Sustaining New Mexico Fund

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In 2025, New Mexico Foundation awarded $165,400 in funds to the following 11 organizations.

Natural Disaster Relief Awards ($130,900)

• The Community Foundation of Lincoln County – $40,000 (Lincoln County) The award supports their Shelter Fund, which provides grants to individuals and families needing relief caused by natural disasters.
• Humane Society of Lincoln County – $35,000 (Lincoln County) The grant supports the conversion of the building as a distribution center during natural disasters. This grant will cover costs for personnel, operations conversion, transportation and logistics, volunteer coordination and training, and community relief management.
• Dona Ana County Search and Rescue Association LTD – $6,000 (Catron, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, and Sierra Counties) These funds will be used to provide Wilderness First Aid Training Certification to team members.
• Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue – $29,900 (Catron, Chaves, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, and Sierra, and Socorro Counties) Grant funds will be used to purchase a vehicle, provide necessary maintenance and repairs, and fit the vehicle with search and rescue equipment. Currently, the organization relies on team member vehicles for rescue operations.
• Organ Mountain Technical Rescue Squad – $20,000 (Catron, Dona Ana, Grant, Luna, Otero, Lincoln and Sierra Counties) The grant is to purchase new gear and supplies that will allow the organization to respond more quickly, reliably, and efficiently on assignment, and be able to take on more assignments.

Healthy Food Options Awards ($34,500)

• Deming Silver Linings – $5,000 (Luna County) This organization supports unhoused residents of Luna County through meals, clothing, and community resources. The grant funds will support the community lunch program by paying salaries of kitchen workers at the center.
• El Corazón de Columbus, Inc – $3,000 (Luna County) This organization works to combat food insecurity and poverty among the working poor living in and around the community. The funds will support their pop-up food program.
• Lincoln County Food Bank – $10,000 (Lincoln County) This grant is to purchase food to distribute to Lincoln County and Mescalero Apache Tribe residents.
• Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico – $5,000 (Curry, DeBaca, Quay, and Roosevelt Counties) The USDA reduced their food support by 25% and federal funding for program operations. Although they secured multi-year New Mexico legislative funding to purchase food, they still need general operations support. The grant will be used for general operating support.
• Nourishing Nation – $8,500 (Lincoln and Otero Counties) This organization alleviates hunger and addresses food insecurity by soliciting, collecting, growing and packing food and offering clothing and other services in a single location, while encouraging self-sufficiency. They recently expanded their service area from five to nineteen communities. The grant will support operations while they transition to a larger space.
• Loaves and Fishes – $3,000 (Chaves County) This organization provides basic necessities for citizens living in the communities and in the surrounding areas. The grant will support purchasing food for clients and general operating expenses.