Albuquerque Community Foundation Grant

The Albuquerque Community Foundation's Annual Grant Cycle is a key philanthropic program that channels support from over 90 endowment funds to nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area, which includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia counties. This grant cycle is designed to address diverse community needs by offering general operating support across seven defined fields of interest: Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Education, Environmental & Historic Preservation, Economic & Workforce Development, Human Services, and Health. The Foundation emphasizes accessibility, equity, and alignment with its mission, vision, and anti-hate values, ensuring that funding decisions reflect community voices and foster inclusive development. In 2023, the Foundation adopted significant updates to its grantmaking framework, reducing eligibility thresholds from five to three years of organizational existence and releasing a public scoring rubric for transparency. These changes aim to create a more equitable and streamlined grant experience. All grants issued are for general operating support, allowing awardees to use funds flexibly for operational costs, including salaries, utilities, technology, and professional development. The Foundation explicitly avoids funding program-specific requests, capital campaigns, endowments, or political activities. The Annual Grant Cycle opens for applications for two months each year, with a single application and review round applicable across all funding areas. Applicants are encouraged to participate in "Coffee Chat" Zoom sessions hosted four times during the application window to seek guidance or provide feedback. To apply, organizations must use the Foundation's online Grants Portal. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public educational institutions, or public agencies serving the four-county region. Organizations operating with a fiscal sponsor or newly independent from a parent nonprofit may also be eligible upon consultation. Grant proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with one of the Foundation’s seven fields of interest and adhere to its values-based philanthropy principles. Evaluation is based on a standardized rubric, and all submissions authorize the Foundation to share proposals with interested donors. Awards typically range from $10,000 to $20,000, with specific amounts influenced by applicant budget, rubric score, and available funding. Applications not selected for funding in the Annual Grant Cycle are automatically considered under the Foundation’s "Need to Know" grants, which are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. The Foundation does not specify a timeline for notification or performance periods but encourages all potential applicants to review eligibility criteria thoroughly and reach out to the Community Impact Team for assistance if needed. The next expected cycle will open in Fall 2026, with applications likely due in September 2026.

Align with values and rubric; choose only one field-of-interest; attend Coffee Chat for support