New Mexico Foundation Announces $530,000 in Grants from the Anchorum Community Health Funds

Santa Fe – New Mexico Foundation (NMF) is awarding $530,000 in grants to support nonprofit organizations working across multiple counties in northern New Mexico. These grants will help advance local efforts to address homelessness, reduce food insecurity, improve community health, expand learning opportunities, and more. These grants are the first in NMF’s partnership with Anchorum Health Foundation, a multiyear investment in strengthening the capacity of community foundations across northern New Mexico.

“These grants really show how different communities have different priorities,” said Karen John, the Anchorum Fellow at the New Mexico Foundation. “From systems change, to nutrition, to Indigenous nursing capacity building, these grants serve six counties and five Tribes. It’s been powerful to see local organizations leading the way and shaping solutions that work for their own communities.”

The funding spans urban, rural, and Tribal communities, recognizing that each place has its own strengths and challenges. By investing in local organizations already doing the work on the ground, New Mexico Foundation aims to support homegrown ideas and build on the momentum of existing efforts. These grants reflect a shared commitment by New Mexico Foundation and Anchorum to community-driven solutions.

“We believe the best solutions come from within communities themselves,” said Jenny Parks, Senior Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy at Anchorum. “Our role is to listen, support, and help create space for local leaders to take the lead and drive real, lasting change.

The Community Health Funds grantmaking process are part of a shared effort between Anchorum and CHRISTUS Health to support healthier communities across the region. CHRISTUS Health offers input during the grantmaking process to help ensure the funding reflects shared priorities and values.

Grants were awarded to:

The Community Compass Navigation Center ($100,000): Serving San Juan County and the Navajo Nation, this grant will support efforts of 100% San Juan and the navigation center to continue lowering barriers to care access with a special focus on homelessness solutions.

HEAL (Health Equity, Action & Leadership) Initiative ($100,000): Serving McKinley County, Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo, this grant will support the second cohort of the Indigenous Southwest Leadership program to provide a leadership program for Indigenous nurses.

Lake City Youth & Family Center ($100,000): Serving Guadalupe County, this grant will help complete the groundwork, including the hiring and training of staff, for the center to become the Guadalupe Family Center.

The Community Pantry ($50,000): Serving McKinley and Cibola Counties, including Acoma Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Navajo Nation, and Zuni Pueblo, this grant supports the continuation of a mobile food distribution program.

Golden Spread Rural/Frontier Coalition ($50,000): Serving Harding, Quay, Colfax, and Union counties, this grant will help build capacity of their food pantry, with additional items, staff, and physical expansion.

San Juan County Partnership ($50,000): Serving San Juan County and the Navajo Nation, this grant will support the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to provide intensive case management to those with substance use and/or mental health challenges who frequently have negative interactions with law enforcement.

Rising Stars Navajo Corporation ($40,000): Serving Shiprock, Navajo Nation, and San Juan County, this grant will support parenting and nutrition classes, and an afterschool sports league.

Yee Haolnii Doo – Tooh Haltsooi Community Center ($40,000): Serving Sheep Springs (including the Little Water, Naschitti, Newcomb, Toadlena, Tohatchi, and Two Grey Hills peoples), this grant will support programming in four focus areas—food sovereignty, youth leadership, culture/tradition/wellness, and small business/entrepreneurship support.

New Mexico Foundation (NMF) has worked for over 40 years to improve the quality of life for all residents of New Mexico. As the only community statewide foundation, our progressive, grassroots approach to building stronger communities empowers community members to collaborate on critical issues by tapping into local resources and discovering the strength in themselves.

Anchorum Health Foundation is dedicated to improving the conditions that have the greatest influence on the health of communities in our region. We are committing our resources to strengthening community-based partners tackling critical local issues. For more information, visit anchorum.org.