Fall Community Grants

Arts & Culture

RESULT: Cultural identity is celebrated and reflected in the community 

‍We will support requests from organizations 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: 

• 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
• Social change and social consciousness, including public policy, civic engagement, community organizing, or public information to preserve and strengthen the arts and cultural segment of the creative economy locally
• Lifting up and preserving cultural and historical heritage, tradition, and assets of the region

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Education

RESULT: All children and youth succeed in education prepared for a career

‍We will support requests from organizations that work to improve:

• School readiness
• Reading and/or math proficiency
• College and career pathway accessibility
• Opportunity youth* engagement
  *Opportunity youth are ages 12–24 who are struggling with school, not enrolled in school, and/or not working
• Policy advocacy efforts to strengthen education outcomes in northern New Mexico

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

• Integrated student and family supports for at-risk and vulnerable populations, with strong place-based solutions supported by a network of caring and appropriately trained adult and peer relationships
• Access to quality, affordable early childhood education and out-of-school opportunities, including after-school and summer programs
• Targeted interventions to close academic achievement gaps across key milestones from birth through career
• Work-based learning and career and technical education through real-life, personally relevant experiences, including career exploration and alternative pathway opportunities
• Training and support for educators, providers, and families so they can be strong advocates and supporters of children’s and students’ success, especially in high-need areas

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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 will support requeststhat address climate change through efforts to:

• Protect or improve watershed and water quality
• Preserve open space
• Remediate land
• Energy from renewable sources
• Promote 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, along with distribution infrastructure, to support a sustainable food economy that reflects the region’s rich and diverse farming traditions
• Fostering connection and collaboration among multi-sector stakeholders for environmental advocacy and community development that support equitable access to and stewardship of land, air, water, and ecosystems for future generations
• Promotion of renewable energy through coordinated efforts to increase consumption, production, workforce training, enterprise development, and investment
• Ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies

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Animal Welfare

RESULT: The health and well-being of our region's domestic and wild animals is protected.

Grants for animal welfare will support organizations providing services and/or advocacy to protect both domestic and wild animals. We will support requests that focus on:

Population control

• Free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics
• Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs
• Transportation of stray dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters to areas where they are more likely to be adopted
• Reducing the use of euthanasia as a form of population control

Cruelty prevention

• Humane education and public awareness programs
• Rescue and adoption programs
• Support for local and/or statewide trapping bans

Animal well-being

• Training and socializing animals with the goal of rehoming
• Providing emergency and preventive veterinary care
• Providing food and other supplies for pets of low-income owners

Service animal support for vulnerable populations

• Providing assistance through service animals for individuals with physical disabilities
• Supporting emotional and trauma-informed care

Reintroduction and conservation of native New Mexico species

• Educational programs about native New Mexico species
• Reintroduction programs for native species