Brian T. Byrnes, President & CEO

As thoughtful donors and nonprofit professionals, you already know that the payoff of this hard work doesn’t lie in small print somewhere at the bottom of your fund statements or balance sheets.  Rather, it lies in what ‘doing the work’ does to the heart and mind of the giver as well as the receiver. To be a donor who is a philanthropic leader or a nonprofit professional who gives voice to the community requires that the human heart is cultivated toward tenderness and the mind is trained to envision lasting, durable results. It is in this linkage of heart and mind that the concrete reality of social justice, environmental sustainability, and human rights and dignity is created for everyone.

It is clear from Santa Fe Community Foundation’s 29-year history of generosity that this link between heart and mind is not new. Our work going forward is to build upon the momentum you’ve already created. Grants – most often made by inspired fundholders at SFCF – have gone to organizations that live and breathe visionary and profound solutions to persistent problems.  Both the donor and the grantee reflect an understanding of the complex intersections of poverty, bigotry, unequal opportunity and social apathy. Those grants also reflect the understanding that we don’t achieve results overnight. We need to hold the long view and build patient capital. We have to work together to ensure success.

In the end, stepping up and doing something for others is really all that matters.  We are here to encourage you – donors and nonprofit leaders alike – along the way.

Brian T. Byrnes