Civic & Economic Opportunities Grant

The 2025 Spring Grant Cycle, administered by a regional funding organization, will be open for applications from February 3 to March 9. This grant opportunity is designed to support organizations serving the counties of Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel in New Mexico. The program aims to fund nonprofit organizations, public or governmental agencies, and federally recognized tribes engaged in direct service, policy advocacy, and collaborative efforts to improve community engagement, economic opportunity, and social justice. The goal is to ensure that community members are informed, engaged, and actively involved in issues that affect their lives. The funding will prioritize organizations working in key areas, including workforce development and job creation, open government, community engagement, social and economic justice, and support for hourly workers. Grant-supported initiatives should focus on improving access to employment opportunities for low-income and disadvantaged individuals, offering career counseling and job training, providing financial literacy education, and fostering community involvement in policy development. Additionally, proposals that emphasize civic engagement, public policy advocacy, community organizing, and public information dissemination to strengthen the local economy will be given priority consideration. Eligible applicants must be organizations located in or serving Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, or Mora counties. They must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, be a public or governmental agency, or be a federally recognized tribe in New Mexico. Fiscal sponsorships are also allowed. Organizations must be at least three years old, employ staff, and provide services without discrimination based on race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. Organizations may apply for only one Community Grant per calendar year. Those that received a donor-advised grant in the previous calendar year (but not a Community Grant) remain eligible for competitive grants in the current cycle. Grant amounts are structured based on an organization’s annual operating budget. Applicants with an annual budget of up to $50,000 may apply for a $5,000 grant, while those with budgets between $50,001 and $150,000 may apply for $10,000. Organizations with budgets between $150,001 and $500,000 may request $15,000, and those with a budget exceeding $500,000 may apply for a $20,000 grant. The funding provided will be in the form of general operating support. Organizations that previously received a Community Grant in the last calendar year, or those not interested in applying for the current cycle, may submit an abbreviated application to be included in the next Giving Together catalog, which is distributed to fundholders. This provides an alternative means of securing financial support without undergoing the full competitive grant application process.