Santa Fe Community Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Santa Fe Community Foundation has nearly $70 million limits grantmaking to the northern New Mexico counties and supports arts, economic opportunity, education, environment, health and human services, and criminal justice.

FUNDING AREAS: Arts, economic opportunity, education, environment, health and human services, criminal justice

IP TAKE: SFCF has recently adopted a strategic framework that focuses on equity, results, and alignment. Look for some shifts in grantmaking to achieve these goals.

PROFILE: Established in 1981, the Santa Fe Community Foundation manages donor-advised funds and engages in discretionary grantmaking as well. This community foundation was established as a signatory to Philanthropy’s Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy that involves at least 25 percent of grantmaking going to social justice strategies. These include programs that promote advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement. Grantmaking areas of interest include arts, economic opportunity, education, environment, health and human services, and criminal justice.

Education grants are awarded in the spring and focus on educational success and career pathways. Environmental grants for the spring focus on sustainable agriculture and stewardship of resources. The funder makes economic security and opportunities awards through the High Impact Target Grant Program. In the fall season, the funder awards health and wellbeing grants, as well as cultural vibrancy grants.

Competitive seasonal grants are typically $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 depending on a nonprofit’s budget. Review a list of past grantees on the funder’s website. SFCF grantmaking is limited to the northern New Mexico counties, including Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos. SFCF generally only makes general operating support grants. However, the foundation doesn’t support startup nonprofits, and only organizations with three years of operation are eligible for grants. As a general rule, nonprofits are generally only allowed to apply for funding once per year.

SFCF accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits before established deadlines. SFCF has made it a priority to streamline its grantmaking process so that nonprofits are not spending a lot of time preparing application materials. Direct general questions to the foundation staff at 505-988-9715 and foundation@SantaFeCF.org.

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