May 14, 2024
Española, NM – The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation announced Tuesday that 28 community partners will receive $5,000 via the Foundation’s grant program to support education, community health, and family wellbeing, among other priorities.
The Foundation awarded a total $140,000 in Community Outreach Grants to 28 partners across Northern New Mexico, including pueblo and tribal communities, schools, nonprofits and community foundations in the LANL Foundation’s seven-county service area. Grantees will each receive a one-time operational award of $5,000 and have two years to spend the funding.
“This was our most competitive cycle to-date in the 26 years of the Foundation’s grantmaking. We are inspired by all the amazing work taking place in our communities,” said Sylvan Argo, Grants Manager for the LANL Foundation. “We had over 150 applications in consideration by our committee and staff during review and selections. Every application reflected meaningful and important work taking place in our communities. Our committee members ensure we are living the LANL Foundation’s grantmaking philosophy, which grounds our regional investments in the spirit and practice of Trust-Based Philanthropy, and ensures proposals have reviewers and advocates that have lived experience in our communities of place, practice and service.”
Committee members and Foundation staff considered distribution of investments across all focus areas identified in the Theory of Change, a framework guiding the LANL Foundation’s educational and community mission. Of the award finalists, 15 will provide vibrant learning opportunities, six support strong pathways to college and career, four will focus on whole child development, and three will support creating capable and caring adults.
Themes emerging from this year’s grantees include services that support student wellbeing and education via fulfilling basic needs like access to nutritious food and sustaining community-based organizations that support learning. The committee prioritized proposals offering robust rural outreach and wraparound services and supports.
“The Bridges Project for Education is incredibly grateful to have the LANL Foundation as a partner in our work to address the critical need for increased access to postsecondary education in north central New Mexico. The Outreach Grant funding will play a pivotal role in the launch of our new mentorship program, which aims to expand the guidance and support Bridges offers students by matching them with alumni of postsecondary education in our community. Thank you, LANL Foundation, for believing in access to college and vocational school for all in northern New Mexico,” said Executive Director Hannah Gunther.
The following grantees and service areas were selected to receive one-time $5,000 Community Outreach grants:
Providing vibrant learning opportunities:
- Animal Protection of New Mexico (San Miguel & Mora Counties)
- Collins Lake Autism Center (Mora County)
- Cooking with Kids, Inc. (San Miguel County)
- El Rito Public Library (Rio Arriba County)
- Friends of the Jemez Springs Library (Sandoval County)
- Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation (San Miguel & Mora Counties)
- Los Alamos Community Foundation (Los Alamos County)
- New Mexico Friends of Foster Children (statewide)
- Picuris Pueblo (Taos County)
- R4 Creating (Sandoval County)
- Reading Quest (Santa Fe County)
- Reunity Resources (Santa Fe County)
- Santa Fe Community Foundation (Santa Fe County)
- Santo Domingo Pueblo (Sandoval County)
- Talpa Community Center Association, Inc. (Taos County)
Supporting strong pathways to college and career
- Bridges Project for Education (Taos)
- DreamTree Project Inc. (Taos County)
- National Latino Behavioral Health Association (Rio Arriba County)
- Northern Youth Project (Primarily serving Rio Arriba County)
- Quivira Coalition, Inc. (Statewide)
- Santa Fe Recovery Center (Santa Fe County)
Empowering whole child development
- Abrazos Family Support Services (Sandoval County)
- New Mexico Holocaust Museum and Gellert Center for Education (statewide)
- San Ildefonso Day School (Santa Fe County)
- Solace Sexual Assault Services (Santa Fe County)
Creating capable and caring adults
- Family Strengths Network (Los Alamos County)
- Inside Out (Rio Arriba County)
- Nacimiento Community Foundation (Sandoval County)
Click here to learn more about this year’s grantees.
###
Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts, communities, Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. For more information visit: https://www.lanlfoundation.org.
