Endowments: Building Forever Support for Our Region

Generosity that grows

At the Santa Fe Community Foundation, we believe generosity can last a lifetime — and far beyond. Endowments make that possible. These permanent charitable funds ensure the causes we care about today will have resources tomorrow, next year, and for generations to come. Endowments are more than financial tools; they are a lasting promise to the future of our shared home.

When you create or contribute to an endowment at SFCF, your gift is included in a professionally managed portfolio. Each year, a portion of the fund’s earnings supports nonprofits in our region and beyond, while the principal remains intact and growing. This structure means your generosity never stops working. In fact, it multiplies over time.

As longtime endowment advocate JoAnn Sivley Ruppert shares:

"Having been responsible for selecting charities from my parental endowment for 30 years, I can stress the deep satisfaction that comes from giving back to the community in important ways."

Diverse Funds for a Diverse Region

The endowments we steward reflect the richness and variety of northern New Mexico. Some support individual nonprofits, such as a youth shelter in Santa Fe or a food pantry in Rio Arriba County. Others focus on broader areas like early childhood education, environmental stewardship, or the arts. Many are created in memory of loved ones, becoming living legacies that honor their values. Nonprofits can also establish agency endowments to ensure their own sustainability.

April Adams of Fairview Cemetery describes the importance of such stewardship:

"As Treasurer, I know how essential long-term stewardship is. Our perpetual endowment ensures that Fairview Cemetery, which has been part of Santa Fe’s heritage for over 140 years, will continue to be cared for with dignity and purpose. Partnering with the Santa Fe Community Foundation has given us more financial stability, and connected us to a network of peers and educational resources that strengthen our mission. For any organization committed to lasting impact, this kind of partnership is invaluable."

In addition to creating new funds, donors can contribute to existing endowments — including our Fields of Interest Funds, which power our annual community grants in areas like education, health, and the arts. These gifts strengthen our collective ability to respond to community needs year after year.

One example is Carla Freeman, who established the Animal Welfare Endowment and the Carla Freeman Fund through a legacy gift to the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Her close friend, Penny Goerlach, shares:

"These endowments now provide lasting support to nonprofits across northern New Mexico, ensuring that Carla's love for people, animals, and her beloved Santa Fe community continues to shape and sustain lives for generations to come."

Community Resiliency Fund

One of the Santa Fe Community Foundation's newest and most impactful endowments is the Community Resiliency Fund (CRF). Launched in 2021 in honor of our 40th anniversary, CRF supports organizations and initiatives that build the resilience of our most vulnerable neighbors — from systemic injustices, public health crises, the effects of climate change, and beyond.  

From the very beginning, this future-focused fund demonstrated its power to respond to unexpected challenges. Just a year after its launch, the fund activated to support recovery efforts following the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire — the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history.

Mainstreet de Las Vegas, one of the organizations supported by CRF in the spring and summer of 2022, described the impact: 

"Community support, including from the Community Resiliency Fund, allowed us to distribute over $34,000 directly to families impacted by the fires... and put together a team that coordinated meals for people in the most severely affected areas around Rociada and the twelve communities around Mora."

Today, the Community Resiliency Fund represents more than immediate relief; it is a visionary resource that ensures our region is prepared for urgent challenges we cannot yet predict, while also safeguarding stability and growth for generations to come.

Giving Circles with Lasting Impact

Our three identity-based Giving Circles — the Native American Advised Fund, the Envision Fund, and the Empower! Black Futures Community Fund — are also endowed, ensuring their missions endure for generations. Guided by community-led advisory committees, these funds reflect the power of collective generosity and the strength of community voices shaping lasting change.

For Rasshan Ahmad, Chair of the Empower! Fund advisory committee, the meaning of legacy is deeply personal:

"To me this is what legacy is... I think about the generations that don't exist yet and how this will live on. It means that we'll be able to impact future generations and it's exciting to be able to do so."

Why should donors give through an endowment at a community foundation?

For many donors, an endowment is a deeply personal expression of their values. Creating a named fund can honor a loved one, celebrate a family legacy, or support a cause that has shaped their lives. But what makes an endowment at a community foundation truly distinctive is the assurance of endurance.

Community foundations are built for the long term. With deep roots in the region, professional investment management, and a commitment to honoring donor intent, we provide stability across generations. Even as needs in our community evolve, the Foundation ensures that your intentions remain protected and your generosity continues to work as you envisioned.

Endowments at the Santa Fe Community Foundation also invite multigenerational engagement, as families involve younger members in giving decisions and pass down the practice of philanthropy. And donors appreciate the convenience we provide—especially when it comes to year-end giving or handling complex contributions like stock or real estate—all while knowing their legacy is safeguarded for the future.

JoAnn Sivley Ruppert, who has created her own perpetual endowment with the Foundation, shares why this commitment matters to her:

‍“My own Perpetual Endowment with SFCF will outlive me by many decades and continue the work I’ve initiated during my lifetime. I am confident that my endowment will be managed with care and diligence at SFCF. NOW is an especially important time to stand up for our beliefs, I believe.”

Getting started

Building an endowment with the Santa Fe Community Foundation begins with a conversation. We’ll work with you to explore your goals, explain our investment approach, and create a structure that fits your mission. Whether you’re establishing a new fund, contributing to an existing one, or incorporating endowment giving into your development plan, we’re here to help you take the first step toward creating a lasting impact.
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Your Contact

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Sandra Session-Robertson
Vice President, Development & Donor Relations
srobertson@santafecf.org | 505.988.9715

Your generosity can become part of northern New Mexico’s forever story. Let’s start the conversation.