The Piñon Awards, presented by the Santa Fe Community Foundation, celebrate excellence in the nonprofit sector by honoring organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the northern New Mexico community. Since its inception in 1987, the Piñon Awards ceremony has evolved from a small gathering in a board member’s home into a major annual event held at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe. The awards recognize the deep and sustained work of nonprofits that align with the Foundation's core values and funding priorities.
Nominations for the 39th Annual Piñon Awards opened on April 1, 2025, and will remain open until May 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Community members, including board members, funders, past Piñon Award recipients, or nonprofit staff themselves, are invited to nominate organizations. The nomination process requires a completed form and an uploaded nomination letter. This letter must describe the nominee’s mission, programs, and services, as well as the reasons for the nomination and how the organization's work fits the selected award category.
To be eligible, organizations must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) or tribal entities with at least three years of operations in northern New Mexico. They must serve one or more counties within the Foundation's area of focus: Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, or San Miguel. In addition, nominated organizations must demonstrate a proven track record and work that aligns with at least one of the Foundation’s funding priorities, which include Arts & Culture, Animal Welfare, Civic & Economic Opportunities, Education, Environment, and Health & Human Services.
Awardees for the 2025 Piñon Awards will be notified on July 10, 2025. Following this, tickets for the awards ceremony will be made available for purchase beginning on September 2, 2025. The ceremony itself is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the La Fonda on the Plaza Ballroom in Santa Fe.
The Piñon Awards are not associated with a direct monetary grant, but rather offer recognition and community celebration for nonprofits excelling in their field. The awards provide an opportunity for greater visibility, networking, and acknowledgment of achievements within the nonprofit sector in northern New Mexico.
For additional information about the awards or the nomination process, interested parties may contact Lily Horwath, Director of Marketing & Communications for the Santa Fe Community Foundation, at lhorwath@santafecf.org or 505.988.9715 ext. 7015. General inquiries can also be directed to foundation@santafecf.org.
