Three Things to Know about the Chase Foundation in New Mexico

There’s a foundation in Southeastern New Mexico that’s been around for a little over a decade with deep roots in the oil and gas industry. It’s called the Chase Foundation, not to be confused with JPMorgan Chase's corporate philanthropy or any other foundations created by donors with the same last name. The founder we’re talking about here is Mack C. Chase, who moved to Artesia as a boy and has been deeply involved in the local community here.

Local nonprofits in this region should definitely get to know this funder a bit better and understand where recent funds have been flowing. Let’s take a closer look.

Nearly All Funds Stay in Southeast New Mexico

The town of Artesia is a huge priority for the Chase Foundation, but is also extends is support throughout the entire region. Overall, about 93 percent of grants stay in Southern Mexico and only about six percent of funding goes to groups in West Texas. One percent may go elsewhere from time to time, but non-local grants are incredibly rare.

Here are some examples of past grantees that Chase has supported:

  • Artesia Arts Council Inc.
  • Artesia FFA
  • Artesia Literacy Council
  • Artesia Pathway, Inc.
  • Artesia Police Athletic League
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern New Mexico
  • Imagination Station Preschool and Childcare
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico
  • Sheridan On Skates
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers New Mexico Tech Stu
  • The First Tee of the Pecos Valley
  • Think New Mexico
  • University of New Mexico
  • Wayland Baptist University
  • Western State Foundation
  • Rotary Wyoming
  • Leadership New Mexico
  • Artesia Police Department
  • Artesia Public Schools

Education Is the Top Issue

There are many different local causes that this funder supports, including the following topics of interest: pre-school through 12th Grade Education, college education programs, substance abuse programs, domestic violence programs, community enhancement programs, charity infrastructure, youth initiative programs, and emergency and critical human services.

But despite this broad range of interests, education remains the top issue for Chase. In addition to traditional grantmaking activities, the Chase Foundation is into scholarships in a big way. You can learn more about the scholarship opportunities here. For grants, all levels of education are supported by this funder, including pre-K, K-12, and college-level education.

Grant Applications Are Accepted Throughout the Year  

Good news - applying for a Chase grant is about as straightforward as you could hope for. The board of directors typically meet on second Tuesday of March, June, September, and December, so get your application in one month before those dates to be considered at the next meeting. Applications are accepted all throughout the year. The foundation often gives priority to projects that involve joint efforts of multiple agencies and that already have wide community support.

To learn more about this funder, who the key players are, and how to get in touch, check out our full profile of the Chase Foundation in our Southwest Funders section.

Related: Chase Foundation