and meaningful exchanges that challenge and inspire youth artistic development. For 28 years, the purpose has been to support the creation of emerging artistic talent and pioneering new ways that prepare youth for successful futures.

Proposal | Support for a nostalgic arts exhibition entitled ‘e·phem·ERA’ and RAD, a magaZINE with both on the shaping of Santa Fe’s youth culture spanning the decades of the 80s and 90s to 2023. What did teenagers and young adults do in Santa Fe and at six notable nonprofit youth art organizations written via personal and community memoirs? The public will experience memorable artifacts and unique stories revealing rebellious ethos and freedom of expression opportunities that made a difference in their lives.

Noteworthy | Since 1982, the author and curator of the nostalgic exhibition and the magaZINE has supported hundreds of young people who were emerging artists and are now ages 20-50. Research shows that the older we get, the more we can forget. Nostalgic events can stimulate memories that are lifelong treasures. The RAD MagaZINE will be a unique publication that will encapsulate how teen culture has changed through time in our City Different from the history and views of participants.

Santa Fe Women’s Ensemble

sfwe.org

Mission | To present adventurous programming in live and online choral performances, to commission new music for treble voices, and to engage in community outreach and education.

Proposal | Funding received through this request will fund operating support positions for an Administrator and assistants. These positions will carry out seasonal support tasks for fundraising, concert production, marketing, bookkeeping, and financial reporting, freeing up board members to focus on development and furthering community engagement through music performances reaching less-served populations.

Noteworthy | Nonprofits are more sustainable with ongoing staff. Board members change annually, and there must be supporters who know what’s needed to meet season goals. According to Voice magazine from Chorus America, “..the decision to hire an administrative leader or support person is often a reactive one for volunteer-run organizations feeling the pressure of maintaining operations. Inevitably, volunteers move on, sometimes with little notice, and sometimes because the workload has burned them out.”

School for Advanced Research

sarweb.org

Mission | To advance understanding of humanity through a unique alchemy of creative practice and scholarly research in Native American arts, anthropology, and related disciplines. Through scholar and artist fellowship programs, research seminars, and public programs, the School for Advanced Research (SAR) advances creative thought, intellectual inquiry, and human understanding. SAR is home to the Indian Arts Research Center (IARC), a leader in communityadvised and collaborative Indigenous arts engagement and collections management.

Proposal | SAR is requesting support for its public programs. As part of its commitment to community engagement, SAR annually offers dozens of events open to the public. These range from lectures by well-known thought leaders in a venue that seats 800+, to more intimate book discussions on SAR’s campus. Since 2019, most of these events have been recorded and published via SAR’s YouTube channel (@sarsantafemultimedia) where they are available free of charge and have garnered nearly one million views.

Noteworthy | Last fall, SAR Public Programs offered its first Humanities Festival, which was well received, with most events at or near capacity and participants praising the “diverse topics,” “wonderful work of SAR,” and “new perspectives.” With the theme “American Identities,” the festival offered scholar lectures, community forum discussions, a music performance and a documentary film opening. SAR will continue to promote important conversations among diverse audiences through its public programming.

SciArt Santa Fe sciartsantafe.org

Mission | To support the powerful exchange of ideas between the arts, sciences, and technology. We promote excellence in art and science, encourage freedom of thought and imagination across disciplines, spread scientific and artistic literacy, and celebrate diverse perspectives and peoples of underrepresented races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, national origins, citizenship statuses, and ages.

Proposal | While science and art are often portrayed as polar opposites, they have fundamental similarities that make them compatible. The two fields have melded over time to become known as SciArt. SciArt Santa Fe promotes excellence in art and science in New Mexico and our region through year-round talks, exhibitions, film screenings, and collaborations, and seeks support for a physical space or ‘hub’ in Santa Fe that can be our longterm home and where we can host and expand our public programs.

Noteworthy | There is a surge of interest in SciArt, including frequent articles in Science, new art-science laboratories around the world, and National Education Association programs. A growing number of institutions are creating centers including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab and University of California, Los Angeles. Recent major initiatives include Getty’s PST ART: Art & Science Collide in California with over 800 SciArtists. Over the past two years on a tiny fraction of the Getty budget, SciArt Santa Fe has supported presentations by 81 regional SciArtists.

Society of the Muse of the Southwest

somostaos.org

Mission | To support and nurture the written and spoken word with both places and resources for writers, readers, and learners while honoring the cultural diversity of Taos and the Southwest.

Proposal | The Society of the Muse of the Southwest provides over ten annual programs as well as ongoing community readings and workshops since 1983. Our Young Writers Program, on its 31st year, provides a writing group, 1:1 writing mentors, and writers-in-the-schools to over 300 youth every year. We are seeking financial support to keep our programs current and dynamic. This has become more of a challenge since the economy has shifted and there are no longer emergency funds available to apply for (post COVID).

Noteworthy | New Mexico is ranked 50 in the list of the lowest states in the US in terms of its percentages of students who graduate from high school as well as those pursuing a college degree. In addition, 16.8% of New Mexicans live in poverty, in comparison to 11.4% nationally. One in four children in NM live in poverty. (2023 survey) It is critical that we encourage education in all areas, especially in the arts as a creative outlet for youth. Our Young Writers Program is free and open to all.

Spanish Colonial Arts Society, Inc.

nmheritagearts.org

Mission | To showcase the cultural heritage of Hispanic New Mexico and its living traditions.

Proposal | Spanish Colonial Arts Society, Inc. (SCAS) is eager to raise its visibility and accessibility, seeking to further expand the critical and vibrant role it plays within Santa Fe’s thriving arts community. It has significantly restructured its organization, renamed its museum to better reflect its distinctive offerings examining the cultural convergence of northern New Mexican art forms, and adopted a new business model challenging donors to embrace a new value proposition: when you give to SCAS, you in turn give back to the community.

Noteworthy | Founded in 1925, SCAS is one of Santa Fe’s few nonprofit arts and culture organizations still in operation after 100 years. It runs the only museum in New Mexico dedicated exclusively to collecting and exhibiting the regional Hispano art of the 20th and 21st centuries and related art and artifacts from over 500 years and four continents to place it in a global context. It operates in the only John Gaw Meem designed residence open to the public in Santa Fe. Free admission signals openness to all.

Tarjama Ensemble LLC

megyork.com

Mission | To celebrate and elevate world dance music performance artists. Tarjama, which means “Translation,” plays authentic and ethnic community dance music for concerts, parties, weddings, celebrations of life, and movement workshops.

Proposal | Tarjama Ensemble LLC hosts accessible community world folk dance music events at the Old Town Mission Community Center in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Mundo Music Mondays start in October and lead up to our annual World Music Weekend, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Noteworthy | There were no world dance music events here in Las Vegas, New Mexico before Tarjama director Meg York and Eric Koenig arrived in 2023. Tarjama has hosted eight events so far since winter 2023, four to capacity of 100 audience members. We include Highlands and United World College students, community members, and hire local pro musicians. We need funding to continue these events, and an annual weekend event is in order. We have received a $2,500 Las Vegas Lodgers Tax for publicity.

Teatro Paraguas

teatroparaguasnm.org

Mission | To stage English and bilingual productions of contemporary award-winning Latinx plays, Hispanic/Latinx poetry, and traditional cuentos (folktales), while promoting children’s theatre, producing the works of New Mexico playwrights, providing venues for guest performers and companies, and celebrating the history, richness, and diversity of New Mexico’s many cultures and artistic talent.

Proposal | Teatro Paraguas, as Santa Fe’s de facto community theatre, gratefully requests support to help fund our 21st season of presenting contemporary award-winning Latinx plays, providing tuition-free bilingual children’s theatre, sharing our two intimate venues and resources with many other performing arts companies and individuals, and participating in public events celebrating community and culture in Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | Over 150 public events take place at Teatro Paraguas each year in our two venues, which include plays, poetry readings, dance concerts, music concerts, staged readings, workshops, children’s theatre, and lectures. Umbrella Children’s Theatre has a limit of 40 tuition-free students for the spring and fall semesters and summer camps, and has to turn away many eager would-be participants. In 21 years, Teatro Paraguas has produced almost 100 plays, several of them world premieres.

Tomorrow’s Women

tomorrowswomen.org

Mission | To bring young women from Palestine, Israel, and the United States together and provide them with the skills and opportunities to become compassionate changemakers in their communities and beyond.

Proposal | The 2025 Peace Ambassador cohort will consist of up to 20 young New Mexico female teens. Participants will engage in six months of leadership and peacemaking training based on Tomorrow’s Women’s (TW) signature methodology of compassionate listening, authentic speaking, and therapeutic arts. Participants will also connect with their counterparts in Israel and Palestine, alumnae of TW’s peacemaking intensives, culminating in community-wide service projects.

Noteworthy | According to the New Mexico Risk and Resiliency Survey, 37% of New Mexico high school girls report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness within the past month. Only 56% of girls reported that “outside my home and school” an adult really cares about me, 57% shared that “outside of my home and school” there is an adult I trust, and only 38% stated that “outside home and school,” I am a part of group activities.

Tri-M Millennial Music Makers Productions

trimsantafe.org

Mission | To create choral/musical theater productions and provide opportunities for the local talent of early career professionals, all in a sustainable manner, in collaboration, and with cooperation with the Santa Fe cultural community.

Proposal | Tri-M Productions seeks operational funding to continue to do three Broadway musicals annually, with live orchestra accompaniment and using local northern New Mexico acting and musical talent that we pay for performances. We do open auditions, constantly give new actors opportunities, and have significantly increased the diversity of our talent, all of which enhances the art and culture of our community, as we are a primary source for musical theater in Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | In four years of operation, Tri-M Productions has employed over 80 actors in over 240 roles for our various shows. Our Hispanicidentifying talent has grown from typically less than 25% of a cast to over 40% of our cast for our last two big June musicals, when more people can commit to the shows. This growth is enhanced by our Artistic Director, Marilyn Barnes, providing free individual vocal lessons and coaching to early career professionals wanting to continue to perform.

Tumbleweed Productions

Mission | To develop entertaining multi-media theater experiences that reflect the diversity and rich history of New Mexico. Our state’s melting pot is a blend of Natives, Hispanics, and the New Mexicans who have left us a history filled with fascinating sagas and adventures. We are focusing on themes of social justice and historical relevance. The productions will blend stage, film, music, and dance to artistically relate the many legendary stories of The Land of Enchantment.

Proposal | Tumbleweed is seeking grants and funding to produce an original story of the 19thcentury New Mexico Territory. It will combine the many diverse influences that make up our multicultural state with a blend of folklore, music, dance, and art. The production will consist of artists from the state’s growing and talented pool of actors, dancers, and musicians. Our audience will experience an immersion into the nascent Land of Enchantment and the world of the Natives, Hispanics, and the Pioneers.

Noteworthy | This production targets a touristbased audience as well as locals. The growing population of 151,000 in Santa Fe County along with its 2 million annual visitors have created opportunities for unique attractions and areas such as Meow Wolf and the Railyard District. A market exists for colorful attractions such as the multimedia theatrical event Tumbleweed is developing. It will be presented annually and will elevate awareness of our state’s cultural history while promoting its talent pool.

Unhoused Art

steshelter.org/unhousedart

Mission | To use the healing power of art to uplift and transform lives of those who have experienced homelessness by providing a sense of purpose, income, and self-pride to participants in our art workshops. Our program offers a unique opportunity for the public to connect with the unhoused in a meaningful way, break stereotypes, and create a greater sense of connection to the community.

Proposal | We are seeking support to cover payments to artists leading workshop in shelters and transitional housing along with the cost of materials needed for each workshop.

Noteworthy | On a typical night, Santa Fe County has 336 individuals in congregate shelters or transitional housing. The annual Point-In-Time count of homeless individuals for January 2024 was 424. Although the counts for Santa Fe County have gotten increasingly more accurate over time, providers of services for the unhoused believe the latest numbers are still an under count.

United World College - USA

uwc-usa.org

Mission | To make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. We embrace the arts as a unique access point for a broader exploration of the role that culture plays in our lives and in the world, as well as an opportunity to help us communicate across barriers of language, politics, and divergent ways of learning. Coupled with our value of service, our Arts and Culture program serves as a powerful way of building community locally.

Proposal | Our ultimate goal is to bring an ongoing stream of world-class artists to Montezuma as artists-in-residence for the mutual benefit of United World College - USA (UWC-USA) students and local community residents. These artists would educate UWC-USA students; provide master classes where local residents and our students learn together to deepen opportunities for intercultural exchange and learning; and help design and arrange performances that challenge students and provide low-cost access to culture for local residents.

Noteworthy | San Miguel County, where UWCUSA is located, has a median annual income of approximately $32,310 per year, well below the New Mexico average of $51,243. 25.7% of the county’s residents live below the poverty line, a far larger share than the state’s average of 18.7%. Access to free or low-cost art and cultural performances is limited. Each year, UWC-USA offers free cultural performances, exhibitions, and master classes to serve approximately 1,700 residents. We’d like to expand these offerings.

Wheelwright Museum of the

American

Indian

wheelwright.org

Mission | To promote the living traditions and creative expressions of Native peoples through exhibitions, collections, programming, and research.

Proposal | The Wheelwright Museum, New Mexico’s oldest nonprofit museum, is requesting funds to support its commitment to honoring Native voices through art. For 87 years, the museum has promoted diverse ways of seeing and experiencing Native art histories and cultural traditions, giving voice to living artists past and present.

Noteworthy | The Museum’s building is an architectural landmark based on the Navajo hogan. Designed by architect and furniture designer William Penhallow Henderson, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1990. The main gallery reflects the building’s architectural distinction. The museum was conceived by Mary Cabot Wheelwright (18781958) and Hastiin Klah (1867-1937), an esteemed Diné ceremonial practitioner and weaver.

Wise Fool New Mexico

wisefoolnewmexico.org

Mission | To ignite imagination, build community, and promote social justice through performances and hands-on experiences in the arts of circus, puppetry, and theatre.

Proposal | Wise Fool is requesting general operating support to fund 2024-2025 programming, including professional productions, community performances, and arts education for youth and adults.

Noteworthy | According to the New Mexico’s Department of Health, in 2021, nearly half of the 1,265 Santa Fe High School students surveyed that year reported feeling sad or hopeless; 12% reported they had planned suicide, while 15% said they had seriously considered suicide and nearly 10% reported they had attempted it. Wise Fool youth programs support youth mental health by building self-determination through opportunities for accomplishment, self-esteem, responsibility, trust, significance, respect, and teamwork.

Civic & Economic Opportunities

RESULT: THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN LOCAL ISSUES.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• Workforce development and job creation

• Open government

• Community engagement

• Social and economic justice

• Support of hourly workers

Through direct service, policy advocacy and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Improving access to employment opportunities and economic advancement by low-income and other disadvantaged community members;

• Providing career counseling, job training, and other programs to low wage earners to advance their skills;

• Financial literacy training;

• Increasing community involvement in activities that will influence public policy to strenghthen communities; and/or

• Support public policy, civic engagement, community organizing or public information to improve and strengthen local economy.

PHOTO: WESST

Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity

aflep.org

Mission | To promote local control of the identification, management, and investment of local resources through democratic decision-making for the common good. Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity (AFLEP) is a statewide nonprofit that works to maximize local economic prosperity by increasing equitable access to financial resources. We prioritize rural community development, local entrepreneurs, alternative energy, and adaptive regenerative agriculture.

Proposal | AFLEP seeks support to increase social and economic justice statewide through 1) Public policy advocacy toward statewide fiscal policy change, including the implementation of a Public Bank of New Mexico (PBNM) in the 2025 legislative session; and 2) Community stakeholder engagement projects designed to develop a shared vision of prosperity, and build local leadership to enact viable place-specific regional action plans and aligned PBNM support and lending templates.

Noteworthy | The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reports that 92% of money comes into existence as the result of a bank loan. However, in alignment with global banking trends to maximize profits by minimizing admin costs, small business loans from New Mexico banks have recently dropped over 50%. According to the FDIC, New Mexico banks have a below national average “deposits to lending” ratio. Minimal lending to small business and agriculture outside the I-25 corridor excludes the majority of New Mexico’s rural communities.

Best Buddies International in New Mexico

bestbuddies.org/newmexico

Mission | To establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development, integrated employment, and inclusive living for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD).

Proposal | To expand the Workforce Development programs at Best Buddies in New Mexico, including the Pre-Employment Transition Services and Project SEARCH to improve access to employment opportunities and economic advancement for low-income and other disadvantaged community members, specifically those with IDD.

Noteworthy | Best Buddies was established in New Mexico in 2009. Since that time, we have grown to support over 850 members at 58 school friendship chapters in elementary, middle, high school, and colleges throughout the state and 66 jobs participants in Bernalillo County. Per National Core Indicators, the unemployment rate for those with IDD remains more than double that of their counterparts without IDD. Of those employed with IDD, half of the jobs are in a sheltered setting and are not inclusive or competitively paid. Those with IDD working only part-time are double the rate of those without IDD. Best Buddies International in New Mexico provides critical career readiness services to students with IDD to increase their likelihood of finding and retaining inclusive longterm employment.

Bike Santa Fe

bikesantafe.org

Mission | To promote cycling as a healthy, safe, affordable, and environmentally-sound means of transportation and recreation that benefits all neighborhoods and residents of Santa Fe. Through advocacy, events, and education, Bike Santa Fe (BSF) seeks to make Santa Fe a world class cycling city.

Proposal | BSF has existed as an organization for more than 14 years but, like many organizations, it lost steam during the height of the pandemic. Re-energized in 2023, BSF’s new and larger board of directors has created a stronger organizational structure via updated bylaws and active committees (Administration, Education, Events, Advocacy, Communications, Membership). Funding will help address our administrative needs, such as bookkeeping, meeting support, and systems improvement.

Noteworthy | Spending on bikes and bike accessories rose by 620% between 2020 and 2023, showing that biking growth during the pandemic was not just anecdotal. BSF membership has grown to more than 125 individuals and businesses, our email list is more than 900 contacts, and our social media channels have a robust number of followers. BSF events (bike swap, member socials, bike valets) are well attended, creating more interest in our activities, which requires improved organizational tools and responsiveness.

Chainbreaker Collective

chainbreaker.org

Mission | To expand access to affordable transportation and sustainable communities for working people, low-income people, and people of color in Santa Fe and surrounding areas through community organizing.

Proposal | Funding will allow Chainbreaker to continue to organize community members to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their lives, continue to win real and concrete victories to better Santa Feans’ lives, and continue to serve as a cornerstone in low-income neighborhoods of color in Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | Over the last 20 years, our work has shifted narratives and policies on the issues of housing, social determinants of health, and transportation in Santa Fe. Over the last year, Chainbreaker has been organizing in a Mobile Home community with one of the lowest voter engagements in the city and which is mostly dismissed by traditional voter education and mobilization campaigns. In the previous city election, this precinct had no votes reported at all. After a year of organizing around renter issues and a 501(c)(3) education campaign about related issues appearing on the ballot, the same precinct reported 42 people had voted in the most recent city election.

Coalition For Quality Childrens Media

kidsfirst.org

Mission | To teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media. We empower underserved middle and high school students with cutting-edge digital skills, equipping them to craft compelling short films that capture the essence of their identities and communities and sharing their films locally and across the state.

Proposal | The groundbreaking KIDS FIRST! Digital Media Lab embarks on a transformative journey, forging dynamic partnerships with local Indigenous tribes, school districts, and youth service organizations across rural New Mexico.

Noteworthy | With a blend of in-person and remote instruction, this innovative project uses a ‘train the trainers’ approach, wherein we empower educators and adult leaders in each community to directly mentor and inspire students and give them skills to replicate the program after the initial implementation period. Our aim is to nurture a new generation of digital storytellers and provide them with lifelong skills they can apply to careers in the entertainment business and beyond.

Davis New Mexico Scholarship

davisnm.org

Mission | The Davis New Mexico Scholarship breaks the generational opportunity gap in New Mexico by supporting first-generation college students as they earn a Bachelor’s degree and become economically self-sufficient adults. Alongside these life-changing scholarships, the program creates and strengthens pathways to higher education for all first-generation college-going students in New Mexico.

Proposal | We seek funding to support college access programs for first-generation college students throughout northern New Mexico. Under the umbrella of the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, students and schools receive help navigating the competitive college application process, regardless of whether or not students end up becoming Davis New Mexico Scholars. This year, we have conducted professional development workshops in Gallup, Albuquerque, Española, and Raton and have visited schools statewide.

Noteworthy | In half of New Mexico counties, not a single student submitted a Common Application in the 2023-24 cycle. There were 33 in Rio Arriba and 30 in Taos County. The Common App, the application used to apply to competitive college outside of New Mexico, is the gateway for students who are seeking options both in and outside of the state.

Embudo Valley Library & Community Center

embudovalleylibrary.org

Mission | To build community by providing educational, cultural, and recreational resources for area residents. The library provides public library service, literacy programming for children and youth, formal and informal public space for meetings and resolana (gatherings), and an evening cultural series. Our property is home to a volunteer community radio station, a public park, a farmer’s market, and a cooperative grocery store.

Proposal | The library offers a wide range of services, from one-on-one computer assistance, computer access, Wi-Fi, notary services, and digital support with devices. We are committed to centering anti-racism and justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work by acknowledging our role in supporting systems of oppression. We are actively diversifying our collection and board of directors; engaging with marginalized community members; prioritizing community-driven programming; and facilitating difficult conversations about gentrification, culture, and land loss. We seek funding to continue to provide and expand our offerings.

Noteworthy | Systemic change within our organization entailed a critical evaluation of our leadership, board structure, and membership. Recognizing the lack of diversity and inclusion, we prioritized increasing representation of marginalized individuals in both our board and leadership. Through intentional DEI efforts, we have successfully expanded our board to include nine members, with seven identifying as People of Color (POC) or other marginalized groups. In addition, we have decentralized our leadership and now have two POC directors.

Friends of Architecture

Santa Fe

architecturesantafe.org

Mission | To advance civic engagement and constructive dialogue about design and the built environment. Our interdisciplinary events invite architects and allied professionals, the creative community, policymakers, and members of the public to participate in shared learning, critical thinking, and creative visioning about the future of Santa Fe.

Proposal | Our city needs a platform for design dialogue that is provocative and forward thinking. The programs and events we host allow professionals and residents alike to engage in constructive conversation about our local built environment in a setting not tied to design proposal reviews. Funding will support the production of these programs, the digitization of content in order to have a broader reach, and the salary of part-time staff who is essential to this work.

Noteworthy | In January 2024, our organization hired a part-time Communications and Operations Manager at $15,000/ year. This role provides crucial support for our all-volunteer board, who plans and produces our programs. Additionally, this part-time staff member works to spread the content of our programs to a wider reach through social media, video, audio, and writing initiatives.

Future Focused Education

futurefocusededucation.org

Mission | To create healthier and more prosperous communities by advancing the best education for the students who need it the most. Future Focused Education envisions schools as sites of innovation and opportunity, where students become the creators of healthy and more prosperous communities.

Proposal | We request funding to scale Future Focused Education’s X3 and NeXt paid internship programs for underserved youth ages 16–24 in Santa Fe and Española, in collaboration with schools, community organizations, and employers. Quality coaching and work-based learning connects education to a career path that enables youth to experience economic mobility and contribute to the health of their families and communities.

Noteworthy | There are few youth workforce development opportunities for youth, with just 4% of all New Mexico high school students participating in work-based learning (LANL Foundation, 2022). This is a fatal gap, as New Mexico is facing a 19.6% rate of youth disengagement from school and work, one of the highest in the nation (Measure of America, 2022). The result is a devastating social cost of $900,000 per disengaged youth over their lifetime (Civic Enterprises, 2012).

League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County

lwvsfc.org

Mission | To promote community and civic engagement, empowering citizens to actively participate in the democratic process. The League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County (LWVSFC), an allvolunteer nonprofit, is the local entity of the League of Women Voters of the US (LWV). The LWV officially began in 1920 when women won the right to vote. LWVSFC is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented.

Proposal | The LWVSFC proposes to undertake an expanded public engagement campaign focused on enhancing community involvement in the democratic process. This campaign will center on digital activities aimed at building a better social media presence, expanding LWVSFC’s email newsletter following, and collaborating with local media organizations. This proposal outlines the importance of fostering informed decision-making among residents of Santa Fe County.

Noteworthy | Local and general elections are not attracting Santa Fe County voters. Approximately 112,300 Santa Fe County residents are eligible to vote. The November 2023 local election turnout was approximately 31% (NM SOS) and the November 2022 General Election turnout was 68% (NM SOS). Two 2024 Pew Research Center studies reported that, of those who had broadband internet connection, 86% used smart phones, tablets, or computers, and 58% used apps or websites; and, of those who used social media, 83% used YouTube, 68% used Facebook and 47% used Instagram.

Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe

lvsf.org

Mission | To provide free tutoring to adults in reading, writing, and speaking English to strengthen our community, families, and the workforce. Our vision is a literate and thriving community where words can be read, written, spoken, and understood, and where people can attain their goals and fully participate in society.

Proposal | Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe requests support for staff coordination of our core tutoring programs, wherein trained, volunteer tutors work with students under the 6th grade level equivalency individually or in small groups, on their literacy goals.

Noteworthy | According to the National Center for Educational Statistics and a 2017 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies survey, 24% of adults in Santa Fe County function at literacy Level 1 (skills equivalent to kindergarten to 1st grade level), and 29% function at a Level 2 (skills equivalent to 2nd-3rd grade levels). To put this into perspective, over half of the adults in Santa Fe County would benefit from English as a second language (ESL) or basic literacy tutoring, and 60% would benefit from numeracy tutoring.

Main Street de Las Vegas

mainstreetdelasvegas.org

Mission | To unify the Las Vegas historic commercial corridor and engender pride in the community while promoting economic development and preserving historical, cultural, architectural, and natural resources through partnerships and community collaboration. We work to help create a unique and vital downtown that supports our business community, embraces history, celebrates the arts, preserves our natural environment, and promotes community events.

Proposal | Main Street de Las Vegas (MSLV) requests funding to cover expenses related to a facade squad we will organize in our Main Street Downtown District. A facade squad is an efficient and cost-effective way to make high impact, visible improvements to a group of historic buildings in need of repair. A facade squad assists private property owners with front, street-side facade renovations and helps owners imagine what their buildings could be. These improvements include wood repair, painting, cleaning, and glass repair.

Noteworthy | Las Vegas, New Mexico has over 937 buildings on the National Historic Register. About half of these building are in disrepair and many have been abandoned. A project like a facade squad can change the look of a blighted block and show fellow building owners what the block could be. MSLV worked with the E. Romero Firehouse on Bridge St. to organize a facade squad, and a year later MSLV and the City of Las Vegas raised over $500k to restore this important landmark including $150k from American Express.

MANA del Norte

manadelnortenm.org

Mission | To create a better life for all Latinas/os.

MANA del Norte was founded in 1989 by a group of Latinas sharing a common interest to serve as a voice and resource for Latinas in the northern New Mexico counties of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Miguel, and Taos.

Proposal | MANA del Norte requests funding to send our five current board members to the 2024 MANA National Conference that will take place in Washington, D.C. Four of the five members are very new to MANA del Norte and MANA National, and so the MANA National Conference/Training will be extremely beneficial. By attending this conference, the board will be able to bring back new ideas, programs, and opportunities to our northern New Mexico communities. We serve six counties within northern New Mexico.

Noteworthy | The MANA del Norte board members work hard to achieve full and equal participation of Latinas in our country’s political, social, educational, and economic domains.

Mora Creative Council/ Mora MainStreet

moramainstreet.org

Mission | To stimulate the preservation and enhancement of Mora, New Mexico through education, historic preservation, creative economy, beautification, and promotion of community, and civic pride.

Proposal | Mora Creative Council seeks support to foster community engagement through historical preservation and heritage storytelling. We empower youth with a contest titled “What our elders tell us about our heritage” by creating a sense of belonging and attachment to the community, encouraging residents to stay and contribute to the preservation and development of their heritagerich environment. This is especially important in the wake of recent wildfires to help reduce depopulation.

Noteworthy | Investing in heritage storytelling is crucial in today’s dynamic landscape influenced by factors like climate change and economic shifts. As pride in cultural heritage diminishes and rural communities depopulate, acquainting young generations with their heritage fosters a sense of belonging and preserves the richness of local culture. Moreover, after the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires in 2022, there’s opportunity for long-term ways of engaging, rebuilding, and empowering Mora.

New Mexico Acequia Association

lasacequias.org

Mission | To protect water and our acequias, grow healthy food for our families and communities, and honor our cultural heritage. In our vision, acequias flow with clean water, people work together to grow food, and communities celebrate cultural and spiritual traditions.

Proposal | We are requesting funding to support ongoing work, expansion, and development of various New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA) programs that support youth in rural communities to become engaged civic leaders in relation to issues of water and land protection, and social and environmental justice for New Mexico’s acequia communities.

PHOTO: ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Noteworthy | There are more than 700 acequias (community-maintained waterways) across New Mexico, each operating under the historic and sovereign leadership of local community members caretaking land, water, and culture. NMAA is committed to training and supporting the next generation of young leaders who will take up the mantle of this work and ensure the social, economic, cultural, and environmental integrity and health of their home-places. We consider this to be vital work for our community.

New Mexico Highlands University

nmhu.edu

Mission | To be the best small business department in the Southwest, preparing students to be confident, competent, ethical, and responsible decision makers, managers, leaders, and agents of economic and social betterment in today’s changing global business environment. The Department of Business Administration is committed to the success of our students and to the highest observance of our professional accreditation standards.

Proposal | The Entrepreneurship for Latinos project is a new course that will set itself apart from similar projects as we will deliver all the topics in Spanish by native speakers who hold terminal degrees in business disciplines, e.g., Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Strategy, among others. Our target participants are individuals who possess entrepreneurial spirits and are willing to start their purpose-driven businesses to foster economic development in the region.

Noteworthy | The number of Hispanic-owned companies has grown by 31.6%, more than double the growth rate of all U.S. firms, which is 13.8%. Additionally, it states that the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity (2016) shows a 140% growth in the ratio of new Latino entrepreneurs, from 10% to 24% of all businesses, compared to just 10% a decade before. Comparing these inhabitants to the general population, Latinos are 1.5 times as likely to launch a business (Bernstein, 2016).

New Mexico Local News Fund

nmlocalnews.org

Mission | To grow the ecosystem of local news across our state to better serve the information needs of all New Mexicans. To accomplish that ambitious goal, we work with both existing newsrooms and trusted community organizations. Our goal is ultimately for everyone to have access to the local news and information they need to thrive. To achieve that, we produce a business accelerator program for newsrooms and a fellowship program for recent journalism graduates.

Proposal | We request funding to serve more newsrooms and communities with our accelerator and fellowship programs. This would help underserved rural and urban communities that are in need of more vital information for civic engagement. Improving business outcomes for newsrooms and boosting reporting resources would help communities thrive.

Noteworthy | Here are some noteworthy statistics related to our Local News Fellowship & Internship program, which is in now in its fourth cohort: in the past, four fellows won awards, including from the New Mexico Press Association and Society of Professional Journalists. 74% of fellows and interns are people of color. 67% of fellows and interns are women. 46% of current participants identify as LGBTQ+.

NM Health Equity Partnership

nmhep.org

Mission | To strengthen the capacity of communities to shift power relations and advocate for policy and system changes by working with community partners to (re)shape the narrative around health and racial equity in New Mexico. We do this by providing tools and support for capacity building through community-driven research and creative storytelling, creating funding opportunities for grassroots groups, and facilitating connections and spaces for building collective power.

Proposal | The NM Health Equity Partnership (NMHEP) believes communities have the knowledge and wisdom to achieve success and equity. NMHEP builds community capacity to help make this possible. NMHEP provides training and technical assistance to support grassroots organizations in conducting community driven research, to make a more compelling case to decision makers on issues that affect the health and well-being of communities. Additional funding will support us in reaching more communities with our trainings.

Noteworthy | Since 2012, NMHEP has provided support for 19 Health Impact Assessments in 10 counties across New Mexico. Many of these Health Impact Assessments have resulted in tangible policy changes, including free bus passes for youth in Albuquerque; the opening of a reintegration center for people exiting incarceration in San Miguel County; the creation of a food distribution for Native communities; and a warming center and outdoor safe spaces for the unsheltered in Santa Fe.

NMCAN

nmcan.org

Mission | To authentically engage young people impacted by foster care, the juvenile justice system, and/or homelessness to advocate for systems change that reflects their values, improves their transition to adulthood, and positively transforms our community. NMCAN partners with young people to build community, promote equity, and lead change. We believe all young people are leaders and their lived experiences in systems are essential for creating equitable systems. Our strategies to engage young people are rooted in community building, leadership development, and advocacy.

Proposal | With your support, NMCAN will continue leveraging our expertise in listening to young people’s experiences, centering their voices in decision-making spaces, and translating their needs into policy.

Noteworthy | In 2021, the Census Bureau reported that in New Mexico, 25% of children under the age of 18 and 28% of children under the age of five live in poverty; making New Mexico the 3rd highest poverty rate in the U.S. Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families in 2021 according to NM Children Youth and Families Department Data. However, the majority (74%) of reported Child Abuse and neglect cases that were substantiated are not related to child abuse but rather neglect. Neglect is largely associated with the conditions of living in poverty.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

youthcorps.org

Mission | To address New Mexico’s community challenges by blending life skills, job experiences, and service. Inspired by the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps, it was founded in 1995 with park restoration in Questa. Now, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) annually trains 160+ Corpsmembers across diverse programs, from land conservation to substance abuse prevention, serving various populations and enhancing local economies.

Proposal | Rocky Mountain Youth Corps seeks funding for its ASL Program, aimed at empowering Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing youth through work experience and personal development in New Mexico, enhancing communication and integration within the community. This request includes funds for interpreters, training, and supplies to support the program’s growth and effectiveness.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico, where the employment rate for people with disabilities was just 33.0% in 2020 and with over 1,500 deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the state’s educational system, there’s a pressing demand for initiatives like RMYC’s ASL Program that offer essential workforce experience and personal development opportunities for this underserved community.

Santa Fe Business Incubator

sfbi.net

Mission | To help local entrepreneurs launch and grow successful businesses. These emerging companies create new jobs, increase our tax base and diversify our economy, enhancing the quality of life for all in our community.

Proposal | This request will support the ongoing general activities of Santa Fe Business Incubator (SFBI) to assist the formation and retention of new businesses, new jobs, an expanded tax base, and new revenue in the community in an area that is one of the poorest in the City of Santa Fe. It will be used to maintain the facility and infrastructure that houses the start-ups, the shared space and equipment that helps them launch, and the training and consulting programs that help them become viable sustainable businesses.

Noteworthy | The community needs SFBI addresses are new high-wage skilled jobs; creation and expansion of stable businesses; support for innovative firms that attract capital, revenue and broaden the tax base; diversifying a local economy long reliant on low-wage service jobs; offering opportunities to low-income, minority, women, and disadvantaged entrepreneurs; encouraging entrepreneurship for young people and workers in transition; and leveraging the technology assets of national labs and universities.

Santa Fe Chamber

Opportunities

Fund

dba Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce

santafechamber.com

Mission | To strengthen the local economy and serve as the voice of business in community affairs. Our Feria Southside Initiative has as its mission to nurture the community spirit and economic development through support and empowerment of the Hispanic immigrant community in Santa Fe, predominantly focused on the Southside. We strive to create an inclusive and accessible business community by being the gateway for entrepreneurial growth and job creation, and by celebrating our unique cultural heritage while driving economic vitality for this hugely underserved population.

Proposal | We are seeking financial support to sustain the vibrancy of our Feria Southside Initiative that encompasses quarterly markets, an annual fair, educational workshops, and bilingual resource material, providing a sustainable ecosystem for community engagement and economic opportunities for our Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Noteworthy | To date, our Feria Southside Initiative has supported approximately 57,000 lives, fostering inclusivity and prosperity in our diverse business community. As we have dived into this work, we see the continuous need for these services, and in order to make an impact we need sustainable funding to grow.

Santa Fe Woman’s Club & Library Association

sfwomansclub.org

Mission | To serve women and children, focusing on scholarship, literacy, cultural enrichment, and wellbeing while forming lasting friendships.

Proposal | We provide reasonably priced rental space for groups and individuals to hold events. We’re requesting funds to complete two large projects: 1) purchase and install an integrated lighting system in our auditorium and 2) replace aging carpet throughout the building. Numerous theater groups have suggested that theatrical lights will enhance the utility of our auditorium for their purposes. The carpet has been patched and repaired multiple times and it’s now a concern that some areas present tripping hazards.

Noteworthy | We offer affordable and attractive rental spaces for community events. In 2023, over 115 individual events, such as baby showers, graduation parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties, and memorial services have been held. 14 groups, including the Rotary Club, River Church, and KADAMPA meet weekly; and 16 groups held theater events, art markets, sales, and other events open to the public. Our spaces have been used free of charge for 12 vaccine clinics and five library talks.

Searchlight New Mexico

searchlightnm.org

Mission | To deliver high-impact investigative reporting to inspire New Mexicans to demand action on systemic problems that plague our state.

Searchlight New Mexico is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative and public service journalism in the interest of the people of New Mexico. We believe that great reporting can motivate all New Mexicans to confront racial and economic inequities, government corruption and negligence, and abuses of power.

Proposal | We request funding to support coverage about the most critical issues facing our region: child and family well-being, education, the environment, and the health of the region’s citizens. The organization draws its strength from its sharp editorial focus, talented reporters, extensive media network, innovative strategies, and proven ability to spark reforms. Our investigations have helped end practices that were secretive, illegal, retaliative, and in some cases potentially lethal.

Noteworthy | Searchlight New Mexico fulfills a specific need for long form, investigative, and enterprise journalism. The number of journalism jobs that have been lost in the last ten years is over 50,000. New Mexico is one of the states that is considered a “news desert” with five counties having no local paper and many more with minimal coverage or little online presence. Searchlight covers pressing issues across the state and provides free content to every media outlet in New Mexico and beyond.

Somos Un Pueblo Unido

somosunpueblounido.org

Mission | To build communities that guarantee the civil rights and worker’s rights of all people irrespective of national origin or immigration status. We were born a Santa Fe-based immigrants’ rights group in 1995 but have evolved into a statewide immigrant-led organization promoting racial and worker justice.

Proposal | Somos Un Pueblo Unido is seeking funding to continue providing and expanding our work in co-leading a statewide table of workerbased organizations elevating the social and structural barriers for BIPOC, rural, immigrant, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, low-wage, and other “difficultto-reach” workers to skills-building and workforce development opportunities, as well as advancing worker-driven solutions to ensuring equitable pathways to quality jobs.

Noteworthy | New Mexico has a low labor participation rate and a major shortage of qualified workers across all sectors (estimated at over 30,000 more vacancies than residents looking for work). Disengaged, difficult-to-reach, and over-employed low-wage workers encounter social, structural, and financial barriers to skills building opportunities, including inadequate support services and childcare.

Southwest Women’s Law Center

swwomenslaw.org

Mission | To create opportunities for women to realize their full economic and personal potential by eliminating gender bias, discrimination, and harassment, lifting women and their families out of poverty, and ensuring that all women have full control over their reproductive lives through access to comprehensive reproductive health services and information.

Proposal | The Southwest Women’s Law Center seeks funding to continue to advance the wellbeing, rights, and power of women in New Mexico through legal research, policy analysis, advocacy, community and stakeholder education, and coalition work at the local, state, and national levels.

Noteworthy | Many working New Mexico families live paycheck-to-paycheck, and any disruption in income can have devastating impacts on a family’s financial well-being. When workers have access to Paid Family & Medical Leave, no New Mexico worker will be forced to choose between their livelihoods and welcoming a new child or managing a serious medical condition for their family member or themselves.

Visiones CollaborativasCollaborative Visions

visionescollaborativas.org

Mission | To nurture the people or Mora and Mora County through a culture of collaboration.

Proposal | Never has the concept of collaboration been more important to the people of Mora County than it is now. During fire and flood recovery, community-based leadership and decision-making is critical. Collaborative Visions (CV) continues to spearhead efforts to coordinate and facilitate multiagency effectiveness. We seek funding to further grow our efforts.

Noteworthy | Over 100 homes were destroyed by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires in Mora County alone, and over 350,000 acres of prime forest and farmlands were burned in the area. Many depended on agriculturally based income, so they face not only the immediate devastation but the economic challenges of loss of income. FEMA has been slow in reimbursing residents, and CV continues to work with Neighbors Helping Neighbors to address immediate needs. Long-term planning is critical for the next five-plus years.

WESST

wesst.org

Mission | To be a home to New Mexicans starting or growing a small business. We provide a support system of consulting, training, incubation, and lending to help women, people of color, and lowwealth individuals successfully strengthen and grow their businesses through sustainable sales, financial knowledge, and job creation.

Proposal | WESST offers comprehensive business development services targeted to women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-wealth New Mexicans who have experienced historical, systemic barriers to starting and growing a small business. Core services include business training and consulting, business incubation, and access to capital. WESST requests support to help us reach more disadvantaged minorities in Santa Fe who require support to start/grow a small business.

Noteworthy | 45% of businesses fail within their first 5 years of operations, and a significant percentage of new businesses in Santa Fe fail within their first few years. This suggests a need for organizations like WESST who provide entrepreneurship support, mentorship, and resources to help businesses succeed. Supporting small businesses helps diversify and strengthen the local economy, which is particularly important Santa Fe, which can be subject to the inherent fluctuations of a tourismbased economy.

Education

RESULT: ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCEED IN EDUCATION AND ARE PREPARED FOR A CAREER.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• School readiness

• Reading proficiency

• Math proficiency

• High school graduation rates

• Opportunity youth* engagement (*Youth ages 12-29 struggling with school, not in school, and/or not working)

Through direct service, policy advocacy and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Integrated student and family supports for at risk/vulnerable populations with strong place-based solutions supported by network of caring and appropriately trained adult and peer relationship;

• Access to quality, affordable early childhood education and out-of-school (after school and summer) opportunities;

• Targeted interventions to close the academic achievement gaps across key milestones from birth to career;

• Work-based learning and career technical education through real life and personally relevant education, including career exploration and alternative pathway opportunities; and/or

• Educator/provider/family training & support so they can be strong advocates and supporters for children/students’ success – especially in high need areas.

PHOTO: COLLINS LAKE AUTISM CENTER

The Academy for Technology and the Classics

atcschool.org

Mission | To take students into the wild to inspire a love for the environment and culture of New Mexico, explore the limits of their courage, expand their bounds of compassion, develop kindness in action, and foster an attitude of service and love in all aspects of life.

Proposal | We are requesting support to fund the Academy for Technology and the Classics (ATC) Mountain Club’s service learning expeditions in the Santa Fe National Forest, Picuris Pueblo, Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association, and the Army Corps of Engineers at Abiquiu Lake. This will allow us to pay for transportation, food, and coordinators/ teachers planning and work on the expeditions.

Noteworthy | Over 150 students have graced this club since it was founded in 2017. Over half of our members joined because they were disenfranchised by school due to failing grades and a lack of connection with the academic nature of school.

Time and time again, I have had kids who join the club who are on the verge of dropping out; after a season with us, their grades improve and they are ready to create a deep and meaningful life. For the first time in their lives, they were able to see the power of their hands and heart.

ARCC — Awarness, Resiliency, Clarity & Compassion

centerformsc.org

Mission | To support teens at local high schools and middle schools to relate to themselves in difficult times, when struggling with stressors, with kindness and explicit behaviors of care via the Mindful Self Compassion for Teens program. Empower teens with the three elements of self-compassion: selfkindness versus self-judgment; common humanity as opposed to isolation; and mindfulness as opposed over-identification with negative emotions. Lessen anxiety and depression in teens, giving them tools of resilience, self-care, and awareness.

Proposal | We seek support to implement the Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens program, and tailored trainings thereof, as adapted for adolescents from Kristin Neff & Chris Germer’s original program. For a second year, all 10th graders at Mandela International Magnet School will participate in the entire program. Additionally, students at Capitol High, Ortiz Middle School, and other schools collaborating with Communities in Schools will receive SEL workshops. Communities in Schools staff will receive training, too.

Noteworthy | According to a 2021 CDC report, 42% of teens, 57% of females, and 29% of males experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness to the degree that they could not engage in regular activities; 13% of females and 7% of males attempted suicide. In a recently published study by Dr. Karen Bluth, a group of teens taught the Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens program, after six months, were more than two and a half times less likely to develop full-blown depression than the other students in the study.

Books on the Bosque

booksonthebosque.com

Mission | To bring books and literacy to New Mexico’s most valuable and cherished resource, its youth.

Proposal | With your support, Books Beyond the Bosque will distribute over 100 books into middle school and high school students, as well as bring in authors for its literacy days.

Noteworthy | At 70.9% New Mexico has the lowest literacy rate in the country and according to New Mexico’s KID COUNT Profile, our national rank for children living in poverty is 48th with 24% of New Mexican children living in poverty, 79% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading, and 87% of eighth graders are not proficient in math.

Breakthrough Santa Fe

breakthroughsantafe.org

Mission | To support motivated public middle and high school students whose identities have historically been excluded from higher education on their path to college. In addition, the program provides high school and college-age young adults with a rewarding experience as teachers and mentors.

Proposal | Breakthrough Santa Fe requests funds to support our ongoing work with students from across Santa Fe County who will be first in their families to go to college. We provide a six‐year intensive academic program, one‐on‐one college and financial aid counseling, tutoring services, and advocacy support for students and their families. Please help us close the college access gap in Santa Fe!

Noteworthy | According to the 2018 Pell Institute’s “Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States,” only 22% of low-income New Mexican students enroll in college.

Bridges Project for Education

bridgesproject.org

Mission | To expand access to college and vocational training, with an emphasis on students who are from historically underrepresented groups. Postsecondary education access is a community issue. Inequality hurts us all. Bridges takes steps to level the playing field. Demystifying the path to postsecondary education helps students find their way forward in education and in life.

Proposal | Since 1997, Bridges has helped over 3,200 students in northern New Mexico access postsecondary education. We respectfully request support for our continuum of free services. Bridges increases access to college and vocational training by providing free individualized counseling, free early awareness outreach through presentations and workshops, and free alumni outreach to support students enrolled in their program.

Noteworthy | By 2027, it’s projected that 70% of jobs will require some form of postsecondary education, leaving over two-thirds of people in the greater Taos community at risk of being unqualified. Research shows that disparities in college access disproportionately impact minority, low-income, and first-generation students — a reality that is deeply felt in our community. The majority of Bridges clients come from these groups, which are statistically two-thirds less likely to pursue postsecondary education.

Collins Lake Autism Center

collinslakeranch.org

Mission | To provide supported living, education, and therapeutic services in a nature-based setting for our extended community family.

Proposal | We are working to expand the scope of our services and to offer them to the Mora community at large, in addition to the number of therapeutic services we currently provide to our residential clients.

Noteworthy | Of the many beneficial therapeutic services that our clients require, only behavioral health is accessible within the community. For other services, such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language therapies, residents must travel to Santa Fe or Albuquerque, which often puts these services out of reach for our clients and many other community members. Our new Integrated Therapy Center will provide parttime space for a variety of traveling providers as well as for our Ranch staff

Communities In Schools of New Mexico

cisnm.org

Mission | To surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Proposal | Communities in Schools of New Mexico (CIS) works inside Santa Fe’s Title I high-poverty public schools to provide wraparound support to students and their families. CIS’s Student Success Facilitators provide or coordinate a wide variety of community-based resources to improve academic achievement, attendance, family engagement and well-being, and social-emotional and behavioral health. The goal of CIS’s work is to ensure that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have the support they need to succeed.

Noteworthy | 100% of the students CIS serves attend Santa Fe’s Title I (high-poverty) public schools and qualify for the federal free and reduced school meals program; 42% are English Language Learners. Primary risk factors include low family socioeconomic status (87.7%), family disruption and stress (67.8%), and food insecurity (57.9%).

A 2024 Survey of School Staff found that 93% of teachers and staff in schools CIS serves feel CIS has a transformative impact on creating a positive learning environment.

Del Norte LOV Foundation

delnortelovfoundation.org

Mission | To improve the lives of youth and families in New Mexico. The Del Norte LOV Foundation (DNLF) is an independent foundation associated with Del Norte Credit Union, and is an employeedriven nonprofit organization. We fulfill our mission through community support programs; scholarships, employee giving, community grants, financial literacy, sponsorships, and community engagement.

Proposal | We respectfully request support from the Santa Fe Community Foundation to expand our Financial Literacy program in Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Mora counties.

Noteworthy | The 2023 Kids County Data Book from The Annie E. Casey Foundation has ranked New Mexico last for child well-being, last in education, and 48th in family and community in the United States. We provide financial literacy curriculum and content, sponsoring 93 schools. Currently 275 teachers participate and we have educated over 17,000 students ages eight-22. 63 out of the 93 schools are located in Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Mora counties. We can close this gap by expanding to more schools and districts.

Dual Language Education of New

Mexico

dlenm.org

Mission | To develop, support, and advocate for high-quality dual language enriched education in New Mexico and beyond. Desarrollar, apoyar, y abogar por una educación de lenguaje dual de la más alta calidad en Nuevo México y más allá.

Proposal | Dual Language Education New Mexico prioritizes providing diverse learners access to highquality educational opportunities; these students typically struggle with reaching grade-level math proficiency, which we know impacts their future professional options. Funding for this project will support the development of a real-world math experience that will be piloted within Santa Fe Public School’s classrooms.

Noteworthy | 19% of New Mexico’s 4th graders were proficient in math, the lowest proficiency rate of all states (2022 National Assessment of Education Progress). 23% of the students in Santa Fe Public Schools in Grades 3rd - 8th and 11th grade scored proficient (M-MSSA 2023-2024 school year). The state average was 24%; 5% of ELs were proficient in Santa Fe Public Schools compared to 10% in New Mexico; and 11% of economically disadvantaged students were proficient in Santa Fe Public Schools compared to 15% in New Mexcio. This data illustrates the need to provide additional approaches to teaching math.

El Rito Public Library

elritolibrary.org

Mission | To further the aims of education for the public by serving as a portal through which individuals and families may obtain information, and acquire skills and experience for enlightenment, enjoyment, and empowerment. We serve people of all backgrounds and ages in rural northeastern Rio Arriba County.

Proposal | In order to further extend a welcoming face to our community from the library’s front yard, we want a vibrant outdoor mural on our 40-ft. rail container storage unit. The mural would be the work of our local high school students and youth from the Northern Youth Project under the experienced direction of high school and UNM-Taos educator, Ed Hefferman. The budget for this effort is $1,200 for the paint and other supplies, $1,200 stipend for Ed Hefferman, and $3,000 stipends for six students.

Noteworthy | Our local Mesa Vista High School students show a 16% math proficiency, 32% reading proficiency, and only 73% graduate. They are nearly 100% economically disadvantaged and they are 94.7 Hispanic. Any engagement or enrichment we can offer these youth will make a difference.

Embudo Valley Tutoring Association

embudovalleytutoring.com

Mission | To provide free tutoring and mentoring support to children in financial need in rural areas. We strengthen the quality of education in several rural schools in Rio Arriba and Taos County by providing trained tutors in reading and math, and empower local children so that they can achieve their full potential as human beings, responsible parents, and leaders of society. We adapt tutoring to the needs of the students in changing times by providing both in-person and virtual tutoring and mentoring.

Proposal | Embudo Valley Tutoring Association empowers New Mexico’s students through free tutoring and mentoring services to high priority students at Dixon, Velarde, and Alcalde Elementaries and the Embudo Valley Library in Rio Arriba County. We work to identify students needing support in language arts, math, and science and to provide them with individualized, highly effective academic tutoring and mentoring support. At the Embudo Valley Tutoring Association, we support a discovery learning after school program.

Noteworthy | The aftermath of the pandemic has left students struggling to catch up to the lost learning time, even while New Mexico continues to be challenged by its 50th ranking in the U.S. educational system. Current proficiency scores at our Rio Arriba County Schools range from 14%-42% in Reading and 7%-44% percent in math and 7%25% in science (NM PED AVT Proficiency 2022-2023). Teachers struggle, with little district support, to meet the range of needs they encounter in every grade level.

PHOTO: MESA PRIETA PETROGLYPH

Explora

explora.us

Mission | To create opportunities in our innovative experiential learning center for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).

Proposal | Funding will go towards 24 Explora-led educational STEAM outreach programs at public libraries and schools in Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Santa Fe counties. Collectively, these programs would impact up to 1,200 learners and their families.

Noteworthy | According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Technology and Science Education, STEAM outreach programs can have major impacts on students’ math reasoning abilities. The analysis demonstrated that average pre-test scores of elementary school students went from 40.44 to 84.01 after implementation of a STEAM project.

The Family YMCA

laymca.org

Mission | To build individual, family, and community strength by focusing on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Proposal | Funding will provide positive adult staff mentors, educational support, youth development programming, and substance abuse prevention programming at the Española YMCA Teen Center.

Noteworthy | New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) reports reveal that Española and Rio Arriba County (RAC) suffer from poor educational outcomes, multi-generational substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty, and high crime rates. A 2020 five-year cohort Public Education Department report shows Española’s graduation rate was 65.5% versus the state average of 81.7%. Opportunity to mentor toward higher education is evident.

First Serve New Mexico

firstservenewmexico.org

Mission | To transform Santa Fe’s students into champions both on and off the court by empowering them to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners and leaders. Our holistic approach to youth development intentionally integrates education, life skills, and tennis to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of each child. We envision a future where New Mexico’s youth lead community transformation and spark societal change, leaving behind a legacy of progress.

Proposal | First Serve New Mexico is seeking funding to enhance the quality of our after school and summer programs, which currently serve over 100 students during the school year and up to 200 students in the summer months. In order to provide our program at no cost to the participants and their families, First Serve New Mexico (FSNM) relies on donations and grants which enable us to hire highly qualified tutors, tennis instructors, and life skills coaches who provide the direct services to our students.

Noteworthy | First Serve New Mexico is presently in the middle of a rapid growth spurt and additional funding sources are needed in order to continue providing the highest quality program to the families we serve. In the past three years alone, our school year program has nearly doubled in size, while our tennis summer camp has expanded from 50 youth participants up to 200 in this same time period. This rapid growth is by far the most dramatic increase that FSNM has experienced in its 21-year history.

Jobs for America’s GraduatesNew Mexico

jagnm.org

Mission | To transform communities, one student at a time, by re-engaging academically vulnerable high school students and preparing them to reach their potential through graduation and beyond.

Proposal | Funding awarded from the Santa Fe Community Foundation will directly support the Jobs for America’s Graduates New Mexico vision of becoming the go-to solution among educators and policymakers throughout the state for closing equity gaps in education, graduating students most at risk of dropping out, and preparing graduates to thrive in college, career, and life.

Noteworthy | The most incredible impact statistics that give both context and results of Jobs for America’s Graduates – New Mexico are the following: 49% of students are Latino(a), 48% of students are Native/Indigenous, 27% of students have a diagnosed disability, 90% receive Free/Reduced lunch at school, 90% Graduation Rate (compared to New Mexico’s current graduation rate of 77%).

Kearny Elementary School

kearny.sfps.info

Mission | To nurture the whole child and develop strong pathways to college, careers, and community involvement, which lead to thriving New Mexico communities. At Kearny, our caring and capable staff cultivate equitable, relevant, and vibrant learning opportunities for our students and families.

Proposal | We are asking for general operating support to continue our efforts in providing expanded, culturally enriched learning opportunities, rigorous community-connected classroom instruction, and overall school readiness by continuing our efforts in implementing the Community School strategy.

Noteworthy | Our school serves a student population in which 80% are considered “economically disadvantaged” and 100% qualify for “free and reduced lunch.” In addition, this school resides on the south end of Santa Fe, which is known for having a high population of families who reside in low-income areas with minimal existing services and is home to the majority of our immigrant population.

May Center for Learning

maycenter.org

Mission | To empower students with learning differences to be successful, confident learners who recognize the importance of communication, collaboration, and community. We accomplish this goal by focusing on four specific success attributes: Literacy, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Principles. May Center is committed to developing the understanding of literacy and learning differences by providing consultation and professional development to educators in New Mexico.

Proposal | At May Center for Learning, we know that when children have the skills and confidence to read, they are empowered to self-advocate and lead emboldened lives. With your support, we can continue our work of supporting students with learning differences and of improving literacy outcomes across the state of New Mexico.

Noteworthy | May Center has partnered with schools statewide in implementing The May Way™ structured literacy model of learning in public school settings. In Pojoaque, 1st grade students at Pablo Roybal Elementary who participated in The May Way™ model saw an increase in reading proficiency from 42% to 53% during the 20222023 school year alone. Three consecutive years of working with Pablo Roybal has led to the school making the largest literacy gains in the state as reported by the New Mexico Public Education Department in 2023.

Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project

mesaprietapetroglyphs.org

Mission | To protect a place. Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project (MPPP) is exclusively organized for charitable and educational purposes, including the protection and preservation of archaeological features and the environment and cultural landscape of the Mesa Prieta region of the northern Rio Grande Valley through documentation, education, outreach and promotion of heritage stewardship.

Proposal | Our nonprofit works tirelessly to educate students and rural communities about the importance of cultural sites in northern New Mexico. We have a need to not only address erosion control and upkeep on the mesa but to continue providing quality programming and outreach to local school districts, tribes and rural communities. Our funding request is to support general operations of staffing to continue our mission and outreach. With three staff, we depend heavily on dedicated volunteers.

Noteworthy | Mesa Prieta is on the National Register of Historic Places; the State Register of Cultural Properties and our work continues to keep the site protected in perpetuity. We believe that education and outreach to local schools and communities will lead to being better stewards for future generations. Our continuous need is to fulfill our mission by recording the 140,000+ petroglyphs and other archaeological features at Mesa Prieta.

National Dance Institute

ndi-nm.org

Mission | To help children develop discipline, a standard of excellence, and a belief in themselves that will carry over into all aspects of their lives. National Dance Institute (NDI) New Mexico is founded with the knowledge that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate children.

Proposal | Since 1994, NDI New Mexico’s fundamental conviction is that every child has the capacity to learn to work hard, never give up, do their best, and ultimately experience success. Our commitment is to offer all children, especially those with the greatest need, an opportunity to experience success through our unique dance programs offered during the school day and out-ofschool; our programs teach important life skills that result in a greater academic engagement, success, and self-confidence.

Noteworthy | The 2023 Kids Count Data Book ranked New Mexico as last in the nation for education and child well-being, and second to last in children’s economic wellbeing. NDI New Mexico’s programs address the gaps in education and healthcare faced by the state’s most vulnerable children, bring transformative educational and health enriching programs to more than 8,000 children per year.

New Mexico Art Education Association

newmexicoarteducators.org

Mission | To advance and enhance high quality, licensed, art education within our state by offering professional development, leadership and service opportunities for its members.

Proposal | Art Education improves artistic abilities as well as academic performance and graduation rates, social emotional well-being, and strengthens communities overall. Additional funding matters to expand and deepen the impact of quality art programs through art educators’ continuing professional training, and our efforts to support all students’ skills, knowledge, and opportunity regardless of poverty, ability, or location for career opportunities and life-long learning.

Noteworthy | Of the 322,989 New Mexico students, only those in grades K-6 are supported with direct arts funding through the Fine Arts Education Act of 2003. Roughly 49% of New Mexico students, those in grades 7-12, have not been included for over 20 years, even though New Mexico is home to one of the most robust arts economies in the country. As a 1% tax on oil and gas, this model legislation provides $53m serving approximately 165,000 k-6 students at almost all New Mexico elementary schools, that does not extend through high school. Imagine.

NewMexicoKidsCAN

nmkidscan.org

Mission | To serve as a catalyst and conduit to advocate for community-informed, studentcentered, and research-backed education policies that work best for the children of New Mexico. By connecting policy, instructional practice and politics, we reimagine what is possible in New Mexico’s public education system.

Proposal | With your support, NewMexicoKidsCAN will empower parents as advocates for their children through engagement, training, and calls to action; educate the public and decision makers through research reports, our nonpartisan education news site, NMEducation.org, and our podcast, New Mexico Rising; and push for student-centered policies that improve reading and math proficiency and close the achievement gaps in our state.

Noteworthy | We are in a literacy crisis, with assessments showing only one in three New Mexico students are proficient readers. In response, NewMexicoKidsCAN (1) released a Literacy Toolkit to help parents ensure their children receive highquality reading instruction; (2) launched the New Mexico Literacy Action Center, an online hub to empower parents to take actionable steps to improve literacy in New Mexico; and (3) advanced bill HB481, which incentivizes districts to use highquality instructional materials.

Northern New Mexico College Foundation

nnmc.edu

Mission | Northern New Mexico College is an inclusive, student centered teaching and learning community, dedicated to excellence, empowering students and transforming lives. We support philanthropic stewardship in partnership with Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) by empowering student success.

Proposal | The President’s Eagle Fund (PEF) is designed to drive student success and innovation across the university. If this grant is approved, the funds will be allocated to the PEF rather than earmarked for a specific initiative or project. This flexible funding approach allows us to address the most pressing needs of our students.

Noteworthy | Nearly 100% of students enrolled at Northern New Mexico College qualify as underserved be it students who are first-generation college students, those with limited English language proficiency, households living below the poverty threshold, and/or those who identify as Native American or Hispanic. NNMC welcomes more than 10% of its students from Tribal Lands; and 72% of its students identify as Hispanic.

Northern New Mexico Recreation and Outdoor Conservation Foundation

nnmroc.org

Mission | To provide opportunities to improve the quality for youth of northern New Mexico. We do this by investing in Recreation, STEAM, Literature, and Outdoor Conservation programs and activities. All of our programs are free.

PHOTO:

Proposal | We will be providing the After School Program to the kids of the Chama Elementary school K-6. This will be a free program that will be Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m to 5:45 p.m.

Noteworthy | This district’s average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in New Mexico. Public Schools in Chama Valley Independent Schools District has an average math proficiency score of 11% (versus the New Mexico public school average of 25%) and reading proficiency score of 19% (versus the 34% statewide average).

Operation Warm

operationwarm.org

Mission | To provide warmth, confidence, and hope through basic need programs that connect underresourced children to community resources they need to thrive.

Proposal | Your support will help provide 792 Santa Fe children with a new coat or a pair of new shoes and of socks in 2024, promoting equitable access to education, healthy outdoor play, and improved emotional health. New apparel will help children prepare for the school year with a boost to their confidence and an improved physical and emotional mindset.

Noteworthy | In Rio Arriba County, 29% of children live in poverty and 26% are food-insecure. 13 elementary schools in the county have a Free & Reduced Meals rate of 100%, and many families experience homelessness or addiction.

Reading Quest

readingquestcenter.org

Mission | To provide equitable access to quality reading instruction for all students, empowering them to believe in themselves as they become strong, enthusiastic readers. We accomplish this by providing individual and group tutoring to children who are below grade level in reading; intensive reading camps to groups of children during the summer; and workshops for public school teachers, parents and tutors for other organizations to improve their ability to teach reading.

Proposal | Reading Quest provides free individualized reading tutoring using explicit Structured Literacy aligned to the Science of Reading. We serve 440 students each week in grades 1-8 in Santa Fe, West Las Vegas, Taos, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, and Cochiti Pueblo. Reading Quest’s innovative approach, while strictly adhering to science, makes literacy exciting, multi-sensory, and fun. We serve some of the most vulnerable children in our community: 85% of our students are low-income.

Noteworthy | According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 24% of New Mexico’s fourth graders scored at proficient levels in 2019 (Nation’s Report Card, 2019), and only 12% of New Mexico’s Native American students read at proficient levels (NM Voices for Children, 2019). These statistics dramatically illustrate the stark reality facing so many of New Mexico’s students: without a solid foundation in reading, their academic career and later life outcomes are severely limited.

Santa Fe Christian

santafechristian.org

Mission | To equip generations of children with a quality education based on Biblical values and principles, that they will know the truth, live the truth, share the truth, and influence our community and the world for Christ.

Proposal | Santa Fe Christian School is seeking grant funding to provide tuition assistance to families in need, ensuring that every child has access to a quality Christian education, regardless of financial circumstances. Your support will help us continue to serve our diverse community and invest in the future of our students.

Noteworthy | Currently, 35% of the families at Santa Fe Christian School require financial assistance to afford tuition. This grant funding is essential to ensure that we can continue to provide support to these families and maintain our commitment to accessible education for all students.

The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

santafesymphony.org

Mission | To be a regional cultural resource that inspires, engages, and enriches audiences of all ages and cultures through high-quality performances year-round. The Santa Fe Symphony (SFS) also aims to enrich the lives of children and their families in northern New Mexico through providing access to the performing arts and world-class music education and training for children of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Symphony seeks support to continue providing quality music education and sliding scale tuition for youth of all income levels and backgrounds. Our Youth Education Programs provide positive mentoring through classes in mariachi, jazz, orchestra, and chamber music, helping youth develop self-confidence, discipline, social emotional skills, and teamwork which supports their academic success and social emotional well-being.

Noteworthy | New Mexico is rated one of the worst states in the nation for education and for children’s chances of success; SFS’ Youth Education programs help to fill the gap in access to high quality arts education programming to help children succeed and thrive. Many families cannot afford after-school activities or other opportunities for their children. Our youth programming helps to fill these gaps by offering reduced tuition, instrument rentals, and concert tickets for free or on a sliding scale.

Stagecoach Foundation Inc

stagecoachfdn.org

Mission | To create career pathways for New Mexicans in the film and television industry through free training and workforce development facilitated by film and television professionals.

Proposal | Funding for administrative expenses, capacity building, and staffing will ensure the continuation of and collaborative workforce development initiatives designed to assist in job creation for New Mexicans seeking to join the film and TV industry.

Noteworthy | Between 2020 and 2023, direct production expenditures surpassed $2.6 billion in New Mexico, opening up thousands of middleclass jobs opportunities for New Mexican TV and film crew. Stagecoach Foundation and partners are rallying to this opportunity, designing unionapproved training to enhance technical skills in film and digital media to create a ready and waiting skilled workforce.

STEM Santa Fe

stemsantafe.org

Mission | To advocate for, develop, and provide STEM programming, mentoring, and resources for all youth, especially underrepresented groups in STEM, to realize their potential and expand their opportunities in a dynamic world. We seek family and community engagement to create an ecosystem of support from the beginning of schooling through college, including advanced degrees.

Proposal | Investing in the STEM education of New Mexico youth is crucial now more than ever. Support from the Santa Fe Community Foundation helps sustain our newly-implemented programs. It allows us to continue providing youth with role models and hands-on experiences that illustrate how science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics disciplines support the common goal of giving back to one’s community. Our initiatives foster curiosity and exploration with role models and experts in the STEM fields.

Noteworthy | We intend to increase the number of students served from about 750 to more than 1,100 in fiscal year 2024-2025 with our newly implemented programs and updated outreach plan. We forecast our student contact hours to increase from 7,160 to approximately 10,000 hours in fiscal year 2024-2025. We will also increase our student engagement programming beyond Santa Fe by an estimated 20% through our northern expansion initiatives currently taking shape.

Supercomputing Challenge

supercomputingchallenge.org

Mission | To provide a venue for budding scientists, researchers, and engineers to learn computational science skills (modeling or simulations, data collection, visualization, research, and algorithms) applicable to numerous STEM fields. Middle and high school students are introduced to multidisciplinary research skills through a projectbased learning framework where they develop and solve problems from description to implementation.

Proposal | The Supercomputing Challenge is requesting funding for the 2024 - 2025 Challenge beginning in September 2024, to cover operating expenses such as personnel salaries, equipment maintenance, software licenses, and travel costs.

Noteworthy | Investing in the Supercomputing Challenge yields significant returns. Research shows students participating in STEM programs like ours are 3x more likely to pursue STEM degrees and careers, driving innovation and economic growth for the nation.

TOTAL NM

totalnm.org

Mission | To support equitable outdoor learning spaces for all prek-12th grade New Mexico students by providing spaces for relationship building, professional development, and resource sharing.

Proposal | We are requesting operational support to build capacity within our organization as we grow our efforts, support website design, internal programs to be more efficient, and community outreach efforts to increase awareness, and finally, to expand our ability to reach more partners and create more programs and opportunities to support outdoor classrooms for all learners statewide.

Noteworthy | TOTAL NM has begun the first-ofits-kind six-month Outdoor Educator Leadership Program working together to create a statewide adaptable framework supporting outdoor classrooms for all learners. Studies at Stanford University demonstrated that environmental education has led to a number of positive impacts, from improving academic performance to enhancing critical thinking skills to developing personal growth and life-building skills including confidence, autonomy, and leadership (North American Association for Environmental Education).

Twirl

twirltaos.org

Mission | To support the growth and potential of children in Taos through inspirational, communitywide opportunities to gather, learn, create and play.

Proposal | Twirl offers a singularly distinct STEAM engagement and education service to children in the Taos area. Outlying areas such as Dixon, Embudo, Velarde, Ojo Sarco, and Ohkay Owingeh lie midway between the county seats of Rio Arriba and Taos Counties. Due to the regional spread and topography, existing Rio Arriba educational services often overlook this area. With your support, Twirl can continue to bring rich and engaging STEAM learning to the families and children in these remote areas.

Noteworthy | According to the New Mexico Vistas report, Velarde has less than 10% of children who are grade-level proficient in Math, while Dixon has 40%. However, public information for the smaller outlying areas is masked because of community size. Notably, Twirl has a consistent presence in Peñasco Elementary School, which is attended by children in the Ojo Sarco area, with documented success data. This school’s children rank 80% in math proficiency according to the same report.

Upstart Crows of Santa Fe

upstartcrowsofsantafe.org

Mission | To allow kids to learn memorization, presentation, projection, and the meaning of Shakespeare’s words. No auditions are required. Upstart Crows of Santa Fe is a Youth Theatre group producing four plays a year for youth ages 10-18 focused on understanding the text of principally Shakespeare and sometimes other plays where youth not only act, but fill rolls of Stage Manager, House Manager, Fight Director, and other technical theatre jobs to produce plays for the public.

Proposal | Upstart Crows requests support to purchase lighting instruments for our theatre space in Eldorado. We have recently installed new battens as we improve our space step by step, and now need the lamps to hang for our currently planned January 2025 Crows production of As You Like It, and December 2024 Shakespeare Gym production of Loves Labors Lost, as well as future productions.

Noteworthy | Our space in Eldorado is exclusively a theatre and is used by the Upstart Crows, The Shakespeare Gym, our annual Youth Shakespeare Festival, and “Fight Call” training in safe stage combat. We also lend space to an improv group and the Incite Shakespear Company as rehearsal space. We serve kids from Santa Fe, including the Indian School and surrounding communities of Eldorado, Los Alamos, Abiquiu, and Ojo Caliente. Helping us light our stage will improve both the experience and quality we offer to our performers.

YouthWorks

santafeyouthworks.org

Mission | To create opportunities for disconnected youth ages 14-24 to become engaged and valued members of their communities. Given a supportive environment, youth develop the healthy attitudes and behaviors necessary for coping with life’s challenges. YouthWorks (YW) was founded in 2001 and specializes in programs designed to assist youth to develop social, leadership, and workforce skills, and to expand educational opportunities while achieving productivity and success.

Proposal | YW seeks funding for youth-focused training/mentoring and youth transportation and supply costs. YW delivers a variety of youth skills training tracks: construction trades, environmental restoration, farming, water conservation, customer service/retail management, solar installation, home energy efficiency retrofitting/weatherization, and a robust culinary arts training program to prepare young people with meaningful skills to build tenacity, resiliency, and successful futures.

Noteworthy | YW serves youth who are 94% low income, with 38% housing insecure or homeless, all of whom have encountered barriers to success. We assist over 1,000 youth per year from Santa Fe and northern New Mexico to address the high unemployment rate youth face and to equip them for workforce and career pathways. Our team is dedicated to support youth to overcome obstacles and connect them to practical, real skills through education and training to achieve lifelong success.

Environment

RESULT: ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OUR EARTH’S CRITICAL RESOURCES — LAND, WATER, AIR, AND FOOD — FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• Protect or improve watershed and water quality

• Preserve open space

• Remediate land

• Energy from renewable sources

• Environmental justice

• Create sustainable food production systems

Through direct service, policy advocacy and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

• Training and development of diverse food and farming enterprises and distribution infrastructure for sustainable food economy that represent a rich and diverse farming tradition;

• Fostering connection and collaboration among multi-sector stakeholders for environmental advocacy and community development that support equitable access and stewardship of land, air, water, and ecosystem for future generations;

• Promotion of renewable energy sources through coordinated efforts to increase consumption, production, workforce training, enterprise development, and investment; and/or

• Ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

All Aboard Earth /

Tessa Foundation

tessafoundation.org

Mission | To provide sustainability education for green jobs workforce pathways.

Proposal | We seek funding to build the mobile sustainability workshop trailer, which includes 1) an aeroponic Tower Garden; 2) a vermicompost and soil microbiology lab,; 3) a portable solar array; and 4) a mini plastics recycling and manufacturing studio. This facility will be a focal point of the Sustainability Career Fairs which will be created in collaboration with Communities in Schools at schools through Santa Fe.

Noteworthy | The outlook for green jobs is promising. The U.S. is expecting a remarkable growth rate of 9% over the next decade. This growth rate is eight times greater than the expected expansion of the workforce, highlighting the rapid pace at which green jobs are flourishing (climateactionpathways.org/building-a-greeneconomy). The opportunity is ripe to catalyze youth in the passion and pursuit of jobs that conserve and/ or improve natural resources and ecosystems.

Audubon Southwest & the Randall Davey Audubon Center

southwest.audubon.org

Mission | To protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-theground conservation. For over a century, Audubon has built a legacy of success by mobilizing its network of members, nature centers, and dedicated professional staff to connect people with nature and the power to protect it. Audubon Southwest is a regional field office, serving Santa Fe and other communities across New Mexico and Arizona.

Proposal | Treehouses, fort building, water and sand play, and outdoor exploration are the focus of the brand new Nature Discovery Area at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. Audubon seeks funding to provide free childhood programs promoting access to nature, families connecting in the outdoors, and learning to conserve our local resources. These hands-on programs prioritize exploration, connecting with nature, and equitable access for the community through partnerships and outreach. Noteworthy | Treehouses, fort building, water and sand play, and outdoor exploration are the focus of the brand new Nature Discovery Area at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. Audubon seeks funding to provide free childhood programs promoting access to nature, families connecting in the outdoors, and learning to conserve our local resources. These hands-on programs prioritize exploration, connecting with nature, and equitable access for the community through partnerships and outreach.

Biomimicry for Social Innovation

bsisocial.org

Mission | Biomimicry for Social Innovation (BSI) helps leaders and changemakers learn from nature and apply evolutionary intelligence to cultivating a thriving, just, resilient, and regenerative world. Founded in 2013, BSI creates tools and resources, and supports an ecosystem of practitioners who are applying nature’s genius to topics such as TrustBuilding & Collaboration; Equity & Social Justice; Adaptation & Resilience; Distributed Leadership & Decision-making; and Network Building & Communication.

Proposal | Nature teaches us that thriving, resilient ecosystems are diverse, with organisms that each bring unique strengths and contributions to their community. Inspired by these natural systems, BSI is seeking funding to expand our educational programs to participants from historically marginalized communities in New Mexico. This “Cross Pollinator Fund” covers direct program costs for participants, including lodging, food, and educational materials.

Noteworthy | Our “Cross Pollinator Fund” has ensured our workshops and retreats remain racially diverse, inclusive, and accessible — contributing to program cohorts in which 40-50% identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico

coalitionscnm.org

Mission | To develop and implement equitable climate and sustainability solutions and policies in collaboration with local governments and communities in the state of New Mexico. We advocate for climate action legislation, regulations, and administrative actions; promote local and state renewable energy and water conservation policies; and advance energy efficiency and clean energy projects, especially for low-income households.

Proposal | We seek funding to support our work to increase access of disadvantaged households to rooftop solar, community solar, and energy efficiency in order to reduce their utility bills. We do this by working at the state level through legislation, program and policy development, and partnerships with low-income serving organizations to provide education and outreach.

Noteworthy | Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico leads programs reducing greenhouse gas emissions to benefit disadvantaged communities. We played a lead role developing New Mexico’s Community Solar Program providing a 30% carve-out for low-income subscribers. We created the New Mexico Climate Investment Center, the state’s first green bank, prioritizing investments in emissions reducing projects; and partnered with the City of Santa Fe in 2023 in administering Solarize Santa Fe, expanding access to rooftop solar and energy efficiency.

Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety

nuclearactive.org

Mission | To protect all living beings and the environment from the effects of radioactive and other hazardous materials now and in the future.

Proposal | Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety proposes creating a Nuclear Literacy: Educating Nuevomexicano Communities on the Los Alamos National Laboratory Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) curriculum and hold learning sessions in northern New Mexico.

Noteworthy | In the past five years, the budget for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has doubled to $5.15 billion in fiscal year 2024. The LANL Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) is six years late. LANL is operating on an out-of-compliance SWEIS while more buildings, renovations, and operations have expanded. The public does not have a voice. DOE must release the draft SWEIS for public review and comment of all of the changes received through funding windfalls.

Conservation Lands Foundation

conservationlands.org

Mission | To protect, restore, and expand the National Conservation Lands through education, advocacy, and partnerships. The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) is the only nonprofit dedicated solely to securing and expanding the National Conservation Lands, the most ecologically rich and culturally significant of lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Proposal | CLF works to protect, restore, and expand valuable and vulnerable public lands across the West, including in New Mexico. Believing that conservation is best achieved through the dedication of local communities, we created an effective, powerful, and diverse constituency called the Friends Grassroots Network (FGN). Together, we advocate for land protections, build toward greater social justice, and safeguard landscapes essential to both people and the planet.

Noteworthy | The Santa Fe community, especially the south side, is made up of people earning lower than the area’s average income. With 70% of low-income communities in the U.S. living in nature-deprived areas and only 6% of New Mexico’s lands protected as national parks, monuments, or wilderness, protecting the Caja del Rio would provide the region with outdoor access and the opportunity for economic growth, preserve the cultural significance of the area, and support climate resiliency and biodiversity.

Conservation Voters New Mexico Education

Fund

cvnmef.org

Mission | To engage the people of New Mexico in our long-standing shared values of protecting our air, land, water, and the health of our communities. We do this by mobilizing people to advocate on policy, enhancing the voting process, encouraging people to vote, cultivating conservation leaders and amplifying the voices of those most affected. Our vision is for a New Mexico where decision-makers and public policies represent the conservation values of our people.

Proposal | We seek support to continue our coalition work with diverse communities to protect New Mexico’s public lands and waterways and build support and engagement for state funding for conservation and community resilience. Through convening coalitions, connecting affected communities with decision-makers, and amplifying voices from frontline communities, we aim to address the root causes of the climate crisis that is threatening communities with extreme weather events.

Noteworthy | In 2022, only 6% of New Mexico’s lands were protected. New data will be released soon to quantify progress, but with the climate crisis, increasing development, and land and water degradation, there’s an urgent need to protect more land and waterways. We’re working to meet the Governor’s Executive Order to protect 30% of public lands and waters by 2030 to mitigate threats and make landscapes more resilient. Frontline communities must be centered in decisions so their concerns inform solutions.

Continental Divide Trail Coalition

continentaldividetrail.org

Mission | To complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) will do this by building a strong and diverse trail community, providing up-to-date information to the public, and encouraging conservation and stewardship of the trail, its corridor, and surrounding landscapes.

Proposal | CDTC seeks funding to continue to manage stewardship and trail completion programs to improve the quality and protection of the CDT and serves as a facilitating body between land managers and partners working along the CDT. CDTC has four pillars of focus: stewardship of the Trail, promotion of the Trail, building a strong Trail community, and building an organization with sound governance. These pillars guide our longterm direction as well as our day-to-day efforts to complete, promote, and protect the CDT.

Noteworthy | CDTC and its partners provided over 32,000 volunteer hours valued at $1.019 million dollars in 2023 alone, which when combined with privately raised funds by CDTC, collectively match the federal funding invested in CDTC and partners, with a return on investment of 7:1. Specific to 2023, CDTC Field Operations engaged over 100 volunteers on the CDT through 11 trail maintenance projects, providing over 1,800 hours of volunteer time spent directly on the trail.

Food is Free Albuquerque

fifabq.org

Mission | To encourage social empowerment through the growing and sharing of fresh food.

Proposal | We are seeking funding to expand our efforts in gathering excess produce from local farms and backyard fruit trees to northern New Mexico, which we then distribute to those in need. With 10 years of experience and over 100 community partners in the greater Albuquerque area, this support will help us reach more people and enhance our impact by bringing fresh, nutritious food to underserved communities.

Noteworthy | According to the USDA, New Mexico has the second-highest rate of food insecurity for children in the country, with over 15% of households experiencing food insecurity. At the same time, we estimate that over 1 million pounds of fresh, locally grown produce go to waste in the Albuquerque area alone each year. Our organization helps to address both of these issues by gleaning excess produce and distributing it to those in need.

Friends of the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge

fws.gov/partner/friends-las-vegas-national-wildlife-refuge

Mission | To support the goals of the Las Vegas National Refuge Complex to preserve, protect and restore biological diversity and historical resources of the refuge landscape, while providing opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation, education, interpretation, and scientific research.

Proposal | The Friends of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge’s (FLVNWR) requests funding to support a Las Vegas community created mural inside of the newly renovated Visitor Center at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge as well as mosaic bird sculptures at Melton Lake near the Visitor Center. FLVNWR will select two New Mexico artists (through a competitive selection process) to work with middle school and high school students on these projects at the Refuge this summer. Sculptor David Lobdell from Highlands University will help oversee these projects.

Noteworthy | Studies suggest that outdoor and experiential education, wilderness youth programs, and challenge activities increase participants’ selfesteem, and the belief that they have control over events that affect them. Among youth, many felt that spending time in nature positively impacted their mental health, with 51.6% mentioning that “I feel calm when I am out in nature;” 22.1% said that it “reduces my anxiety.” 68 million people visit national wildlife refuges each year.

National Forest Foundation

nationalforests.org

Mission | The National Forest Foundation (NFF) works on behalf of the American public to inspire personal and meaningful connections to our National Forests. By directly engaging communities and leveraging private and public funding, the NFF leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation. Each year, the NFF restores fish and wildlife habitat; facilitates common ground; plants trees; protects vital watersheds; and improves recreational opportunities.

Proposal | The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon (HPCC) Fire and suppression activities in 2022 affected many communities and large portions of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, including areas of ecological significance such as riparian, wet meadows, and sensitive plant habitat. Support from the Santa Fe Community Foundation will directly aid the long-term post-fire recovery involving an ongoing process of restoration, monitoring, and assessment of the damage to both the environment and local communities.

Noteworthy | The HPCC Fire in 2022 was the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history, burning a total of 345,718 acres. The fire resulted in the destruction and degradation of physical, recreational, and green infrastructure. The environmental impact was and remains significant, affecting vast areas of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. Post-fire disturbance have lead to a loss of biodiversity, reduced habitat quality, and decreased ecosystem services including clean air and water.

National Parks Conservation Association

npca.org

Mission | Since 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to protect and enhance our national parks for present and future generations. Today, we are focused on helping parks thrive for the next 100 years, telling the stories of all Americans, and ensuring everyone is welcome, enriched by, and empowered to protect national parks by building a new generation of advocates.

Proposal | The current goals of NPCA’s New Mexico Programs include 1) elevating tribal voices in public lands management; 2) working in coalition to achieve permanent protections around Chaco Culture NHP and Carlsbad Caverns NP related to oil/gas withdrawals; 3) restoring clean air for New Mexico’s parks and people through community engagement on regional haze plans; 4) advancing emerging park protection campaigns at Valles Caldera NP, Caja del Rio, and more; and 5) building diverse, young adult advocates for parks.

Noteworthy | NPCA’s New Mexico Office protects and enhances 15 diverse national parks in the state.

New Mexico Environmental Law Center

nmelc.org

Mission | To work with frontline, low-income, and Black, Indigenous/Native, and People of Color communities to protect our air, land, and water in the fight for environmental justice through the provision of free legal services, policy development, advocacy and public education. Our shared vision is a state where every person, regardless of race/ ethnicity or economic status, has clean air, water, and land to sustain health and well-being.

Proposal | Funding will allow our nonprofit to continue providing free legal representation to frontline Native/Indigenous clients from communities fighting for environmental justice who otherwise would not be able to secure quality legal services. With our clients, NMELC works to hold polluting industries and government agencies accountable and to ensure the meaningful involvement of impacted communities in the development and implementation of strong, equitable environmental policies and regulations.

Noteworthy | Native/Indigenous communities in northwestern New Mexico have long suffered the devastating impacts of uranium mining, including increased risk of heart disease, autoimmune dysfunction, cancer, and premature death. The Navajo Birth Cohort Study has found urine uranium concentrations in infants exceeding the US 95th percentile. NMELC’s work promotes health equity by strengthening environmental laws and regulations that better protect communities disproportionately harmed by toxic uranium contamination.

New Mexico Land Conservancy

nmlandconservancy.org

Mission | To preserve New Mexico’s land heritage by helping people conserve the places they love.

Proposal | New Mexico Land Conservancy (NMLC) seeks funding to develop the 262-acre Petchesky Conservation Center — a natural oasis on Santa Fe’s south side — into a community resource for environmental education, conservation research, and equitable access to outdoor recreation. Your support will help NMLC expand opportunities for educational programming, native species reintroduction, and publicly accessible trails.

Noteworthy | 240: The number of acres under conservation easement at NMLC’s Petchesky Conservation Center, constituting the largest tract of permanently protected land on Santa Fe’s south side — an area that has seen rapid development over the past decade. This piece of open space serves as critical habitat for species native to the Santa Fe area and provides the foundation for a community hub for environmental conservation, education, and recreation.

New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors

nmvfo.org

Mission | New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO) is an inclusive all-volunteer, actionoriented, non-political nonprofit organization that promotes involvement and education of the public in the maintenance, improvement, and stewardship of New Mexico’s public lands. NMVFO specializes in constructing and improving trails and other outdoor facilities to increase outdoor recreation opportunities in New Mexico for all, as well as enhancing wildlife habitat and protecting the environment.

Proposal | NMVFO promotes public lands stewardship by direct action. Our volunteers improve access to and enjoyment of public lands in northern New Mexico and across the state. This improved access promotes rural community economic development by increasing recreational activities. To sustain our all-volunteer organization we request operating and capacity building funding for tool and equipment purchases and maintenance, cooking supplies, insurance, volunteer appreciation, and direct project expenses.

Noteworthy | Public land agency budgets are limited. NMVFO augments agency efforts to build and maintain trails and recreational facilities and enhance wildlife habitat. Since our founding in 1982, we have completed over 850 projects to improve New Mexico public lands. In 2023, we completed 35 stewardship projects and volunteered over 4500 hours (equivalent to $142K savings to land agency budgets). In addition our staff volunteered over 900 hours ($30K) for planning and logistics to sustain the organization.

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

nmwild.org

Mission | New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (New Mexico Wild) is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to the protection, restoration, and continued enjoyment of New Mexico’s wildlands and Wilderness areas.

Proposal | New Mexico Wild seeks funding to support our work to protect the Upper Pecos River watershed from toxic impacts of mining. Through the Stop Tererro Mine Coalition, we will use advocacy, stewardship, and outreach to inform the public and decision-makers about the threat of mineral development to this fragile ecosystem. We will also work to stop the National Nuclear Security Administration from building a powerline across the Caja del Rio plateau while also working towards permanent protection.

Noteworthy | Alarmingly, Comexico LLC, a subsidiary of an Australian mining company, has ownership of 236 mining claims throughout the Pecos headwaters covering 4,300 acres. If developed, it would impact the entire Pecos watershed and possibly the Santa Fe municipal watershed. Due to its high ecological stability and climate resilience, parts of the 107,000 acre Caja del Rio are among the top 20% of unprotected BLM and Forest Service lands with the highest conservation value in the lower 48 U.S. states.

Nuclear Watch New Mexico

nukewatch.org

Mission | Through comprehensive research, public education, and effective citizen action, Nuclear Watch New Mexico seeks to promote safety and environmental protection at regional nuclear facilities; mission diversification away from nuclear weapons programs; greater accountability and cleanup in the nation-wide nuclear weapons complex; and consistent U.S. leadership toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

Proposal | We aim to educate public, media, civic leaders, and lawmakers about the true impacts to the environment from Los Alamos National Laboratory nuclear weapons operations and help to ensure genuine cleanup. Funding will help us to speed up cleanup at the Lab, including the remediation of a large chromium plume that threatens the regional aquifer, and force a reexamination of decisions to leave radioactive and toxic waste in place in unlined pits.

Noteworthy | The Lab’s current budget request for cleanup is only 5.5% ($281 million) of its total budget request ($5.1 billion). At this rate, it will take many more decades to clean up the ~800,000 cubic yards of radioactive and toxic wastes that have buried for decades in unlined pits and trenches. This remains as a serious threat to our irreplaceable groundwater aquifer that supplies 270,000 people and to the Rio Grande, which already has documented plutonium contamination from the Lab.

Public Lands Interpretive Association

publiclands.org

Mission | To inspire and educate the public about the natural and cultural heritage resources of America’s public lands.

Proposal | The Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) and the NM Public Lands Information Center (NMPLIC) are seeking funds to serve the Santa Fe community more effectively and create new programs that will reach underserved communities locally.

Noteworthy | Since October 2023, the NMPLIC has served 1,700 customers through bookstore sales and through answering public lands inquiries over the phone, email, and in person. In addition to bookstore visitors, NMPLIC has provided outreach events for local communities. Through additional funding, NMPLIC would be able to serve 3,000 people and help serve specific underserved communities in Santa Fe.

Quivira Coalition

quiviracoalition.org

Mission | Through education, innovation, and collaboration, Quivira works in coalition with ranchers, farmers, government agencies, Tribal entities, and land stewards to foster resilience on dry working lands. Based in Santa Fe, our operations take place on working lands across the intermountain West. We envision a world where agriculture provides for the health of rural economies and communities, fosters social equity, and regenerates climate, land, water, and ecosystems.

Proposal | Quivira seeks critical funding to help build resilient landscapes, food systems, and communities in New Mexico. We will increase participation in state-wide, multi-sector, multicultural land stewardship coalitions; support historically underserved land stewards and producers to participate in grant programs; and help New Mexico producers build successful and resilient food supply chains by employing climate smart land management practices and shortening their sales channels.

Noteworthy | Ranchers grazing livestock on rangeland and pastures manage nearly 800 million acres of working lands in the U.S., 42% of all U.S. lands, excluding Alaska. The ranchers and farmers who tend working lands in the future will have an enormous impact on the resilience of our environment, economies, communities, and climate. Quivira aims to support these land stewards and leverage working lands across the Southwest to achieve that resilience.

Remy’s Good Day Fund

remysgooddayfund.org

Mission | To collaborate for sustainability and the well-being of future generations.

Proposal | Remy’s Good Day Fund wants to increase our organizational capacity by hiring a part-time staffer for clerical and other office tasks. We are a small grantmaking nonprofit dedicated to advancing solar energy, agriculture and food security, and environmental and social justice for communities in New Mexico tribal lands and northern villages. We believe that grassroots nonprofits are in the best position to prioritize community needs and develop the most beneficial solutions.

Noteworthy | Over the past seven years, Remy’s Good Day Fund has invested over $864, 000 in 64 projects proposed by 31 grassroots nonprofits. In our first year of operation, we funded only two grants, both for solar projects. To date this year, we have funded 11 projects for solarization, Indigenous regenerative agriculture and improving food security, and climate change. This growth in the scope and volume of our work necessitates a modest increase in our organizational capacity.

Rio Grande Community Development Corporation

rgcdc.org

Mission | To build stronger and healthier communities by serving as a trusted and accessible hub for co-developing economic and social opportunities that promote self-sufficiency, honor cultural diversity, and foster intergenerational prosperity.

Proposal | In collaboration with over 50 organizations, we are committed to building an equitable food system in New Mexico that fosters sustainable communities and promotes social justice. Our funding request focuses on expanding the Delicious New Mexico initiative, which addresses the fragmented supply chain limiting market access for small-scale producers by creating an accessible transportation infrastructure for underinvested food enterprises.

Noteworthy | According to NMSU’s Rural Economic report, rural farm returns in income in crops and livestock sales have remained flat. Rural counties such as Mora, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel have some of the highest rates of poverty, and slow employment growth. 23.5% of Mora, and 22% of Rio Arriba residents are living in poverty. Delicious allows us to reach small farmers in northern New Mexico facing economic challenges and helps to build sustainable businesses to lift families out of poverty.

River Source

riversource.net

Mission | To support people advancing watershed stewardship to create significant community engagement and long-lasting impacts for intergenerational learning and ecological restoration. We provide science and policy education and the building of watershed and climate resilience in New Mexico. Our goal is to be weavers, bringing together elders, youth, and land managers to spark action for caring for our water, forests, and land and leveraging the full potential of people working together.

Proposal | River Source turns community watersheds into outdoor classrooms by creating outdoor, experiential learning programs and youth job pathways centered on ecological restoration and land and water protection. With our partners we are co-creating watershed studies and stewardship projects by combining cutting-edge technology with information system design and culturallyappropriate development of community-centered knowledge systems which outlast and thrive beyond our services.

Noteworthy | A survey of 10,000 young people (1625 years old) in 10 countries found that 45% said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and over 50% felt sad, anxious, angry, powerless, and helpless (Sept 2021). A study (Université de Sherbrooke, 2022) found that educators observed significant improvements in attention, overall well-being, and more in 95% of students after outdoor learning and over 90% of the educators saw improvements in their own wellbeing.

Santa Fe Conservation Trust

sfct.org

Mission | The Santa Fe Conservation Trust (SFCT) partners with our community to keep northern New Mexico’s living lands and people flourishing together. We protect culturally and environmentally significant landscapes, ignite people’s passion for nature and enable the continual regeneration of our healthy place.

Proposal | SFCT has a proud history of land conservation and trail stewardship. We enhance our collective quality of life by preserving land and scenic views, protecting wildlife habitats, safeguarding water resources, and expanding public access to nature in Santa Fe, San Miguel, and Rio Arriba counties. We create new trails and maintain 67 miles of city/county dirt trails. Our community programs provide equitable access to the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. Please support this nonprofit.

Noteworthy | Scientists stress that protecting at least 50% of the planet’s land/water is crucial to halting the collapse of ecosystems and preventing the extinction of over one million species. The 30x30 campaign aims to safeguard 30% of our land/ water by 2030 as an essential milestone. Currently, about 12% of U.S. land is protected through National Forests, BLM land, or other designations. To achieve this goal, land trusts are vital in collaborating with private landowners to conserve land and ecosystems.

Santa Fe Watershed Association

santafewatershed.org

Mission | To build a thriving, resilient Santa Fe River Watershed through collaboration, stewardship, and education that inspires us all to care for our land, water, and each other.

Proposal | While we’ve all been told that “water is for fightin’ over,” the Santa Fe Watershed Association approaches all our work with the conviction that the Santa Fe River is the common ground worth uniting over. Your unrestricted contributions turn this conviction into action by keeping our programs and partners connected throughout the watershed and help us live our values from the inside out.

Noteworthy | Over 11,000 Santa Fe students have visited the Municipal Watershed as part of the My Water, My Watershed program since 2010; SFWA volunteers have been cleaning the river since 2002; just last year our volunteers collected over 10 tons of trash out of the river and arroyos; our rain gardens infiltrate over 1 million gallons or stormwater per year; we have seven part-time staff.

Seed & Bloom

theseedandbloomproject.com

Mission | To transform the lives of those who live and work at PNM using the healing power of plants and healthy food to offer professional development and recreational education; introduce joy, growth, and opportunities for community service in the carceral setting; and ultimately help students avoid returning to prison. Seed & Bloom is a nonprofit project that conducts workshops on horticulture and culinary arts for individuals incarcerated in the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

Proposal | Seed & Bloom needs funding to purchase essential supplies for the indoor and outdoor gardening curriculum including soil, seedlings, compost, plant food, and paper goods for class activities, as well as materials and tools to repair and reopen additional greenhouses on PNM’s grounds.

Noteworthy | Qualitative and quantitative studies have shown that there are many benefits from horticultural therapy, and long-standing prison garden programs have been shown to reduce reconviction rates for those who participate. As reported in the New York Times, “[a] 2008 study by Alison Laichter, a graduate student at Columbia University, showed that participants in the GreenHouse program [at Rikers Island] had a 40 percent lower rate of reconviction than inmates in the general prison population.”

Stop Forever WIPP Coalition

stopforeverWIPP.org

Mission | To stop expansion of WIPP, inform and involve the public in decision making, and ensure health and safety issues are fully addressed. We envision a future of fairness and safety, in which promises made to New Mexicans by federal and state agencies are kept, and we bring attention to and support mitigation of, ongoing nuclear colonialism and the related environmental injustices experienced by the people of New Mexico.

Proposal | SFWC continues educating and activating northern New Mexico on the health and safety risks of DOE’s plans to expand nuclear bomb production at Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) and related waste disposal, utilizing the Nuclear Materials Transport Caravan along waste transport routes and the Nuclear Injustice Project, to educate northern New Mexico youth, mainly low income, youth of color, targeted as the workforce for expanded nuclear weapons production activities at LANL.

Noteworthy | SFWC turns out hundreds of New Mexico people to state/federal hearings and meetings, partners with elected officials on town hall style educational events, makes numerous presentations to community/religious groups, city, county and state commissions and agencies, translates materials into Spanish for LEP readers prevalent in Northern counties. The 1st Nuclear Materials Transport Caravan brought out more than 100 people at five villages and locations in Santa Fe County addressing risks and preparedness.

Trees, Water & People

twp.org

Mission | To improve people’s lives by helping communities protect, conserve, and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term wellbeing depends.

Proposal | Trees, Water & People (TWP) invests in helping rural, Indigenous communities in Central America and on U.S. Tribal Lands to preserve and protect their natural resources. TWP is actively partnering with New-Mexico-based Tribal Nations on post-wildfire restoration and collaboration. Building Tribal capacity, amplifying voices, and advancing equity, and implementing on-theground projects are all key objectives to support communities’ climate resiliency and recovery in the Jemez Mountains.

Noteworthy | Regarding lands managed by the Pueblo of Jemez: “The sequence of more than 500 [years] of perennial small fires and wood collecting followed by frequent ‘free-range’ wildland surface fires made the landscape resistant to extreme fire behavior, even when climate was conducive and surface fires were large” (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, January 18, 2021).

we.grow.eco wegroweco.org

Mission | We are an organization that engages humans in thinking more critically about our relationship with the environment by facilitating interactive science, art, and community programs built upon the philosophy that small, unified actions lead to habitual, social, and systemic change. New Mexico Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of we.grow. eco.

Proposal | We provide hands-on arts and environmental education programs to K-12 students around northern New Mexico. Our lessons are place-based and standards-aligned, center creative reuse and civilian science, and foster collaborative problem solving and collective action – an antidote to post-COVID challenges. Your funding will help us offer these to more schools for less or free. We also facilitate community unifying events, such as clothing swaps and papermaking and junk journal workshops.

Noteworthy | Last school year, we diverted over 48,000 pieces of paper from the waste cycle while working with 787 students from 57 classrooms in both public and private schools around both urban and rural New Mexico. We worked with 17 out of the 32 public schools in the Santa Fe Public Schools district. We also estimate having swapped at least one cubic ton of used textiles at clothing swaps, with 100 pounds of the most deteriorated articles diverted from the landfill and instead beat into pulp for paper.

Western Environmental Law Center

westernlaw.org

Mission | Western Environmental Law Center uses the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient Western U.S. lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate.

Proposal | As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA, the vast majority of New Mexico’s surface waters may have lost federal water quality protections, exposing them to severe degradation. Collaborating with partner organizations, WELC will fill in the regulatory gaps created by Sackett with a wide-ranging water resource protection campaign to protect New Mexico’s streams, lakes, and wetlands, particularly those in northern New Mexico where surface water is more abundant.

Noteworthy | In the wake of Sackett v. EPA, GIS mapping analysis shows that roughly 95% of New Mexico’s rivers, streams, and lakes and 88% of its wetlands may have lost federal water quality protections otherwise afforded by the Clean Water Act (CWA). This is because Sackett limits protections to only those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to a federal jurisdictional water, and limits protection of tributaries to relatively permanent streams.

Women Together Global Inc

womentogetherglobal.com

Mission | To provide women-led and indigenous-led groups with secure access to land, so they have safe space to convene, engage in income generating activities, implement sustainable and traditional agricultural practices for local food sovereignty, and build networks of social support and solidarity. Through peer-to-peer learning exchanges, start-up resources, and technical support, women’s groups will be empowered to utilize the land for projects that uplift their communities and environment.

Proposal | We seek funding for the operational and direct project costs that will support womenled and Indigenous-led community groups to design, develop, and build land-based businesses that provide community benefits while preserving valuable ecosystems in Rio Arriba County. Funding will provide the training, materials, and infrastructure needed for the development and implementation of these projects, and the resources to nurture and strengthen partnerships between community groups.

Noteworthy | Around the world, women are responsible for 60-80% of all food production, yet they rarely own the land they farm on. Secure access to land is essential in order to sustainably and reliably feed families, support communities, and grow businesses and dreams. To date, Women Together has supported over 500 women and girls to create environmentally responsible businesses and climate-smart farms that increased income and food security while reducing pressure on local ecosystems.

Health & Human Services

RESULT: ALL PEOPLE ARE HEALTHY AND SAFE.

We invited requests from organizations serving Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties that work to improve:

• Access to affordable housing

• Food Security

• Safety

• Access to health care

• Healthy neighborhood living conditions

• Senior Services

Through direct service, policy advocacy and/or collaboration efforts, priority strategies will address:

Affordable housing and shelter for homeless and at-risk populations; Access to affordable and high-quality food, including food banks, pantries, and community centers that distribute food and promote healthy eating and work to address “food deserts;”

Efforts to address safety for vulnerable populations, including domestic violence and child abuse prevention, bullying prevention in schools, safety issues specific to immigrant populations, low wage workers and communities of color; Access to health services, including programs providing un- and under-insured populations with culturally appropriate and equitable access to quality health and wellness services such behavioral health (including addiction services), senior services, and groups working on cultural and generational trauma. Priority will be given to efforts applying a social determinants of health lens to the work;

Building healthy communities, including built environment and infrastructure, environmental quality (toxins and air/water quality), affordable and reliable transportation, parks and recreation;

Providing services targeted at senior well-being, including memory care, depression, audiology, dementia, exercise, home care, hospice, and medication guidance; and/or Systems change, including public policy, civic engagement, community organizing or public information to improve health and well-being of local residents.

Abrazos Community Healing Center

abrazoscenter.org

Mission | To provide accessible therapy for Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties’ BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals and families. To grow and train a staff of clinicians that are culturally responsive and experts in working with all northern New Mexico’s BIPOC communities.

Proposal | Barriers to accessing Behavioral health services for BIPOC community members in northern New Mexico can include lack of health insurance, lack of citizenship status, language barriers, intergenerational trauma, or cultural stigmas about therapy. Funds will support our team of therapists, who have experience mitigating these barriers. We provide Spanish-speaking therapists, BIPOC therapists, and therapists that either share our clients cultural background, or will take the time to understand it.

Noteworthy | Northern New Mexico’s BIPOC communities have higher rates of poverty, lower rates of health insurance coverage, and fewer culturally appropriate therapy offerings than our white communities. Less than a third of the Santa Fe/Rio Arriba therapists on the Psychology Today website indicate that they serve BIPOC clients. Abrazos is gathering and training a staff that knows how to work with our BIPOC communities. Additionally, we are committed to providing therapy to uninsured community members.

American Red Cross of New Mexico

redcross.org/local/az-nm

Mission | To prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Proposal | We provide relief after disasters; install free smoke alarms; meet the needs of our communities for life-saving blood; support military families; empower people to help in emergencies with life-saving skills, like CPR/1st Aid. We work alongside our neighbors to build community resilience.

Noteworthy | In the immediate past fiscal year, we responded to 361 local disasters across New Mexico (30 in Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Mora, and San Miguel counties) and assisted a total of 579 families/1,370 individuals across the state (37 families/95 individuals in those four counties). We provided $395,000+ in financial assistance ($26,000+ in those four counties) to meet the immediate emergency needs of these families and installed 1,244 smoke alarms (181 in those four counties), making 524 homes safer (130 in those four counties).

Assistance Dogs of the West

assistancedogsofthewest.org

Mission | To build successful working partnerships between clients and dogs that empower people and open doors to new opportunities. Our mission unites individuals and teams in utilizing the power of the human-animal bond to create greater hope, resiliency, and purposefulness across a far-reaching spectrum of services and geographies.

Proposal | Funding will support the acquisition, training, and placement of service dogs to assist people with disabilities, such as mobility impairments, autism, diabetes, seizures, TBI, PTSD (military and civilian), anxiety, and depression. Assistance Dogs of the West also places Facility, Courthouse Facility, Crisis Response, and Peer Support Dogs who work with survivors of crime in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and helps mitigate trauma in the aftermath of mass violence and other traumatic incidents.

Noteworthy | For people with disabilities (28% of New Mexico’s population), trained assistance dogs provide life-changing physical and emotional support, promote greater daily independence and self-reliance, and offer unconditional love and companionship. In the Judicial System, the dogs assist special victims’ advocates in providing a safe and supportive environment for depositions, mediation, and trial preparation and testimony.

Barrios Unidos

barriosunidoschimayo.org

Mission | To support the hearts, souls, minds and bodies of individuals and families dealing with cultural trauma, addiction, and recovery in our counties. We bring our community, volunteers, and professionals from the sciences, humanities, and healing arts to explore and address the root causes of cultural crises and intergenerational trauma, and envision pathways of transformation. We transform our community by first transforming ourselves and our ideas.

Proposal | Barrios Unidos is here to support individuals struggling with addiction, support families shattered by addiction, and re-engage community through the spirit of Querencia (the love of place, land, culture, and community). Querencia is the love of the place where one’s strength is drawn from, the place where one feels at home, and the place where you are your most authentic self. Continuing our Barrios Youth group will bring support to our youth by empowering their knowledge of their culture, Querencia, and heritage, thus sparking dialogue with our struggling population to create positive context as well as enhancing and nurturing empathy.

Noteworthy | Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties struggle with an alarming high rate of grandparents and great-grandparents raising grandchildren. Stress causes much distress to the health of not only the grandparent/caretaker but of the family as well, crippling community.

Behavioral Health Providers Association of New Mexico

nmbhpa.org

Mission | To strengthen the behavioral healthcare system in New Mexico by providing a platform for providers to gather and share information, access education, and advocate for continuous system improvements and positive change. Behavioral Health Providers Association of New Mexico (NMBHPA) is an association of more than 70 publicly funded New Mexico behavioral healthcare provider individuals and organizations who share a vision of accessible, inclusive, and effective behavioral health service and mental well-being for all.

Proposal | Funding will allow us to promote equity within the NMBHPA, ensuring that small agencies, regardless of financial limitations, have the opportunity to engage and advocate with NMBHPA for behavioral health system improvement. By subsidizing their membership dues for three years at the nominal rate of $1,000 annually, we hope to eliminate financial barriers and empower these agencies to participate in policy development, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative initiatives facilitated by the NMBHPA. If funded, NMBHPA will give a stronger voice to small and rural behavioral health services, particularly in the northern New Mexico catchment area.

Noteworthy | The organizational dues structure in the NMBHPA starts at $1,000 annually for agencies with annual revenue less than a million dollars. Of the 70 member agencies, 10 agencies (14%) currently pay annual dues of $1,000. The NMBHPA membership is heavily weighted toward the larger behavioral health organizations in the state.

Bienvenidos Outreach, Inc.

bienvenidofoodpantry.org

Mission | To provide food, clothing, and assistance with everyday needs to those in need in Santa Fe and the surrounding area.

Proposal | We request funding to help our clients with food, clothing and other necessities, always at no cost or obligation to them. We have worked over the years to better our services as we learned more about our clients and the issues that place extra burdens on them. Our services now include pet food, special diet boxes for those who are ill, DoorDash service for those who have no transport, more fresh food from local farmers, and indoor garden units enabling clients to grow their own food.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico, 321,370 people are facing hunger and of them 100,420 are children, that is 1 in 7 people and 1 in 5 children facing hunger. People facing hunger in New Mexico are estimated to report needing $224,401,000 more per year to meet their food needs. The average cost of a meal in New Mexico is $3.71, with Santa Fe County’s average one of the highest at $4.49. 38% of food insecure people in Santa Fe are above the threshold to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program benefits (Feeding America New Mexico).

Bridge to Health NM

bridgetohealthnm.org

Mission | To empower everyone to move, learn, laugh, and grow in order to create a powerful culture of health by providing equitable access to wellness activities in a supportive community of diverse individuals.

Proposal | We have ambitious goals for the health and wellbeing of our community including training fitness instructors across Rio Arriba County to reach rural populations through satellite sites, improving outreach to our Spanish speaking neighbors, and expanding our childcare capabilities. Funding makes it possible for us to continue offering accessible and affordable wellness opportunities for everyone through a wide range of culturally informed and inclusive programs and events.

Noteworthy | Healthcare access has come a long way, but access to preventative care is not on par. Lifestyle affects over 50% of health outcomes, but we only spend 4% of our national healthcare budget on these factors. Research shows that heart disease is the leading cause of death in New Mexico. This year we are improving client heart health through preventative programming, an extensive array of classes, and community partnerships, with a focus on reducing the negative impacts of heart disease in our area.

Cancer Foundation for New Mexico

cffnm.org

Mission | To help save lives by removing barriers and providing needed support to northern New Mexicans with cancer seeking medical treatment in Santa Fe. The Cancer Foundation for New Mexico (CFFNM) is the only local, independent organization offering essential services to ensure access to treatment for all low-income northern New Mexicans with cancer who suffer disproportionately in their efforts to start and complete their cancer treatment in Santa Fe.

Proposal | CFFNM seeks funding for its patient support services, such as travel mileage reimbursement, healthy meals, overnight lodging, emergency funds, and patient and caregiver support groups.

Noteworthy | New Mexico consistently ranks among the poorest states in the nation, placing 48th in overall poverty levels. Mora, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel Counties have poverty rates greater than 21%, well above the national average. The rural population also exceeds the national average, with 26 of New Mexico’s 33 counties considered totally or mostly rural. For New Mexicans undergoing cancer treatment in Santa Fe, these statistics represent real barriers to accessing treatment in the region.

Cancer Services of New Mexico

cancerservicesnm.org

Mission | To provide services that reduce cancer suffering for New Mexico’s families. Cancer Services of New Mexico (CSNM) believes that a cancer diagnosis affects the entire family and envisions every New Mexican family will have access to the information, support, and resources they need to cope with cancer.

Proposal | Funding will support our programs and services that target areas with a significant impact on cancer suffering in New Mexico, focusing on needs that are not otherwise adequately addressed within the state.

Noteworthy | Over 100,000 New Mexicans are currently living with cancer and 9,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. On average, we serve over 1,200 New Mexicans (many of which are uninsured or under-insured) through our no-cost programs and services. These programs and services are developed and led by a cadre of volunteers with support from four part-time employees. We maintain extraordinarily low overhead costs by having no physical office with over 90% of our funds going directly into our programs.

Carnelian Center

carneliancenter.org

Mission | To provide the community with affordable holistic healthcare while nurturing the individual through art, education, and cultural integration. Holistic health at the Carnelian Center is not a luxury but a grassroots availability aiding allopathic care.

Proposal | We hope to support integrative health in rural New Mexico, specifically the Embudo River Valley. Our programs include our weekly food bank, informational newsletter, discount treatments (massage, acupuncture, craniosacral, and neurofeedback), and classes (food prep, dance, yoga, and self-development). We meet community needs for optimal health through connection, providing mutual support and learning from one another.

Noteworthy | In 2023, we provided 952 therapeutic treatments to community members. Of those, 227 were supplemented by our Discount Treatment Program, 67% were seniors, and 290 treatments were provided through the Veterans Care Program. Our weekly food bank distributes 3,000+ pounds of food to 120+ households, 70% of those attending are seniors. For the past 18 years, we have managed the general operations budget solely relying on community support and self-sustaining programming. The Santa Fe Community Foundation funded the food bank in 2020.

CASA First Judicial District

casafirst.org

Mission | To support and promote volunteer advocacy so that children and youth from Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos Counties who are trauma-impacted or system-involved can be safe, have permanent connections, and the opportunity to thrive.

Proposal | CASA First Judicial District asks for your help so that infants, children, and youth from Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos Counties, who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect, are no longer in harm’s way, and have the supports needed to thrive. Our CASA Advocates are matched with children in foster care. We envision a community where children and youth who have experienced maltreatment have as much chance for safety, happiness, stability, and wellbeing as all other children.

Noteworthy | Last fiscal year, 127 children in our area had a CASA First Advocate, including 94% of children in foster care in First Judicial District during that time. When asked, in our annual outcomes survey, 95% of our CASA Advocates reported that the child they worked with was safer by virtue of them being involved in the case.

Casa Milagro

casamilagrosantafe.org

Mission | To provide a sustainable, safe, and therapeutic home that nurtures the well-being and thriving of each of our formerly homeless residents.

Proposal | Casa Milagro needs general operating funds to provide permanent supportive housing to formerly unhoused adults with a serious mental health diagnosis. Supporting our mission is saying “Yes, Casa Milagro residents have the right to a home, a community, support, friendship, safety, food, mental health services, dignity, respect, and love.”

Noteworthy | An estimated 20-25% of the homeless population in our country suffers from severe mental illness, compared to 6% of the general public. The combination of mental illness, substance abuse, and poor physical health makes it difficult to maintain employment and residential stability.

Catholic Charities of New Mexico

ccasfnm.org

Mission | To put faith in action to improve the lives of those in need and honor human dignity. Since our founding in Santa Fe in 1946, Catholic Charities has built a wide range of programs to meet the continually changing needs of the community throughout the Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Valencia counties. Our programs include immigration legal assistance, refugee support, housing assistance, senior transportation, childcare, adult education, and more.

Proposal | Catholic Charities Center for Immigration and Citizenship Legal Assistance seeks funding to expand its crucial services providing low-cost immigration assistance to vulnerable immigrant communities in Santa Fe. With increased support, we can help more families navigate complex immigration processes, and foster stability, unity, and empowerment.

Noteworthy | The U.S. Census estimates that about 14% of Santa Fe’s population is foreign born, higher than New Mexico’s 9%. Fear of deportation often prevents many undocumented immigrants, or family members of undocumented immigrants, from accessing needed services, including financial assistance and health care. Our services help eliminate this fear and open more education and employment opportunities for those we serve.

Comedor de San Pascual, Inc

comedorsoupkitchen.wordpress.com

Mission | To offer nutritional support to any person or families in need by providing weekly hot meals and take-home pantry bags of selfstable food items. As needed, Comedor de San Pascual (Comedor) may also provide some items for good hygiene and basic lifestyle support such as bathroom supplies and blankets or socks in the winter. Comedor nurtures its all-volunteer staff and treats them as family.

Proposal | The Las Vegas, New Mexico community has a wide variety of people who do not receive regular, nutritional meals for a variety of reasons including old age limitations, mental disabilities, transients and college students or anyone on a limited budget. Comedor does not refuse service to anyone and does not request background or I.D. information. Rising food prices and limited low cost food sources, along with increased demand, has increased our need for funds.

Noteworthy | Comedor has operated 15 years. In 2023, we provided over 45,000 meals at a financial expense of $.79 per meal with an additional $7,500 annual overhead/administration expense. Operating two days a week, we provide on average of 175 hot meals and distribute 85 non-perishable food bags a day to several hundred individuals and families a year. Our income is traditionally evenly balanced between individual and grant funding. Our spending budget for 2024 is $49,600.

Coming Home Connection

cominghomeconnection.org

Mission | To lead, coalesce, and activate a community of support for older adults and their families that provides trusted, high-quality, and compassionate in-home caregiving, resources, and end-of-life care for all in need, no matter their ability to pay.

Proposal | Coming Home Connection (CHC) requests funding for its programs that support older adults in the Santa Fe community through no-cost caregiving for low-income adults, resource navigation, volunteer companions, no-cost medical equipment loans, and paid caregiving, all of which increase access to healthcare, combat isolation, and reduce the burden of caregiving on families.

Noteworthy | In 2023, CHC served over 1,000 older adults living in the Santa Fe community; 32 lowincome adults received no-cost in-home care and 157 navigation clients received one-time or on-going assistance from our health navigator. Of those clients receiving support from our health navigator, 61 (39%) created a navigation plan to define goals and actions needed to access Medicaid support, community-based care, and transportation, and 57 (93%) of them were successful in attaining their goals.

Cooking with Kids, Inc.

cookingwithkids.org

Mission | To educate and empower children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh and affordable foods. The need that Cooking with Kids (CWK) addresses is the nutritional health and well-being of children, impacting not only overall health but educational success.

Proposal | CWK is requesting funding for handson nutrition education activities, where students explore, prepare, and enjoy fresh and affordable foods from diverse cultural traditions. We aim to positively change eating behaviors, increase home cooking, and support public schools in their efforts to engage students in creative and crossdisciplinary ways.

Noteworthy | In northern New Mexico, one in four kids lives in a home without consistent access to adequate food, and one-third of 3rd graders are overweight or obese. Most children need repeated, positive experiences with new foods in order to accept them and many families can’t afford the risk of introducing healthy foods that their kids may refuse to eat. With this in mind, Cooking with Kids exposes students to a variety of positive food choices while honoring the individual choice and preference of each child.

Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico

crisis-centers.org

Mission | To educate people to make positive choices that help build and sustain healthy families and create a violence-free environment.

Proposal | We seek funding to provide a safe haven (shelter) for persons who have experienced physical, sexual, and/or psychological violence; to address the needs of the community via public education, awareness, and information relating to domestic abuse, human trafficking, and interpersonal violence and aggression; and to provide counseling services, advocacy, education, and other services.

Noteworthy | Domestic Violence (DV) affects every community in New Mexico. A 2015 report by the Survey of the New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Central Repository found there were 17,757 Domestic Violence incidents reported to statewide law enforcement agencies. During the same reporting period, 7,054 children were present at DV incident. The majority of victims of Intimate Partner Domestic Violence are women. Only one out of 10 incidents of domestic violence is ever reported.

Dental Care in Your Home

dentalcareinyourhome.org

Mission | To provide oral health care to homebound and special needs individuals in their home or care facility.

Proposal | Support for Dental Care in Your Home will help our patients to receive much needed dental care in the comfort of their own home and relieve caregivers from the burden of having to transport their loved ones to a traditional dental office. Many people have associated dental visits as a traumatic experience. The ease and peace of mind they have in the comfort of their home helps our patients overcome this barrier to receiving vital oral health care that many have not received prior to COVID 19.

Noteworthy | Dental Care in Your Home has grown from seeing 1,200 patients in 2021 to 2,500 patients in 2023, with more requests for care coming in daily.

Dixon Cooperative Market and Deli

dixonmarket.com

Mission | To serve the citizens of the greater Embudo Valley by strengthening food security, offering quality foods and products at reasonable prices, and emphasizing the sale of healthy food. Governed by cooperative principles, we invigorate the local economy by providing a market conduit for locally grown produce and products, improve the quality of life and the health of our community through education, and foster community involvement in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere.

Proposal | Pandemic restrictions brought increased community reliance on the Dixon Cooperative Market & Deli (DCM). As restrictions have eased the DCM has been struggling with rising costs outpacing profits. We have actualized a plan to increase storage space which will allow us to reduce the cost of products, support and incentivize local businesses to supply fresh goods and services, and help retain the quality jobs that were created during the pandemic. We seek funds to help to stabilize our efforts while we complete our expansion.

Noteworthy | Total sales in 2021 increased 60% over pre-pandemic numbers, however recent drastic fluctuations in cost of goods and increases for wages have outpaced profits. While our sales increased by 25% from one period to the other, costs increased by 41%. The DCM improved pay - raising wages to a minimum of $15.00 (from $9.00 in 2019 and over the State minimum of $11.50) - a rapid improvement of over 67% in only four years. We are proud of this shift toward more equitable pay.

End of Life Options

New Mexico

endoflifeoptionsnm.org

Mission | To provide information and support for all end-of-life options, including aid in dying. Our vision is for all New Mexicans to have accurate information and caring support to choose their end-of-life options in a system that honors those choices and their values. End of Life Options New Mexico (EOLONM) is the only New Mexico nonprofit organization committed to advancing these important issues on a statewide basis.

Proposal | EOLONM provides education and information to all New Mexicans, informing them about advance healthcare planning and end-oflife options, including palliative care, hospice, and aid in dying. EOLONM seeks support to strengthen and expand public education outreach and client support services in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico’s communities with historically limited access to healthcare and services.

Noteworthy | Research indicates that fewer than one third of Americans have advance healthcare directives or detailed medical instructions in the event they cannot communicate their own end of life wishes — leaving many individuals and families without clearly stated end-of-life plans. EOLONM addresses this gap by focusing on advance healthcare planning and end-of-life options to ensure that all New Mexicans have quality of life at the end of life.

Española Pathways Shelter

espanolapathwaysshelter.org

Mission | To prevent homelessness and to provide our homeless community with access to viable pathways, shelter, and essential services aimed toward meeting their personal goals.

Proposal | Española Pathways Shelter (EPS) requests funding to offset the onboarding of a parttime Client Liaison. The Client Liaison is needed to routinely go from tent to tent and begin the process of facilitation of each person’s immediate needs as well as work to navigate people through the consideration of services more suited to case management (such as goal setting that can lead to rehabilitation). The Client Liaison serves as an advocate and a bridge between EPS and persons living in tents.

Noteworthy | In the last year, the proliferation of substance abuse as well as the nature of the actual substance upon the human body, has created a “tent city” within the boundaries of EPS’s property. There are approximately 36 tents with at least two occupants per tent. The nearly 70 occupants receive daily showers, meals, and emergency services. February saw a spike in meals with nearly 3,000 meals were served. The city of Española closed an adjacent tent city, causing an increase in occupancy at EPS.

The Food Depot

thefooddepot.org

Mission | To foster healthy communities by engaging a network of partners and developing solutions for a hunger-free New Mexico.

Proposal | As the food bank of northern New Mexico, The Food Depot leads bold and dignified solutions to food insecurity in its nine counties, 26,000 square mile service area. By leveraging its scale, The Food Depot can maximize the impact of an array of innovative direct service programs while also supplying fresh, healthy food to its 76 partner organizations that each meet the region’s unique local challenges.

Noteworthy | In the fiscal year of 2022-2023, The Food Depot supplied 9,519,094 pounds of food to 45,369 individuals. Of this food, 62% was fruits and vegetables, 47% was fresh produce, and 19% was protein items.

Forest Stewards Guild

foreststewardsguild.org

Mission | To practice and promote sound forestry practices as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. The Forest Stewards Guild envisions ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry as the standard for professional forest management in the United States. The Fire Adapted Communities New Mexico Learning Network connects people with the resources they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from increasingly frequent wildfires.

Proposal | As exposure to wildfire continues to increase with climate change, many communities need support to mitigate their smoke exposure. Working through existing partnerships, the Guild will address this need by expanding our smoke exposure mitigation program to donate HEPA home air filters to high-risk individuals. We will improve neighborhood living conditions, especially in historically disadvantaged communities, by supplying filters and building connections between community leaders and residents.

Noteworthy | Current estimated annual global premature mortality attributed to wildfire smoke is 339,000. In 2023, the average number of days residents were exposed to high levels of fine particle pollution (>PM2.5) increased to 18.3 days from 16.5 days in 2022. Although people of color are 41% of the overall U.S. population, they make up 54% of the nearly 120 million people living with at least one failing grade for unhealthy air. Western U.S. has 23 of the 25 worst cities for short-term particle pollution.

Free Flow NM, Inc.

freeflownm.com

Mission | To help end period poverty in our community. We believe period products should be as easy to access as toilet paper. No individual should miss school, work, or daily activities because they do not have access to menstrual products. We strive to serve any population in need of these services, including students of all ages, people experiencing homelessness, and working and nonworking individuals who cannot afford menstrual products.

Proposal | We seek general operating funds to support our five programs. We distribute 300,000+ period products yearly with 50+ community partners and our 24/7 accessible Period Pods. Each period kit includes an offer for reusable products, and our Special Education Program offers five pairs of period underwear to students with neurodivergent conditions. Our Period Education and Bagging Program raises awareness about menstruation and period poverty, empowering participants to tackle this issue locally.

Noteworthy | Period poverty means that millions of individuals with periods are subjected to injustice and inequity due to menstruation. There is no federal program that assists with the costs of period products. EBT, WIC, and SNAP do not cover menstrual products; they are considered luxury items. Consequently, one in three low-income menstruators report missing work, school, or similar events due to inadequate access to period supplies. We aim to bridge this gap, enabling individuals to remain engaged in their lives.

The Friendship Club friendshipclubsantafe.org

Mission | To provide and maintain a multi-use community center that promotes activities and events focusing on mental, spiritual, and physical recovery. To provide an inviting, safe, and supportive environment where people in recovery can heal and help one another, which helps link our members to health-related services. Established in 1979, the Friendship Club serves as a meeting hub for the recovery community, hosting groups in new and long-term recovery. We save lives!

Proposal | Our goal is to continue to offer and increase our services to the recovery community.

Noteworthy | The CHRISTUS St. Vincent 2023–2025 Community Health Needs Assessment includes adult behavioral health (substance use and mental illness) as one of Santa Fe County’s top priorities and challenges to residents’ well-being. The Friendship Club hosts various groups to support mental health and recovery from substance use disorder and serves as a critical component of the continuum of care, improving the overall health and well-being of our communities in Santa Fe and surrounding areas.

Gerard’s House gerardshouse.org

Mission | To create safe spaces where healing happens through acceptance and peer support for grieving children, teenagers, families, and adults after the death of — or separation from — a loved one. We provide 24 free weekly peer grief support groups, crisis response services, summer camps, suicide/safety interventions, and services to help meet emergency needs and more, with seven of those programs tailored to the unique strengths and needs of individuals and families experiencing life-changing loss.

Proposal | With funding support, we are seeking to expand our work in the following four areas: 1) English-language adult grief support, with three newly-added groups that filled up quickly; 2) Successful collaborative groups for grieving youth and adults underway at Ohkay Owingeh and Kewa pueblos, and Española Valley; 3) Spanishlanguage grief support for youth with immigrant roots, serving 200+ public school students in 2023 and continuing to grow; 4) Creating a more grief sensitive community through public workshops at schools and businesses.

Noteworthy | Though many grieving children and teenagers feel unsupported in their grief, 80% of K-12 students in our Nuestra Jornada groups feel more supported by others after 10 weekly grief support groups. Gerard’s House’s role is particularly relevant in New Mexico, the state with the second highest percentage of bereaved children nationally. According to the Children’s Bereavement Estimation Model, one in 10 New Mexico children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18.

Homewise Inc.

homewise.org

Mission | To help create successful homeowners and strengthen neighborhoods so that individuals and families can improve their long-term financial well-being and quality of life.

Proposal | Homewise seeks to significantly reduce the racial wealth gap in New Mexico by assisting traditionally disadvantaged groups, including lowand moderate-income individuals and families in becoming homeowners through free bilingual financial literacy and homebuyer education classes offered at in-person workshops in Santa Fe as well as online.

Noteworthy | According to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the typical Hispanic family had only 20% of the wealth of the typical white family and the typical Black family held only 15% of the wealth of the typical white family. Homeownership is one of the most important ways that Americans create financial security for their families and build wealth. Improving the homeownership rate of Hispanics and Blacks is the primary means of narrowing this persistent wealth gap.

Inside Out

recoveryinsideout.org

Mission | To offer peer support through our own experiences to individuals and families reaching toward recovery. We believe that all lives have meaning and that as a community we can create change. Inside Out is a peer-driven, communitybased center, focusing on the needs of the indigent population.

Proposal | With further support we will be able to expand our services, which include the distribution of food (both food boxes and hot nutritious breakfast and lunches served), hygiene kits, clothing, extreme weather sleeping bags for homeless, NARCAN training and kits, mail service for the homeless, computer lab access, educational groups (life skills I & II, conflict resolution, seeking safety trauma curriculum), and assistance with entrance into detox, rehab, and medically assisted treatment.

Noteworthy | In January and February 2024, we provided services to 592 individuals. Of those, 230 identified as female, 362 male, 473 Hispanic, 49 Native American, 3 Black/AA, 58 Caucasian, 2 Asian, and seven Mixed Race. 1,170 individual peer support; 184 group attendance; 418 opiate use disorder; 109 mail services; 479 breakfast services; 661 lunch services; five detox/rehab entries; and 140 specific homeless population of people served.

Interfaith Community Shelter Group, Inc.

interfaithsheltersf.org

Mission | To provide short-term survival services as well as active service experiences for volunteers, and additional long-term services in collaboration with the City of Santa Fe and other local service provider partners. Our vision is to offer hope and a safe place for those who are homeless or vulnerable and in the greatest need as they overcome adversity.

Proposal | The explosion of mental health and substance use disorders resulting from both the pandemic and the fentanyl crisis, and the shortage of affordable housing in Santa Fe, have all contributed to an increase in homelessness in our community. Interfaith Community Shelter (ICS) is working feverishly with other community service providers to minimize service gaps and to move homeless individuals from the trauma of the streets to a comfortable bed, a hot meal, and a myriad of services that will eventually lead to permanent housing.

Noteworthy | In the first half of fiscal year 20232024 (July-December), the Interfaith Community Shelter provided a warm bed to 767 homeless individuals. With the help of a committed group of volunteers every evening, the Shelter provided 24,801 meals, including 1,039 dinners to people who are hungry and come to the Shelter for a meal only. Trained ICS navigators enrolled 276 people in the Santa Fe CONNECT system that provides referrals to life-stabilizing services with the goal of finding a permanent housing solution.

Kids Counseling Inc.

kidscounselingnm.com

Mission | To provide a comprehensive and effective continuum of care that will provide culturally competent, holistic, high-quality, communitybased mental health services that promote positive social-emotional development to children and their families in San Miguel and Mora counties.

Proposal | The objective of this proposal is to allow Kids Counseling Inc. to continue to build capacity by operating a Multi-Disciplinary Team in Mora County with the intent of improving the investigation, prosecution, and handling of child abuse and sexual abuse cases.

Noteworthy | According to the NM Kids Count Data Book, in fiscal year 2022-2023 (from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), for every 1,000 children under the age of 18 in Mora County, approximately 20 were abused or neglected, and of all substantiated allegations of child abuse, 8% were for physical abuse, 2% were for sexual abuse, and 92% were for physical neglect.

Kiwanis Club of Sangre de Cristo Sunrise

kiwanis.org

Mission | To mentor youth leadership skills through Kiwanis Key Club in high school and Kiwanis K-Kids in lower grades, and to feed otherwise hungry kids on weekends through our Food for Thought program. Kiwanis Club of Sangre de Cristo Sunrise in Las Vegas, New Mexico is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.

Proposal | Funding will allow us to continue to provide and expand our services. Kids do not learn well when they are hungry. At a cost of approximately $1,000 per month for purchases of food, Sunrise Kiwanis Food for Thought volunteers deliver easy-to-prepare healthy food every Friday

to the homes of families, serving 64 children. These children have free lunches at school during the week but might otherwise be inadequately fed on weekends. Sunrise Kiwanis volunteers order, pack, and deliver food, while donations provide the funds to purchase food.

Noteworthy | A 2021 report from the Brookings Institution analyzed the impact of a program that offered schoolwide free meals and found an improvement in math performance (particularly among elementary and Hispanic students). While Las Vegas schools provide free lunches during weekdays, Sunrise Kiwanis sees a need to do the same on weekends for children with otherwise inadequate nutrition. A hungry child is not ready to excel in learning.

La Familia Medical Center dba La Familia Health

lafamiliasf.org

Mission | To foster community well-being in partnership with our patients by providing excellent, accessible, family-centered medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare.

Proposal | La Familia Health (LFH) provides medical, dental, behavioral health care, and wrap around services to anyone in our community, regardless of ability to pay. LFH seeks unrestricted funding to address critical health needs of low-income children, women, and seniors. LFH’s Health Care for the Homeless program provides comprehensive care and intensive case management to unhoused individuals in shelters, transitional housing, and through street outreach.

Noteworthy | For 52 years, generations of Santa Feans have called La Familia their medical home. Last year, LFH served 15,215 patients in more than 55,000 visits. Approximately one out of 10 individuals in Santa Fe is a patient of the organization. Overwhelmingly, 75% of Hispanic/ Latinx patients live at or near poverty, 50% require services in a language other than English, and 40%

are uninsured. La Familia seeks financial support, so everyone in our community has access to high quality healthcare.

Life Circle

lifecirclenm.org

Mission | To be a place to turn to for elders and their families to balance the many needs associated with aging, focusing on the well-being of our clients as we provide socialization, daily joy, and respite for family caregivers. We provide programming for elders living with dementia and elders who require support services to enhance their daily lives. Trained and loving staff provide engagement with activities that meet their physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Proposal | Life Circle is requesting support for programming activities, supplies, and staff hours. Noteworthy | Our Santa Fe community has an aging population with 23.8% over the age of 65 years old. With cases of dementia on the rise, there is an insufficient number of caregivers available to meet the need. While our local community has an elite population of the very wealthy, it also has 13% of its population on the poverty level. This creates a disparity in who can afford professional care and who can’t. In 2024, 43,000 people over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s in New Mexico.

The Life Link

thelifelink.org

Mission | To help hungry, homeless, and displaced individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency through emergency assistance, housing, employment services, and other supportive programs including advanced addiction and mental health treatment services.

Proposal | At The Life Link, we are always trying to assist our clients to thrive and become successful in their individualized goals. Any financial assistance would greatly improve our ability to provide the support our clients are seeking.

Noteworthy | The Life Link’s Comprehensive Community Support Services have supported 528 unique clients in 2023. Our outreach team served 281 clients experiencing homelessness in 2023. We were able to connect 35% of our homeless clients to supportive services.

Life Transition Meditation Center

lifetransition.com

Mission | To use somatic meditation to harmonize our physical and subtle energy bodies, enhancing our relationship with “Source,” and healing our physical, mental, and emotional experience. To make the principles and techniques of somatic meditation accessible using various teaching formats, to all individuals who are guided to learn the practice. We commit to work together in community and individually in releasing the patterns that limit living a full life, our experience, appreciation of life, and each other.

Proposal | The freely offered Veteran’s Meditation Retreat requires $80,000 to execute. The 2nd Annual Veteran’s Meditation Retreat is a resource to help veterans suffering from chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental/emotional trauma. The funding will be used to pay for lodging, administration, and transport of veterans to and from the retreat, which is being held at the Clyde Hotel in Albuquerque, in September 2024.

Noteworthy | New Mexico has 144,977 veterans, of which 13,580 are females raising families in their communities. Veterans have higher levels of trauma and suicide rates than the general population (2021 Profile, NM Dept. of Workforce Solutions). Veteran suicide rates are at the highest level in recorded history with annual deaths by suicide at over 6,000/

year or 22/day and rising (Data from American Addiction Centers). Participation in the Veteran’s Meditation Retreat will reduce this rate and save lives.

Luciente, Inc.

lucienteinc.org

Mission | To support the children in our communities by working to eradicate hunger and to reduce the social determinants that negatively impact a child’s ability to connect, learn, and thrive.

Proposal | Luciente, Inc. is seeking funding for the continued operation of our school food pantries. Our pantries provide healthy snacks for school children in under-served communities in northern Rio Arriba County.

Noteworthy | 100% of the children in our schools qualify for free lunch, but for some, that lunch is the only nutritious meal of their day. The extra food that our pantries provide ensures that no child goes hungry.

Luna Community College Foundation

lunafoundationnm.org

Mission | To raise and manage private resources that support the educational mission and priorities of the Luna Community College (LCC). The mission of Luna Strong program is to increase student success, engagement, retention, and completion by promoting the 8 Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial).

Proposal | These funds will support the continuance of our successful Luna Strong Food Security Program, which provides meals and non-perishable food for students, faculty, and staff via food pantries across campus.

PHOTO: SAN MARTIN DE PORRES SOUP KITCHEN

Noteworthy | The 2023 Statewide Basic Needs survey revealed students, faculty, and staff basic needs are not being met at LCC, 67% of students and 49% of staff are food insecure (221 respondents). 43% of students and 38% of faculty and staff are experiencing very low food insecurity with disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake (e.g. skipped meals and weight loss). The survey also indicated that 61% of the community were housing insecure and 28% experienced homelessness in the prior 12 months.

Magio Organization

Mission | To promote peace and well-being where people live through research, piloting, and implementation of innovative housing solutions, thereby increasing residential stability and reducing racial, gender, social, cultural, religious, and political polarization and inequity.

Proposal | Please help us research and continue to make inroads in this unique approach to pairing the interests of local New Mexico businesses with the needs of its loyal workforce. The timing of your gift/ grant could literally make the difference this year, as a $5,000 grant is a third of our average operating budget. The program manager is 90% volunteer and the program itself has few, but real, administrative costs.

Noteworthy | During the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, our organization was able to work in collaboration with another Santa Fe nonprofit to provide temporary stays to over 500 people and stable work-trade housing and food to 12 individuals with a gross operating cost of $72,000/year, which is equivalent to one middle class salary.

The Memory Care Alliance

thememorycarealliance.org

Mission | To provide ongoing education and support to families impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia, replacing social stigmas with compassionate understanding, and a vision for life after diagnosis.

Proposal | We believe that creating communities of caregivers who help each other is the key to living well with dementia. Help us provide compassionate and practical support to families caring through support and grief groups, dementia friendly social opportunities, and heart-centered training and education.

Noteworthy | In 2020, there were 43,000 New Mexicans with dementia, expected to increase to 53,000 by 2025. There are an estimated: 85,000 caregivers providing 157,000,000 hours of unpaid care. Of these, 56.3% reported at least one chronic health condition, and 34.2% reported having depression (New Mexico State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia 2022).

Mesa to Mesa

mesatomesa.org

Mission | To bring people together to improve the health, safety, and security of low-income homeowners in northern New Mexico by performing minor repairs to their homes, facilitating larger repairs by means of referrals and collaborations, and providing home maintenance education. To improve the health, safety, and security of low-income homeowners and keep them in their homes if at all possible. All of our services are free of charge to our clients. We are located in Española, New Mexico and provide free of charge home repairs to low-income homeowners; projects are completed either by licensed contractors or by volunteers. The majority of our clients are elderly, disabled, and live alone on a very limited budget.

Proposal | Funding will allow us to continue and expand our service to those in need in our community.

Noteworthy | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that people spend more than 50% of each day inside their homes, demonstrating an urgent need to ensure that all people have access to safe, healthy housing. Our clients spend more than 50% of each day inside their homes and are among the most impoverished in our service area. The percentage of people living in poverty in Rio Arriba County is 18.1% according to U.S. Census Data 2023, this is well above the national level of 11.5%.

Mora Valley Community Health Services, Inc.

mvchs.org

Mission | To provide excellent primary care (medical, dental, and behavioral health) and other services to Mora residents, while ensuring exceptional customer service.

Proposal | Mora Valley Community Health Services, Inc. (MVCHS) is the “go-to” organization for many individuals in Mora. MVCHS provides primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. MVCHS has an Indigent Medication Fund that assists patients who cannot afford medication(s). MVCHS operates both Personal Care and Adult Day Services programs. MVCHS operates a community pantry, which provides a variety of supplies to students at the School Based Health Center and adults at the Main Clinic.

Noteworthy | Mora County has a “frontier county” designation, which means there’s a population density of less than six people per square mile. Many residents are homebound and/or lack transportation. All 400+ students at the school district qualify for and/or receive a free or reduced lunch. Mora has an aging population, with 30.7% of the population being 65 years of age or older. 57% of MVCHS’ patients qualify for the Sliding Fee Discount Schedule. Income thresholds are based on Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Naprapathic Research Foundation

naprapathicresearchfoundation.org

Mission | To promote evidence-based science to support natural healing and anti-inflammatory, non-pharmaceutical solutions to pain, considering them the standard health paradigm. Naprapathic Research Foundation (NRF) collaborates closely with manual therapy soft-tissue naprapathic clinics to demonstrate the efficacy of soft tissue manipulation and healthy nutritional choices.

Proposal | NRF aims to establish an assistance program that offers soft tissue manual treatments to veterans affected by physical pain, PTSD, and to those who are at risk of substance abuse, such as opioids. While treatments will be offered to veterans in New Mexico, the impact of this project will extend further, as its outcomes will be published as part of a research project. Funds would support the initial costs of launching the program.

Noteworthy | 80% of opioid consumption occurs in the U.S. Nearly 50% of all veterans experience pain, with many also exhibiting PTSD. Addressing multimorbidity of pain and PTSD with effective nonpharmacologic interventions is urgent. Research into alternative treatments is limited, but there is growing recognition of integrated approaches and natural options. Soft-tissue manipulation is emerging as a valid integrative health option, yet, its efficacy is still in its early stages of investigation.

New Mexico Appleseed

nmappleseed.org

Mission | To correct structural barriers to opportunity by designing and advocating for effective solutions to poverty through policy, legislative, and market-based reform. While many organizations offer important direct services like serving meals, educating children, and assisting the poor, New Mexico Appleseed’s goal is to make systemic change that yields permanent or long-term improvement on issues like hunger, homelessness, family economic security, child maltreatment, and education.

Proposal | We are seeking funding to conduct comprehensive research into the Women and Infant Care program (WIC), focusing on understanding client needs and effective interventions and practices, including interviewing clients to understand essential strategies and areas for improvement. We also hope to expand our program to reach vulnerable populations through early education centers and home visits, prioritizing accessibility and tailored support for those in need.

Noteworthy | According to the USDA, research has shown that WIC reduces fetal deaths and infant mortality, improves growth rates, decreases iron deficiency anemia, improves dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women, and reduces intellectual development. However, only 51.2% of eligible individuals participated in WIC, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

New Mexico CASA Association

newmexicocasa.org

Mission | To develop and support the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs that provide advocacy for abused and neglected children in foster care throughout the state of New Mexico, and to advocate for effective public policy and processes for children and families involved with the state’s child welfare system. Our organization provides capacity-building services and support that help the CASA programs throughout the state of New Mexico provide effective volunteer advocacy services for foster youth.

Proposal | We are requesting support for our collaborative efforts to expand advocacy services for foster youth in New Mexico in order to improve safety, health, and well-being outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Noteworthy | Studies have shown formal volunteering dropped dramatically, both nationally and in New Mexico, from 2019 to 2021. This trend of declining volunteerism has not been corrected post-pandemic and CASA programs in New Mexico are experiencing record low numbers of volunteers. To address this trend, the New Mexico CASA Association will collaborate with CASA programs in the state to implement recruitment, outreach, and training strategies to increase the number of CASA volunteers available statewide.

New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty

nmpovertylaw.org

Mission | To advance economic and social justice through education, advocacy, and litigation. New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (NMCLP) works with our communities to improve living conditions, increase opportunities, and protect the rights of people living in poverty. We offer legal research and education, administrative and legislative advocacy, and representation in the courts on a broad spectrum of issues prioritized by families. Our focus is on obtaining system-wide changes that advance justice and respect the dignity of all people.

Proposal | Funding for NMCLP will support collaborative advocacy with families and community leaders to: 1) Transform New Mexico’s public education system to be sufficient and equitable for all students; 2) Expand access to quality, affordable healthcare; 3) Improve workers’ pay and healthy working conditions; 4) Remove barriers to public assistance programs to improve nutrition and income security; and 5) Increase access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing in New Mexico.

Noteworthy | Our state has strong families and communities, but long-standing structural inequities have created significant barriers and hardships. Nearly 24% of our children are growing up below the poverty line, and our families face widespread food and housing insecurity. In the landmark Yazzie-Martinez ruling, our public education system was found insufficient for more than 230,000 students. NMCLP’s work builds access to resources and opportunities for hundreds of thousands of individuals statewide.

New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness

nmceh.org

Mission | To assist communities to create solutions to homelessness, from prevention through permanent housing by using action, advocacy, and awareness. We believe everyone deserves a home.

Proposal | At the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, we work with over 80 agencies and partner providers around the State to offer comprehensive services, housing options, resources, funding, and advocacy to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Our funding request is to continue supporting our Coordinated Entry System services in Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Santa Fe counties, to streamline housing for individuals/families experiencing homelessness.

Noteworthy | In the calendar year of 2023, our Homeless Management Information System data team logged 1,306 people in Santa Fe County, and 53 individuals in San Miguel and Rio Arriba counties, who experienced homelessness and were served by a government-funded agency. Additionally, in 2021 the Santa Fe Journal found that New Mexico is 32,000 affordable housing units short and the 2021 Santa Fe Housing Report noted “an estimated shortage of 7,343 rental units in the Santa Fe Metropolitan Statistical Area.”

New Mexico Doula Association

nmdoula.org

Mission | To continue the legacy of communitybased doula services while advocating for systemic change in healthcare to ensure equitable access and outcomes for all. We do this through direct services, advocacy, and education. The New Mexico Doula Association is a birth and reproductive-justice focused organization led by community activists, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who represent our diverse statewide communities.

Proposal | Your investment supports our mission to continue the legacy of community-based doula services while advocating for systemic change in reproductive healthcare to support equitable access and outcomes for all.

Noteworthy | The Maternal Mortality Rate in New Mexico is 28 per 100,000 live births, exceeding the national average. Black women, comprising only 2% of population, are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. Over 60% of maternal deaths, often due to preventable conditions like cardiomyopathy and mental health/substance issues, occur postpartum. Native American mothers, comprising 11% of the population, represent 20% of maternal deaths, underlining urgent needs for support.

New Mexico Friends of Foster Children

nmffc.org

Mission | To meet identified needs of children and youth who experience state or tribal foster care across New Mexico in order to strengthen their sense of community and help them thrive. Children and youth in foster care deserve more than having their basic needs met; they deserve the opportunity to recover from their trauma and to grow educationally, emotionally, and socially.

Proposal | We go beyond basic needs to invest in a safe, stable future for foster children by honoring their individuality and providing them with childhood experiences. Funding provides the resources to fulfill the children’s and youth’s requests for new clothes/shoes, birthday presents, bikes, musical instruments, adventures like summer camp and dance class, and things that help with a stable transition to adulthood like scholarships and bank accounts. Together, we can help foster children thrive and find future success.

Noteworthy | The 2,000 children in New Mexico state or tribal foster care have experienced trauma, often measured by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). “51 percent of the children in the child welfare system who have taken this questionnaire have had four or more ACEs, while outside of foster care, only 13 percent of children had the same” (News from our Heart). These “stressful, traumatic events are linked with health problems… such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression, and heart disease” (Kennedy, 2021).

New Mexico Immigrant Law Center

nmilc.org

Mission | To advance justice and equity by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, education, and community resources.

Proposal | We seek funds to ensure health access and safety for immigrant victims of violence, including those experiencing domestic violence or child abuse, victims of human trafficking, and low-wage immigrant workers who have experienced workplace exploitation. Funds will be used to provide free immigration legal services and advocacy for these vulnerable immigrants in partnership with community organizations to improve their safety and eligibility for health insurance.

Noteworthy | According to recent census data, there are 21,250 immigrants in the City of Santa Fe. An estimated 30% of this population are undocumented, and therefore at heightened risk of violence and exploitation due to victims’ fear of deportation, lack of knowledge of their rights, power imbalances between abuser and victim, and language and cultural barriers to reporting crimes.

New Mexico Kids Matter

nmkidsmatter.org

Mission | To advocate for children who have been abused or neglected by empowering community volunteers (CASAs) to speak up for them in the foster care system with the goal of ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing, and permanent home.

Proposal | New Mexico Kids Matter addresses the critical need for advocacy and support for children in foster care due to abuse or neglect. Through our Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, we aim to ensure that each child in Bernalillo County has a dedicated CASA volunteer to advocate for their best interests in court, providing a consistent, caring adult presence during a tumultuous time in their lives. We are requesting funding for general operating expenses to support the CASA program.

Noteworthy | In Bernalillo County, there are approximately 1,000 children in foster care, yet only about 200 of these children currently have a CASA volunteer to advocate for their best interests. Studies show that children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to find a safe, permanent home, receive necessary services, and perform better in school. By increasing funding for our CASA program, we can bridge this gap and ensure that every child in the Bernalillo County foster care system has the advocacy they deserve.

New Mexico Legal Aid, Inc.

newmexicolegalaid.org

Mission | To be the voice, defender, and advocate for poor people who are seeking justice in all forums, particularly in the communities in which they live. New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) is committed to helping poor people in their struggle to access food, shelter, security, and to preserve their unique cultural heritages.

Proposal | NMLA provides free civil legal services to help overcome obstacles faced by many lowincome New Mexicans. Legal assistance is critical for preventing unlawful eviction, ensuring access to benefits, preventing consumer fraud, and resolving family law issues, including domestic violence. We seek funding to provide legal services to vulnerable populations in Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Santa Fe counties, including Senior Citizens, Veterans, the homeless, LGBTQ+, and other at-risk communities.

Noteworthy | In New Mexico, approximately half of residents in poverty face at least one legal problem, with 14,000 low-income individuals per one NMLA attorney. While the need has skyrocketed, funding has sharply declined. Research shows that receiving legal services significantly improves individual and community well-being, resulting in increased incomes, reduced rates of depression and PTSD, decreased healthcare dependency, and lower risks of domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect.

Ojo Sarco Community Center

facebook.com/OjoSarcoCommunityCenter

Mission | To provide a public space that fosters community pride and enriches the lives of the people of Ojo Sarco through programs and activities. Ojo Sarco Community Center follows the Community that Cares model, focused on providing essential programming for child development, fostering self-esteem and confidence. Our programs integrate coping skills and strengthen connections

with families and the wider community. As the only public space accessible to community members for gatherings, our community center plays an essential role in nurturing collective well-being and social connection.

Proposal | Funding will allow us to continue to strengthen and expand our services to the Ojo Sarco community.

Noteworthy | In terms of overall child well-being, New Mexico ranks among the lowest of the states. Rio Arriba County continues to have indicators that are among the worst in the state. Based on the 2023 Kids Count Data Profile, New Mexico children rank 49th for economic well-being, with 24% of children living in poverty and 35% of children whose parents lack secure employment. New Mexico children rank 44th in health. 44% of children live in singleparent homes. 13.5 % of persons in our state are food insecure, 19.2% are children.

Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation

phs.org/community/presbyterian-healthcare-foundation

Mission | To raise and steward funds necessary to improve the health and lives in Presbyterian Healthcare Services communities. This means a commitment to improving access to health care, behavioral health, health insurance coverage, community supports, healthy food, and opportunities for exercise, and supporting everyone to have the opportunity for good health and wellbeing in the Land of Enchantment.

Proposal | We are seeking funds to continue delivering the “Northern Roots: Where Families Eat, Learn, and Grow” produce prescription program to 250 families per year in Santa Fe and Española, where Presbyterian Healthcare Services (PHS) has healthcare facilities providing care.

Noteworthy | PHS has healthcare facilities in Santa Fe and Española providing care to babies and their families. Patients also come from Taos and San Miguel counties, including ~5% of Northern

Roots referrals. Though medical care accounts for 10-20% of modifiable contributors impacting an individual’s health, the other 80% relate to social and environmental factors. Childhood food insecurity is extremely high in Rio Arriba (26%), Santa Fe (23%), San Miguel (32%), and Taos (28%).

R & R For Vets Inc.

rrforvets.org

Mission | To improve the lives of our local veterans or their surviving spouses in need of A SAFE HOME – A DRY HOME by creating, promoting community education, exhibiting their creative abilities, and preserving the legacies of those living or interred in the cemeteries of New Mexico.

Proposal | R&R for Vets Inc. provides roof repairs, disability ramps, interior repairs, disability remodeling, and emergency home services to local veterans and their surviving spouses in need. Applications from veterans and their surviving spouses in need continued to pour in, and the demand for assistance is growing. We urgently require donations to meet these needs. Your support is crucial to ensuring we can continue our mission of assisting those who have sacrificed for our country.

Noteworthy | According to the DVS, 10,000+ veterans live in Santa Fe County, a large percentage being elderly or disabled, highlighting the critical need for home repairs and accessibility modifications. Over 7,000 veterans own homes in Santa Fe County. Many are Vietnam-era veterans, often requiring disability ramps and other modifications. These statistics emphasize the vital need for R&R for Vets, Inc.’s services to address the growing challenges local veterans and their surviving spouses face.

Resolve

resolvenm.org

Mission | To grow the number of New Mexicans who act to prevent violence in our communities. By reducing the fear and impact of violence, we help to create safer communities that experience greater connection and joy with every generation.

Proposal | Resolve’s skill-based programs teach youth & adults to prevent violence in their communities and defend themselves and others against violence through collaborations with schools, nonprofits, and workplaces. Our participants learn to challenge beliefs and behaviors that create violence; they also learn concrete bystander and self-advocacy strategies to prevent violence. By reducing the impact of violence, we make our communities stronger and healthier.

Noteworthy | Violence is a public health crisis in New Mexico, our state has the third highest per capita incidence of domestic violence in the country and ranks second for violent crimes. Resolve’s prevention and early intervention efforts are key to ensuring a brighter future. Resolve reaches more than 3,000 individuals each year, and over 85% of our participants report feeling confident in advocating for themselves or as a bystander for others in their communities.

Rio Grande ATP, Inc.

riograndeatp.org

Mission | To provide substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, and access to supportive services in order to enable men and women to live productive, drug-free lives —Una Vida Buena y Sana (A Good and Healthful Life). Rio Grande ATP (RGATP), is a nonprofit organization providing services in northern New Mexico since 1978. We are based in Taos, New Mexico with additional offices in Raton and Las Vegas, New Mexico, and serve San Miguel and Mora counties.

Proposal | Funding will help us continue to provide and expand the services we offer to our community in need.

Noteworthy | Out of all the physical and psychiatric conditions, substance dependence has the highest rate of social disapproval and discrimination (Drug Policy Alliance). San Miguel County is ranked in the top five out of 33 counties for alcohol/drug overdose death (NM DOH Substance Abuse Epidemiology Profile, 2022).

Roadrunner Food Bank

rrfb.org

Mission | To provide nourishing food to New Mexicans through vibrant community partnerships and passionate public and private support.

Proposal | Funds would be used to purchase equipment, supplies, and food for monthly food distributions at eight Navajo Nation Chapter Houses. Approximately $7,700 would be used to purchase wagons, tables, canopies, and reusable grocery totes that would be given to each chapter house to use for their distributions, and another $12,300 would be used to support purchases of culturally appropriate food that Roadrunner would deliver to each chapter house.

Noteworthy | A 2014 study found that food insecurity on the Navajo Nation was 76.7%. Although more recent data specific to the Navajo Nation are not available, an analysis by Feeding America of 2019 American Community Survey data found that the food insecurity rate among Native American respondents was 27%, compared with 9% among White, non-Hispanic respondents. In addition, 2019 data from the USDA indicate that most of the Navajo Nation is classified as a food desert.

Saint Elizabeth Shelter Corporation

steshelter.org

Mission | To assist homeless individuals and families by providing emergency shelter, food, case management, counseling, supportive housing, and referrals to partnering human services agencies. St. Elizabeth Shelter’s ultimate goal is to end the cycle of homelessness.

Proposal | St. Elizabeth operates two emergency shelters — Men’s and Casa Familia for women and families — and three longer-term supportive housing programs for adults with disabilities, families, and those recently homeless. Residents are immediately stabilized in a safe and secure environment and work together with staff to create an Individual Service Plan outlining objectives and goals, including addressing the issues leading to their becoming homeless, establish an income stream, and move into housing.

Noteworthy | Homelessness has risen 48% nationally from 2022-2023, according to Associated Press statistics, fueled by increasing drug use (fentanyl in particular) and rising housing costs. In Santa Fe, a January 2023 point-in-time survey identified 374 homeless individuals receiving services that day but did not count those sleeping in cars, arroyos, or couch surfing. St. Elizabeth alone provided shelter and/or housing to 537 individuals during the year, along with outreach services to an estimated 1,000 more still living on the streets.

The Salvation Army, a CA Corporation

santafe.salvationarmy.org

Mission | To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God.

Proposal | We are seeking funding to help mitigate the 12% poverty rate in the Santa Fe community by supplementing net household income with measures that tackle food insecurity. At the Santa Fe Corps, we provide a breakfast and shower/hygiene program, Monday through Friday, for Santa Fe’s unhoused. For the marginalized and underserved, we give food boxes, pantry visits, and rent and utility assistance.

Noteworthy | Throughout 2023, The Santa Fe Corps gave approximately $143,198 worth of goods and services to the Santa Fe Community; just about 23% of the Corps annual operating budget.

San Martin de Porres

Soup Kitchen

smdpsoupkitchen.com

Mission | To help feed the poor and hungry. The San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen has been active in serving the needs of the poor and hungry in the Española Valley and surrounding communities since July of 1992 and it operates with the cooperation of the City Fathers and the Director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Program. We operate at the Apple Valley Senior Center five times a week, Monday through Friday; serving a hot lunch and also providing a food box to anyone referred to us by a Church or State Agency.

Proposal | We are requesting funding from the Santa Fe Community Foundation to help continue our outreach program.

Noteworthy | The San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen is located at the center of the low-income housing community of Apple Valley. We serve approximately 650+ meals a week to clients ranging in age from one to over 60, many of whom are small children and young mothers. Our client’s average income is $0 to $1,200 per month. We serve prominently Hispanics (55%); Anglo (25%); Native American (10%); Black American (5%); and Asian / Other (5%). San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen provided 56,330 meals in 2023.

Santa Fe Community College Foundation

foundation.sfcc.edu

Mission | Santa Fe Community College Foundation (SFCCF) is committed to providing financial aid for students, funds for new program development and support, and other resources to Santa Fe Community College for needs not met through state and federal assistance. SFCCF supports the college and its students by working closely with campus leadership, staff, and student organizations to identify impactful ways for donors to provide students with opportunities to achieve their academic and career goals.

Proposal | The SFCC Foundation, through its Campus Cupboard food pantry, serves all students, staff, faculty, and their families. In 2023, the pantry had 347 registered customers and 6,700 household members were served. Hungry students are less likely to complete their education. With the added burden of feeding their families, many students must choose between an education and getting a job to buy food.

Noteworthy | This food pantry is a lifeline for students, their families, and even some of our staff. Since 2021, the Campus Cupboard has seen a 637% increase in use. The Cupboard is a vital resource and something we prioritize funding to the fullest because, unfortunately, every year more and more people need it as costs for necessities continue to rise.

Santa Fe New Mexican

santafenewmexican.com

Mission | To serve the news and information needs of Santa Fe and northern New Mexico through our reporting and publication in both print and online. Through our reporting we hope to better the communities in which we live by exposing problems and providing possible solutions, bringing together the relevant stakeholders.

Proposal | The Santa Fe New Mexican has been awarded a Report for America (RFA) reporter covering children’s health and welfare issues as well as the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. The program is a three-year commitment with RFA providing 55% of salary costs in year 1, 33% in year 2, and 20% in year 3. We are required to raise the remaining funds locally. This is an additional position that starts in July 2024. The total local funding calculation totals $158k over 3 yrs. We would use Santa Fe Community Foundation funds as a catalyst to jump start year 1 fundraising.

Noteworthy | New Mexico has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country and also has a high rate of youth violent crime. The NM Children, Youth, and Family Department, which oversees the state’s foster care and juvenile corrections systems and investigates child abuse, has been beset by scandal and poor management, including cases of children dying or being placed in dangerous situations. The state’s juvenile detention system has also had its share of problems, and conditions at many facilities are poor.

Santa Fe Recovery Center

sfrecovery.org

Mission | To provide culturally proficient, evidencebased treatment and education in partnership with other community organizations, working with individuals to sustain lasting recovery from substance use disorders and related mental health disorders.

Proposal | The Santa Fe Recovery Center requests funding for our dedicated Therapeutic Child Care (TCC) program staff and operations. We currently serve an average of 40 children annually who are residing with their mothers at our residential treatment center. This service is essential to supporting mothers with children 0-6 while in treatment on their journey to sobriety and lasting recovery.

Noteworthy | Residential Substance Use Disorder treatment for mothers and their young children has historically been unavailable, yet female clients currently constitute about 1/3 of the treatment population. Reports show that females experience myriad barriers to treatment, including stigma, childcare needs, cost, and limited options in pregnancy. A total of 278 babies were born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in New Mexico in 2021 – this number has tripled since 2010. SFRC is one of few in NM able to meet this need.

Scott’s House

scottshouse.org

Mission | To provide a free social model hospice residence for end of life and respite, serving Santa Fe, northern New Mexico, and beyond.

Proposal | We seek funding to continue developing our volunteer-driven social model hospice home that can be implemented throughout New Mexico in order to address the growing need for these services in a cost-effective and compassionate manner. As the only free hospice home serving northern New Mexico, Scott’s House is committed to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare, especially at the end of life, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, or economic status.

Noteworthy | By 2030, New Mexico’s population of over 65 is projected to become the fourth largest in the U.S. (NM Aging and Long-Term Services Department). New Mexico has the highest poverty rate for residents over 65 of any state in the U.S., and our seniors are one of the populations at highest risk for homelessness in the state (U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development). The average cost of 24/7 end-of-life care, exceeding $20,000 monthly, is impossible for many in our community.

Self Help Inc.

selfhelpla.org

Mission | To provide support and services as a bridge to self-reliance for people in northern New Mexico.

Proposal | Self Help, Inc. (Self Help) requests funds to expand its SEED Grant Money program. This program provides micro-grants (typically $1,000-1,500) to enable low-income individuals to pursue educational or business opportunities that strengthen their financial well-being and create paths to self-sufficiency. Residents of Los Alamos, northern Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos counties are eligible for this program.

Noteworthy | Approximately one in three New Mexicans live in rural areas, where employment and economic growth opportunities are scarce. Compared to urban areas of the state, rural residents have limited access to jobs, livable wages, and services. Our SEED grants give individuals a timely cash infusion to purchase equipment or start-up materials for their home-based business. These grants can also be used to buy supplies such as uniforms or tools for those starting a new career.

Stand Up For Kindness

standupforkindness.com

Mission | To foster school communities where everyone feels safe, respected, and treated equally. Our core values of kindness, caring, and empathy create school communities where everyone feels welcomed and they know they belong.

Proposal | Stand Up for Kindness Bullying Prevention Initiative requests funding for its operating costs to provide direct services, peer education, and materials for an effective skillbuilding initiative in Santa Fe Public Schools classrooms and after school programs. Students’ creative projects, including puppet-making, role playing, storytelling, and songs, empowers them to practice social emotional learning skills, which help them shift from being bystanders to being upstanders in bullying and unkind situations.

Noteworthy | Nationally, one out of every five students reports being bullied, which increases their risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, low academic achievement, and dropping out of school (National Center for Educational Statistics & CDC, 2019). 41% of students who experienced bullying at school feel they will be bullied again (NCES, 2019). About 50% of children, ages nine through 12, stated they experienced being bullied at school. Stand Up for Kindness works with ages five through 14.

Sunrise Clinics

sunrisenm.org

Mission | To improve the health and well-being of our community by providing accessible, highquality healthcare services to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. We are committed to excellence, equity, and compassion by ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare services, including medical and mental health. We serve the underserved and vulnerable populations to improve the health and well-being of the entire community. We provide care based on the principles of equity, justice, and inclusivity.

Proposal | Funding will allow us to enhance health access and mental health access in San Miguel County.

Noteworthy | Total Sunrise Clinics patient visits in San Miguel County in 2023 was 13,182, compared to 2,381 in 2022. We split our medical clinic from our mental health clinic to accommodate our rapid growth and now both clinics are operating at full capacity. In addition, in 2023, we opened four school clinics in West Las Vegas High School, Valley High School, and Las Vegas Middle Schools.

Think New Mexico

thinknewmexico.org

Mission | To improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process. We fulfill this mission by educating the public, the media, and policymakers about some of the most serious challenges facing New Mexico and by developing and advocating for enduring, effective, evidence-based solutions.

Proposal | Funding supports our work to enact policy reforms that address serious challenges facing New Mexico. Past successes include ending predatory lending, repealing the food tax, repealing the double tax on Social Security for middle and lower-income seniors, and making full-day kindergarten accessible to every child. We are now focused on ambitious legislative agendas designed to improve student outcomes in New Mexico’s public schools and to address the state’s shortage of health care providers.

Noteworthy | New Mexico has the second-lowest number of physicians per capita of any state in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated part or all of 32 of New Mexico’s 33 counties as health professional shortage areas. A recent report from UNM found that, between 2018 and 2022, the state lost 30% of its doctors. New Mexico has the oldest physician workforce in the nation, with 37% of doctors age 60 or over and projected to retire by 2030.

Truchas Services Center

truchasservicescenter.org

Mission | To provide leadership, administration, and organization for community action programs serving children, youth, families, adults, and senior citizens, developing community as a means of unifying the diverse cultures of the region in the common goal of community improvement and education. This includes the maintenance of facilities that serve the entire community and surrounding areas.

Proposal | Truchas Services Center (TSC) provides the only food distribution between Chimayo and Ojo Sarco, covering Truchas, Cordova, and Rio Chiquito. We are requesting funding in order to maintain this program and expand it as this area is a food desert with no stores, farmer’s markets, nor other routine services that can provide healthy food and staples to families.

Noteworthy | The TSC foodbank program serves 60 clients twice per month, many of which fall into the leading causes of food insecurity such as unemployment, poverty, substance abuse, and reduced access to public benefits. It is reported that nearly 14% of the Rio Arriba population is experiencing food insecurity, which is higher than the state average. This percentage is even higher for the children of the state (The Food Depot, 2022).

Villages of Santa Fe, Inc.

villagesofsantafe.org

Mission | To offer exercise and lifestyle programs for older adults through online classes focusing on balance, flexibility, strength, and mental awareness. Ensuring the health of our older generation is of utmost importance. Exercise plays a crucial role in preventing falls, a strategy that can significantly enhance their health and well-being.

Proposal | For older adults, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and independence is all about movement. Our online classes focus on balance, flexibility, strength, and mental awareness. Led by experienced instructors who are also older adults, these free online classes are tailored to the specific needs of our older participants. The results speak for themselves, our participants report improved balance, fitness, and attitude. In other words, they are healthy, resilient, and engaged adults. We seek funding to continue to provide our services and expand our outreach.

Noteworthy | Since beginning online exercise classes in April 2020, our participants have logged over 50,000 attendances. 66.2% of those attending our classes are over 65, and 59% live in Santa Fe or Santa Fe County. Our strength is our delivery method, which is a simple, convenient online platform accessible from home.

Women with Wings Foundation

womenwwings.org

Mission | To bridge the gap between the clinical side of medicine, health, and wellness, and whole person care. Our inspirational Create to Heal (CTH) program, products, and services use all forms of art, including meditation and visualization, music, hypnotherapy, the color and motion of art, and creative writing to help people heal emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We are a nonprofit teaching organization and content provider.

Proposal | The Women with Wings Foundation is seeking funding to continue and expand their Create to Heal program which utilizes the arts and patients’ unlocked creativity to aid in their healing process. We are piloting CTH locally with the Christus St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center and are seeking additional funding to bring the program to the diverse communities of northern New Mexico. The arts are a universal language that can transcend cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers!

Noteworthy | Create to Heal benefits patients living with chronic pain and trauma. The CDC estimates that 51 million Americans, more than 20% of all adults, live with chronic pain and 17 million have “high impact chronic pain.” In addition, about 5% of American adults, 13 million, had PTSD in 2020 (National Center for PTSD in the US Department of Veterans Affairs).

Youth Heartline

youthheartline.org

Mission | To improve positive long-term outcomes and access to services by reducing risk factors and barriers for underserved children and families in Colfax, Taos, and Union Counties in northeast New Mexico.

Proposal | Founded as the CASA program for the 8th Judicial District, we now offer seven other programs in our service area that directly impact underserved children and their families. We seek support for our Summer of Play program that brings STEAM activities to income-based housing complexes in the Taos area. The model allows community members to develop trust allowing them to be more open about their challenges and needs.

Noteworthy | This program serves 50 underserved youth each summer across four different complexes.