What we do


Our mission is to build, invest and manage the endowment to enhance the quality of our community through informed strategic grantmaking.

Community foundations are publicly-supported philanthropic institutions governed by a board of private citizens chosen to represent the public interest and for their knowledge of the community.

Community foundations uniquely serve three publics: donors, the nonprofit sector and the community as a whole.

Community foundations are one of the most enduring and fastest growing sectors of organized philanthropy in the United States and around the world. A catalyst for change, 700 community foundations serve citizens in all 50 states, and in over 46 countries worldwide. Domestically, community foundations hold billions in assets and grant billions annually to various fields of interest including the arts, education, emerging needs, environment, health and human services.

How does a community foundation manage gifts?

Community foundations combine charitable gifts to financially leverage and maximize donor gifts by creating permanent endowments to meet current and future needs. Visionary, flexible and inclusive, community foundations routinely work with families, individuals, estate planners and attorneys to design gift plans that fit every economic circumstance and donor area of interest. Community foundations accept gifts from private citizens, corporations, government agencies and other foundations.

Who are we?

The Foundation is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) with a mission to serve people in the greater Albuquerque area.  

The Foundation administers a permanent community endowment comprised of many gifts, large and small, and uses the earnings from that endowment to make grants to other nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

The Foundation is a New Mexico philanthropic entity concerned with all aspects of community well-being:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Children & Youth
  • Education
  • Environmental & Historic Preservation
  • Health
  • Human Services

Since our establishment in 1981, over $24 million has been granted through over 4,000 grants to nonprofit organizations serving the greater Albuquerque area. Our staff partners with donors and nonprofit organizations to build a vibrant future for our community.  

In addition to encouraging the growth of a permanent charitable endowment and administering a strategic grant making program, our Foundation:

  • Awards scholarships and financial aid through 12 student aid funds;

  • Is partnering with other community leaders in the New Mexico Collaboration to End Hunger;

  • Is partnering with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Center for Creative Leadership to implement a national fellowship program that will help train the next generation of community health leaders in the greater Albuquerque community;

  • Houses and associates with the New Mexico Office of Philanthropic Outreach

Read about the Benefits of Giving Through a Community Foundation.