Native American Advised Fund awards $60,000 to Native-serving nonprofits
The Native American Advised Fund (NAAF) at the Santa Fe Community Foundation is pleased to announce $60,000 in grants to 17 nonprofits serving Native communities across New Mexico. The 2023 grants, which range from $1,000 - $6,000, support NAAF’s mission of enhancing Native lifeways and promoting the Indigenous core values of community, language, culture, and environment.
"The members of the Native American Advised Fund are so honored to be more than just grantmakers, we are a part of this community," said Jhane Myers (Comanche, Blackfeet), chair of NAAF's advisory committee. "These grants lift up our communities in ways that benefit, support, and strengthen the Native people of New Mexico."
This year’s grantees include Breath of My Heart Birthplace, College Horizons, Drag Story Hour, IndigenousWays, Lightning Boy Foundation, Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project, National Indian Youth Leadership Project, Nizhoni Smiles, Notay Begay III Foundation, NM Kids Matter, River Source, Santa Fe Film Institute, Santa Fe Indigenous Center, School for Advanced Research, Silver Bullet Productions, Society of American Indian Dentists, and Trees Water & People.
The Native American Advised Fund’s annual grantmaking is determined by an all-Native advisory committee that reflects the diversity of New Mexico’s Indigenous communities. Since its inception, NAAF has deployed over $885,000 to tribes, schools, and organizations across the state.
“It is our great honor to support the leadership of NAAF’s advisory committee and leverage the power of community-led philanthropy for the greater good of our region’s many tribes, pueblos, and nations,” said Christopher Goett, President & CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation.
The Native American Advised Fund was established in 1993 with a seed gift from the late Allan Houser (Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), a humanitarian and one of the world's great artists. It remains the only endowment in New Mexico dedicated solely to Native causes.
The fund is made possible through the generosity of its many supporters. To learn more and donate to the Native American Advised Fund, please visit http://www.santafecf.org/native or call 505.988.9715.
_____
Photo: National Indian Youth Leadership Project
Become part of the story: Donate to Empty Stocking Fund
Each winter, one of the clearest examples of how our community shows up for one another is the Empty Stocking Fund. This year, your generosity can go twice as far in helping our neighbors in need. Thanks to $65,000 in matching support from the Anderson Charitable Foundation and Anchorum Health Foundation, your early contribution to the Empty Stocking Fund will be matched dollar for dollar.
2026 Piñon Awards: Event Recap
On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, we presented our 40th Annual Piñon Awards, which honor northern New Mexico's vital nonprofit sector. We invite you to relive this magical evening by browsing photos and videos from the event.
Celebrate 45 years of foundational support for Santa Fe
As the Santa Fe Community Foundation marks its 45th anniversary and the 40th annual Piñon Awards, our President & CEO Christopher Goett reflects on the people, partnerships, and long-term investments that have shaped the Foundation, and what it means to build for generations to come.
