Rural

Mission/Giving Statement: Third Wave Foundation is a feminist, activist foundation that works nationally to support young women and transgender youth ages 15 to 30. Through strategic grantmaking, leadership development, and philanthropic advocacy, it supports groups and individuals working towards gender, racial, economic, and social justice.

Grantmaking Program Areas: Reproductive Health & Justice

Types of Funding/Funding Restrictions: The Foundation funds projects which benefit, target, are devised by, and led by young women, transgender, and gender nonconforming youth activists, between the ages of 15 and 30. It especially looks for programs or organizations that focus on the needs of low-income communities, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQ communities, and people of color. The Foundation does not fund national organizations, intermediaries or subsidiaries. Additional restrictions listed online.

Application Instructions: Email LOIs to program[at]thirdwavefoundation[dot]org.

Mission/Giving Statement:  Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation promotes a sustainable and just social and natural system by supporting grassroots organizations and movements committed to this goal.

Grantmaking Program Areas:  Protect the Health and Environment of Communities Threatened by Toxics; Advance Environmental Justice; Promote a Sustainable Agricultural and Food System; Ensure Quality Reproductive Health Care as a Human Right

Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions:  

Protect the Health and Environment of Communities Threatened by Toxics:  Supporting organizations, primarily at the state and regional levels that: Bring together activists to work on toxics exposure and contamination; and Promote initiatives and public policies that reduce the use of toxins and hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment.

Advance Environmental Justice:  Supporting organizations, led by people most heavily affected, that: Work to counter environmental degradation in low-income communities and communities of color.

Promote a Sustainable Agricultural and Food System:  Supporting rural and urban organizations that:  Work with farmers and consumers on issues involving sustainable agriculture and community food security; Advocate for governmental policies and funding allocations that advance sustainable agriculture and community food security; and Counter the actions of public and private sector institutions and corporations that further the concentration of food production and the industrialization of agriculature.

Ensure Quality Reproductive Health Care As A Human Right:  Supporting organizations that: Broaden the base and agenda of the reproductive rights movement through the involvement of new constituencies, primarily at the state level and in communities of color; and Advocate for legal and policy initiatives to safeguard reproductive freedom.

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions:  The Foundation makes general support grants and does not limit the number of renewal grants.  It seeks organizations led by people of color and/or working in low income communities and requests that address multiple priorities as well as those that bring together organizations and activists from diverse movements.

Application Instructions:  Eligibility Quiz and Internet Application Form/LOI instructions available online.

Mission/Giving Statement:  The Needmor Fund's mission is to work with others to bring about social justice. It supports people who work together to change the social, economic, or political conditions which bar their access to participation in a democratic society. It seeks to fund community organizing groups with the following characteristics (see website for complete list).

• The organization is well managed; it has a financial and fundraising plan, engaged in strategic planning, and has strong leadership and lively governance.
• The organization is multi-issue: in particular, it addresses issues of race, immigration, poverty, economic  justice and low-wage work.
• The organization balances issue work with organization building; it effectively links issues to building organization and power...

Grantmaking Program Areas:  Southwest Cluster; National Program

Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions:

Southwest Cluster (Arizona, New Mexico and southern portions of California and Texas):  Funds community organizing groups- organizing in rural areas and border regions; organizing low-wage workers and immigrants; labor-community linkages; faith community involvement; and building community infrastructure.

National Program:  Funds community organizing groups in various parts of the country, particularly those that cross boundaries and offer promising models.  See website for more information.

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions:  Core operating support to grantee organizations one year at a time, for up to four years, after which time organizations may not re-apply for at least two years. The Needmor Fund does not fund Community development corporations; Direct service or training programs; Litigation; Government sponsored or controlled projects; or National organizations. List of additional restrictions available online. 

Application Instructions:  Grant application and instructions available online. Southwest Cluster applicants must submit full proposal. National Program applicants must submit a Pre-Application Inquiry Form. 

Mission/Giving Statement: The BNSF Railway Foundation will support and improve the general welfare and quality of life in communities served by BNSF and in which our employees live, work and volunteer through various health and human service, educational, civic, youth and cultural projects.

Grantmaking Program Areas: Health & Human Services; Education; Civic; Youth; Culture

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions: 501(c)(3) organizations only.  Organizations must be on BNSF line or in BNSF service area.

Application Instructions: Grant application and instructions available online.

Notes: Best Method of Contact is email.

Mission/Giving Statement: The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

Grantmaking Program Areas: The USDA has eighteen agencies. They include:

• Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
• Forest Service (FS)
• National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS
• Rural Development (RD)

For a complete list of agencies under the USDA, their descriptions and their website links, click on the "Agencies & Offices" tab. 

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions: See individual grants for eligibility and restrictions.

Application Instructions:The USDA requires all applicants to apply online through www.grants.gov. Grant application instructions are online and vary for each grant.Please note, applications must include a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register with the Central Contractor’s Registry (CCR). It is suggested that this be completed at least 30 days in advance of the application due date. 

Notes: Register for email announcements through www.grants.gov. Funding opportunities and agency programs and services are also listed on each agency's website.

Application Instructions: Grant application instructions online. Contact first via email.

Mission/Giving Statement:  Be the steward of a voluntary process that identifies health and human service need and responsibly applies financial and human resources to impart those needs.

Grantmaking Program Areas:  Help Youth & Children Succeed; Increasing Self Sufficiency; Strengthening & Supporting Families; Human Services

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions:  Geographic region of interest is South Eddy County, New Mexico.

Mission/Giving Statement: The mission of UWCNM is to promote a culture of philanthropy and convene stakeholders to achieve measurable community improvements.  UWCNM's purpose is to make it easier for neighbors to give to help those most vulnerable.

Grantmaking Program Areas: Strengthening Families; Building Independence; Supporting Education; Assisting People with Disabilities; Sheltering Neighbors; Serving Our Seniors;   Preventing Family Violence; Eliminating Hunger; Promoting Healthy Lives

Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions:

Strengthening Families: Family and child advocacy; legal assistance

Building Independence: Emergency services; literacy and learning programs

Supporting Education: Specialty schools and preschools; out-of-school time education support

Assisting People with Disabilities: Services to children and adults with disabilities

Sheltering Neighbors: Shelter for children and families; homelessness services and housing

Serving Our Seniors: Senior services, including legal assistance

Preventing Family Violence: Empowering victimes of violence and domestic violence shelters

Eliminating Hunger: Food assistance for individuals and families

Promoting Healthy Lives: Cancer support services; access to healthcare; therapy for children and families; mental health care

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions: Request for funding may come from health and human services organizations in the central New Mexico area. Federations may not apply.

Application Instructions: Grant application instructions online.

Mission/Giving Statement: Con Alma Health Foundation is organized to be aware of and respond to the health rights and needs of culturally and demographically diverse peoples and communities of New Mexico. Con Alma will seek to improve the health status and access to health care services for all New Mexicans and will advocate for a health policy which will address the health needs of all New Mexicans. The Foundation will make grants, contributions, and program related investments to fulfill its mission.

Grantmaking Program Areas: Con Alma Health Foundation Small Grants and Multi-Year Grants; Northern New Mexico Health Grant Group (NNMHGG)

Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions:

Con Alma Health Foundation Grants: Con Alma Health Foundation focuses broadly in the areas of health and human services with special emphasis on culturally diverse, rural and tribal communities. Priority consideration is given to proposals that demonstrate strong collaborative relationships, have multiple funding sources and a plan for sustainability and address systemic change rather than direct services.

Northern New Mexico Health Grant Group (NNMHGG): Serve the unmet healthcare needs of the people of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties.

Type of Funding/Funding Restrictions: The Foundation does not accept requests on an ongoing basis.  It has two primary grant cycles per year: Small Grants (competitive - up to $15,000) and NNMHGG Grants (competitive - up to $20,000). Calendar is available online.  Applicants must be 501(c)3 organizations. No grants to individuals.  No grants for capital projects, land, building acquisition or renovation.  No grants for equipment valued in excess of $5,000 per item.  No grants for lobbying or prohibited political activities, for scholarships/fellowships.  No grants will be made to support activities currently funded by federal, state, tribal or local jurisdiction government health programs.  

Application Instructions: Grant application instructions available online.

Mission/ Giving Statement: The New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF) is a statewide endowment building and grant-making organization that serves and invests in New Mexico’s communities and their greatest asset . . . people. As a steward of community resources, we support a quality of life that reflects the diverse values, traditions, beauty and dreams of New Mexico. Building community wealth and relationships, maximizing community capacity and self-reliance are at the heart of our work.

Grantmaking Program Areas: The Rural Livilihoods Initiative; The Strengthening New Mexico Families Initiative; SPARK (early childhood); Kellogg Youth Initiative; New Mexico AIDS Partnership Fund

Grantmaking Program Area Descriptions:

The Rural Livlihoods Initiative: The Rural Livelihoods Initiative builds on the assets of rural communities throughout the state by funding sustainable, community-based economic development projects.

SPARK: NMCF’s NM SPARK – Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids – fosters family engagement, early childhood and elementary school collaboration and best practices.

Kellogg Youth Initiative: NMCF’s Youth Initiative strengthens systems that serve children and youth while building the field’s capacity for positive youth development and youth civic participation in New Mexico. Managed by NMCF’s Youth Initiative, School Based Health Centers (SBHC) grants aim to improve access, provide funding for renovation and medical equipment, increase behavioral health services, including screening, referral and treatment to address youth suicide, increase funding for teen pregnancy prevention, treatment and education, and provide support towards workforce improvements, project management, technical assistaince and on-going training to SBHCs.

Application Instructions: While NMCF does not accept unsolicited proposals, NMCF welcomes receiving its General Information Organization Profile Form. Form is available online.