A Work In Progress:
This Directory is a living database. With time and new information, new grantmaker profiles are included. Please check back regularly. We encourage you to contact us if you discover relevant changes in a foundation's application process or criteria; we also encourage grantmakers to inform us of changes. This, in addition to our annual updates, helps us keep the information as current as possible. Together we can further the impact of philanthropy on communities throughout the state.
The content in each grantmaker profile is current as of the "Last updated..." date listed at the bottom of each profile in italics.
We also welcome hearing how this Directory has been useful to you and your organization.
Please contact us with any feedback about the Directory.
What Is The Purpose Of Such A Directory?
- To create an inclusive comprehensive, New Mexico focused, centralized database that is maintained and periodically updated
- To assist grantseekers to be more efficient in their research by providing a comprehensive list of grantmaker profiles they can choose to further pursue
- To include grantmaking opportunities that are significant to NM nonprofits, which may be much smaller grant amounts than traditionally advertised grants in national directories
- To provide the most accurate and concise grantmaker profiles and clearly share their missions and funding areas with grantseekers
How To Use This Directory?
The database is designed to be searchable via several navigational routes; this is an effort to allow organizations to find appropriate funding matches in a variety of ways. Both the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence encourage grantseekers to visit the websites or conduct additional research on funders that appear to be a match to learn about the latest in program alignment and funding process. We discourage blanket proposals, proposals to funders that are outside their criteria, and proposals to grantmakers that do not accept unsolicited inquiries. Additional research prior to applying for a grant, and working towards developing a relationship with grantmakers greatly aids funding prospects.
There are five search fields. These search fields can be used individually or in a combination to search for grantmakers. It is recommended to begin with broader single field searches and then refine them by adding additional fields to your search. Additional search criteria will then narrow the number of results returned. To do broader searches, do not select any option within a search field (ie: do not highlight a specific line). Each field is set to default to all options to look for all entries in the field. To clear all fields selected, click on the "Reset Form" button.
Keyword Search: Searchable by any word or combination of words. Ie: You can search by the words “economic development” or “development.” A search for “economic development” will result in a shorter list of grant makers as it is a more specific search. The keyword search does not work with partial words. ie: It can search for the full word "collaboration" but cannot search for the partial word "collab." The keyword search is helpful for looking for specific language that is not included in the Program Funding Area Search field. Ie: Examples of keyword searches might be words or combinations of words like: media, classroom, or neighborhood improvement.
Program Funding Area Search: The categories listed are based on the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities Classification System (or NTEE Codes). For more information as to what specifically falls within each code click on the above link. This classification system broadly defines areas of interest. For more specific information, the Grant Details of each Grantmaker Profile will need to be viewed.
Geographic Funding Focus Search: Includes "National" for grantmakers that provide national opportunities for which New Mexico nonprofits are eligible. Includes "Statewide" for grantmakers that fund organizations throughout New Mexico or only have a focus in several states, New Mexico being one. The field also lists specific New Mexico counties for those grantmakers who only fund in given counties. Do separate searches for "National," “Statewide” and specific counties as they will result in different lists of grantmakers.
Populations Served Search: The Directory is searchable by unique populations. If you do not work with a specific population it is best to not click on any option within this field. When information was not available, the fields chosen for a grantmaker profile was N/A, Other or left empty.
Accepts LOIs/Proposals: Can be searched by "Yes," "No" or "N/A" (Not Available).
What's Included In This Directory?:
The Directory is comprised of individual Grantmaker Profiles. Each Grantmaker Profile provides Grant Details and Organization Contact Information about an individual grantmaker. The following is a description of each field within each Grantmaker Profile.
Grant Details includes the following information if available:
- Does the grantmaker accept LOIs/proposals?: Grantmakers who accept and do not accept LOIs/Proposals are included in this Directory. Please do not send LOIs/Proposals to Grantmakers that answer "NO" in this field. LOI stands for Letter of Inquiry/Interest/Intent and is usually a 1-3 page summary of a funding request. See grantmaker profile for specific LOI/Proposal instructions. Proposal writing and LOI tools and examples listed below.
- Web Address and Link: Both the web address and a square picture web link of the grantmaker website are provided when available. Click on the webpage image to connect to the grantmaker website.
- Average NM Grant Size: When available this field includes information directly provided from the grantmaker. Please see grantmaker 990s for complete information on grants funded in any given year. 990s can be accessed through www.guidestar.org.
- Program Funding Area: The categories listed are based on the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities Classification System (or NTEE Codes). For more information as to what specifically falls within each code, click here (pdf). This classification system broadly defines areas of interest. For more specific information, the Grantmaking Program Areas and Descriptions within each Grantmaker Profile will need to be viewed.
- Geographic Funding Focus: Includes "National" for grantmakers that provide national opportunities for which New Mexico nonprofits are eligible. Includes "Statewide" for grantmakers that fund organizations throughout New Mexico and also lists specific New Mexico counties for those grantmakers who only fund in given counties.
- Population Served: Includes "All Populations" or "N/A" for grantmakers that fund organizations who serve the general population and lists specific human populations if a grantmaker specifies populations they serve with their grantmaking.
- Mission/Giving Statement: A brief description of the grantmaker's purpose.
- Grantmaking Program Areas: These are the general names, using the grantmaker's language, for the type of programs the grantmaker funds.
- Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions: These descriptions expand upon the above general names, using the grantmaker's language. This field can be very useful to identifying whether a nonprofit's programs align with the grantmaker's funding priorities. Grantmakers may provide more grantmaking areas other than listed, but they have been excluded either because NM nonprofits are ineligilbe or because the funding is not aimed at nonprofit organizations (ie: Scholarships).
- Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions: This field describes any specific criteria a nonprofit organization needs to be eligible for funding. It also lists common types of requests that the grantmaker does not consider.
- Application Instructions: Includes how to apply for funding unless the information is available online, in which case it says so. Check with funder before applying to make sure instructions are current.
- Notes: Any additional information that may be of interest.
- Best Method of Contact: This section lists how best to contact the grantmaker. Many grantmakers prefer email, phone calls or LOIs prior to receiving a full proposal.
Organization Contact Information includes the following information if available:
- Mailing Address: Address for parcel post delivery to grantmaker.
- Phone: General phone number for grantmaker.
- Fax: General fax number for grantmaker.
- General Email: The general email address for the grantmaker.
- Primary Contact Name: Who to contact at the grantmaker organization.
- Title: The job title of the primary contact.
- Primary Contact Email: The direct email address for the primary contact, if different than the general email address.
- Primary Contact Phone: The direct phone number for the primary contact, if different than the previous phone number.
Best Practices For Developing Relationships With Funders:
How To Write Effective Grant Proposals:
Free Online Tutorial in Proposal Writing
Free Webinar through the Foundation Center
Examples of LOIs:
The following Letters of Interests (LOIs) have been generously shared by ACCION - New Mexico - Arizona - Colorado and Special Olympics New Mexico.
