Grants
About Us
About Us
Grants
Grant Opportunities
Annual Grant Cycle
Each year, Albuquerque Community Foundation awards grants through an annual grant cycle. Awards are granted to organizations providing services that support residents in the four-county Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia). The Annual Grant Cycle is supported by over 90 endowment funds. In order to respond to the community’s specific needs, distributions from the funds are pooled and aligned directly with the Foundation’s fields of interest.
The Foundation is committed to evolving our grantmaking practices to increase funding to traditionally under-resources communities, to breaking down power dynamics in the funding process by including greater equity of voice and to great transparency in the selection process. In 2023, the Foundation adopted a new Mission, Vision and Values, a commitment to Values-Aligned Philanthropy and an Anti-Hate Policy Statement, and we seek to fund organizations that align with these principles.
While we do understand the need to avoid changing the application each year, we are continuously seeking to improve the questions and scoring rubric (available here) to support the above stated principles and provide greater clarity and guidance to both the nonprofits and the grant panel. This scoring rubric will be used by all panelists on the review committee.
The final change to expect this year is that the Foundation has determined to remove the strategic grant lens of “Access to Economic Opportunity”. In our efforts to solicit and act on feedback, and through extensive conversations with various community stakeholders, it was decided that this lens is no longer aligned with the Foundation’s overall impact and needed further evaluation. Over the coming year(s), we will seek to explore how the Foundation would like to evaluate our impact across all areas of our work and what strategic lens offers the greatest support to the communities we serve.
- We will continue to host PEEP (Party to Enhance Equity in Philanthropy) events this year to create space for nonprofits to share their work with one another, with staff, Trustees, Committee members and community members. These will be informal events intended to support community building and relationships.
Save the Dates for 2024 PEEP Events: May 30 and September 26
- We will continue to host Coffee Chat hours. Community Impact staff at available during the application cycle to offer support in answering any questions or provide space for feedback. Coffee Chat hours will be available twice per Round and folks can join at any time. Join us for a Coffee Chat via Zoom.
2024 Coffee Chat Dates
Round 1
- February 6: 12pm-1pm
- February 21: 5pm-6pm
Round 2
- March 5: 12pm-1pm
- March 21: 5pm-6pm
Grant Opportunities
Annual Grant Cycle
Each year, Albuquerque Community Foundation awards grants through an annual grant cycle. Awards are granted to organizations providing services that support residents in the four-county Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia). The Annual Grant Cycle is supported by over 90 endowment funds. In order to respond to the community’s specific needs, distributions from the funds are pooled and aligned directly with the Foundation’s fields of interest.
The Foundation is committed to evolving our grantmaking practices to increase funding to traditionally under-resources communities, to breaking down power dynamics in the funding process by including greater equity of voice and to great transparency in the selection process. In 2023, the Foundation adopted a new Mission, Vision and Values, a commitment to Values-Aligned Philanthropy and an Anti-Hate Policy Statement, and we seek to fund organizations that align with these principles.
While we do understand the need to avoid changing the application each year, we are continuously seeking to improve the questions and scoring rubric (available here) to support the above stated principles and provide greater clarity and guidance to both the nonprofits and the grant panel. This scoring rubric will be used by all panelists on the review committee. If you're interested in participating on a review panel, please sign-up here.
The final change to expect this year is that the Foundation has determined to remove the strategic grant lens of “Access to Economic Opportunity”. In our efforts to solicit and act on feedback, and through extensive conversations with various community stakeholders, it was decided that this lens is no longer aligned with the Foundation’s overall impact and needed further evaluation. Over the coming year(s), we will seek to explore how the Foundation would like to evaluate our impact across all areas of our work and what strategic lens offers the greatest support to the communities we serve.
- We will continue to host PEEP (Party to Enhance Equity in Philanthropy) events this year to create space for nonprofits to share their work with one another, with staff, Trustees, Committee members and community members. These will be informal events intended to support community building and relationships.
Save the Dates for 2024 PEEP Events: May 30 and September 26
- We will continue to host Coffee Chat hours. Community Impact staff at available during the application cycle to offer support in answering any questions or provide space for feedback. Coffee Chat hours will be available twice per Round and folks can join at any time. Join us for a Coffee Chat via Zoom.
2024 Coffee Chat Dates
Round 1
- February 6: 12pm-1pm
- February 21: 5pm-6pm
Round 2
- March 5: 12pm-1pm
- March 21: 5pm-6pm
Our Fields of Interest
Through the Annual Grant Cycle, we make grants in seven diverse priority areas. This allows us to meet a broad spectrum of needs while also following Albuquerque’s changing demands.
Please note: Organizations can ONLY apply for one field-of-interest in our Annual Grant Cycle.
Arts & Culture
Grants in this field of interest support artistic and cultural expression of diverse communities and providing access to these experiences through the following:
- Creative arts education including music, visual arts, and dance for youth (K-12) performing arts organizations
- Enhancing cultural arts
- Theater and/or Dance
Education
Grants encompass a wide range of educational supports to ensure historically marginalized communities receive opportunities that positively impact their lives and careers. This may include:
- Literacy education for K-12, early childhood education, and after school initiatives
- Addressing adult literacy, vocational/career training and adult basic education, as well as programs to benefit seniors
- Learning experiences for those with special needs and skills-based education programs
Environmental &
Historic Preservation
Grants in this field-of-interest support preservation of environment, wildlife, and historic buildings with specific focus on:
- Protecting natural land and resources, including the health and protection of wildlife
- Preservation of archaeological sites and/or historical buildings, landmarks, attractions and venues
- Climate justice efforts to improve environmental conditions (energy and water conservation, water recycling, renewable energy, etc.)
- Educational programs and/or projects with strong community involvement related to any of the above
Economic & Workforce Development
Grants in this field-of-interest support intentional and inventive endeavors to ensure community wealth building for under-resourced populations, which can include:
- Working towards ensuring a robust local economy
- Contributing to social, economic, and environmental progress for entrepreneurs and the state's workforce
- Providing innovative support systems for entrepreneurs
Human Services
Grants aid individuals as they transition to more self-sustainable lifestyles, with an emphasis on fostering self-sufficiency and nurturing families, specific to supporting traditionally underserved populations. This field-of-interest focuses on these specific areas:
- Individuals experiencing displacement, homelessness, and/or individuals returning from incarceration
- Assistance for sexual assault and domestic violence programs and/or support for survivors of crime
- Support for vulnerable populations including children, families and seniors, youth aging out of foster care and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Health
Grants in this field-of-interest address essential needs for marginalized populations including the following programs:
- Providing emergency care/services
- Addressing food insecurity
- Mental and behavioral health needs, including addressing substance abuse
- General healthcare needs including home healthcare and hospice
- Supporting dental health needs for individuals
Animal Welfare
This grant opportunity will support the diverse programs for animal needs including:
- Welfare for animals (may include, but is not limited to):
- Spay and neuter
- Shelters
- Basic animal health
- Education/training
- Resources on how best to care for animals
- Veterinary career support, including veterinary techs
- Education about wildlife and ecosystems
- Programs involved in the training and certification of service animals
Need To Know Grants
Need to Know grants provide an opportunity for nonprofits to submit rolling grant requests throughout the year. By submitting these requests, your organization can keep us informed of new programs or ongoing funding needs throughout the year.
If your organization submitted a grant application in the Annual Grant Cycle and was not selected, it will rollover into a Need to Know grant.
- Need to Know grants must serve populations within one of the following counties: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and/or Valencia.
- The Foundation will review requests monthly, but there is no deadline to submit and there is no designated date on which the Foundation makes funding decisions. This is a rolling process throughout the year. If your organization receives funds, we will contact you directly.
- While grants may vary in size, we suggest you submit your requests in the $5,000 – $10,000 range.
Sign-Up for Community Impact Updates
Our Fields of Interest
Through the Annual Grant Cycle, we make grants in six diverse priority areas. This allows us to meet a broad spectrum of needs while also following Albuquerque’s changing demands.
Please note: Organizations can ONLY apply for one field-of-interest in our Annual Grant Cycle.
Arts & Culture
Grants in this field of interest support artistic and cultural expression of diverse communities and providing access to these experiences through the following:
- Creative arts education including music, visual arts, and dance for youth (K-12) performing arts organizations
- Enhancing cultural arts
- Theater and/or Dance
Education
Grants encompass a wide range of educational supports to ensure historically marginalized communities receive opportunities that positively impact their lives and careers. This may include:
- Literacy education for K-12, early childhood education, and after school initiatives
- Addressing adult literacy, vocational/career training and adult basic education, as well as programs to benefit seniors
- Learning experiences for those with special needs and skills-based education programs
Environmental & Historic Preservation
Grants in this field-of-interest support preservation of environment, wildlife, and historic buildings with specific focus on:
- Protecting natural land and resources, including the health and protection of wildlife
- Preservation of archaeological sites and/or historical buildings, landmarks, attractions and venues
- Climate justice efforts to improve environmental conditions (energy and water conservation, water recycling, renewable energy, etc.)
- Educational programs and/or projects with strong community involvement related to any of the above
Economic & Workforce Development
Grants in this field-of-interest support intentional and inventive endeavors to ensure community wealth building for under-resourced populations, which can include:
- Working towards ensuring a robust local economy
- Contributing to social, economic, and environmental progress for entrepreneurs and the state's workforce
- Providing innovative support systems for entrepreneurs
Health
Grants in this field-of-interest address essential needs for marginalized populations including the following programs:
- Providing emergency care/services
- Addressing food insecurity
- Mental and behavioral health needs, including addressing substance abuse
- General healthcare needs including home healthcare and hospice
- Supporting dental health needs for individuals
Human Services
Grants aid individuals as they transition to more self-sustainable lifestyles, with an emphasis on fostering self-sufficiency and nurturing families, specific to supporting traditionally underserved populations. This field-of-interest focuses on these specific areas:
- Individuals experiencing displacement, homelessness, and/or individuals returning from incarceration
- Assistance for sexual assault and domestic violence programs and/or support for survivors of crime
- Support for vulnerable populations including children, families and seniors, youth aging out of foster care and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Animal Welfare
This grant opportunity will support the diverse programs for animal needs including:
- Welfare for animals (may include, but is not limited to):
- Spay and neuter
- Shelters
- Basic animal health
- Education/training
- Resources on how best to care for animals
- Veterinary career support, including veterinary techs
- Education about wildlife and ecosystems
- Programs involved in the training and certification of service animals
Need To Know Grants
Need to Know grants provide an opportunity for nonprofits to submit rolling grant requests throughout the year. By submitting these requests, your organization can keep us informed of new programs or ongoing funding needs throughout the year.
If your organization submitted a grant application in the Competitive Grant Program and was not selected, it will rollover into a Need to Know grant.
- Need to Know grants must serve populations within one of the following counties: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and/or Valencia.
- The Foundation will review requests monthly, but there is no deadline to submit and there is no designated date on which the Foundation makes funding decisions. This is a rolling process throughout the year. If your organization receives funds, we will contact you directly.
- While grants may vary in size, we suggest you submit your requests in the $5,000 – $10,000 range.