How To Apply

• Fill out the online application below.
• Email 2-3 JPEG photos of your program in action for marketing.
• Email any additional documentation required for your grant type.
• Contact us in a week to receive an update on your application’s status.

The application should be submitted by an employee listed on your most recent COROS report.

Annual applications are required to stay active in our grant pools.

Grant Cycle

Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis at the conclusion of March, June, September and December. The application deadlines for these periods are the 15th of each respective month.

If your application is approved, you will receive the first grant in the quarter you applied. The second grant, subject to re-approval, is issued 6 months later.

Grant Service Area

Most New Mexico nonprofits can apply. National or regional nonprofits can also apply but  must provide us with a separate accounting of their New Mexico-specific financials for the past two years. Approved grants will be based on these financials and restricted to New Mexico programs.

Unrestricted Grants

To qualify you must be a 501(c)3 public charity working in New Mexico to improve life quality or the environment and have the last three years of US-990 Standard or US-990-EZ reports uploaded to your New Mexico COROS page.

Grant amounts are generally limited to no more than  5% of direct program expense minus program income. Provided that is no more than 5% of contributions excluding government grants and non-cash donations. If contributions significantly exceed direct program expenses, we may adjust the grant amount.

For large nonprofits, semi-annual grants are capped at $25,000.

Targeted Grants.

These grants address unique (often one-time) expenses and may require extra documentation. Please contact us before submitting a Targeted Grant request.

Token Grants

Nonprofits that don’t meet our eligibility criteria, but align with our program’s spirit, may receive a $500 annual grant. This applies to small nonprofits posting the US-990N on their COROS page.

It may also apply to  groups working through a fiscal sponsor. In these cases, the fiscal sponsor must complete our application and meet our grant requirements.  They should specify your organization as how they intend to use the grant. A copy of your signed  sponsorship agreement must accompany the application.

Program Exclusions

Organizations that fail to comply with government regulations, research-focused entities, faith-based groups, or political organizations are not eligible. Funding is not provided for capital expenses, scholarships, debt retirement, travel or meeting costs.

Organizations with an annual income exceeding $10 million or a net worth greater than 20 million are generally excluded. For national or regional organizations these ceilings are based solely on New Mexico financials.

Disclosures

If your application is approved, you enter the selection pool that we select grant recipients from.  All grants need final approval from Vanguard Charitable, which manages this donor-advised fund.

Neglecting to acknowledge a grant may hinder future opportunities. When your total grants exceed $20,000, we recommend scheduling an in-person meeting in Santa Fe to update us on your goals and programs. We find this essential to continuing funding at that level.

The amount, frequency of grants, and your participation in this program may change or end at our discretion.