New Mexico Grants for Nonprofits

The Tree Campus Higher Education Program, led by the National Arbor Day Foundation, promotes the importance of trees on college campuses. By achieving recognition, schools can create greener, healthier environments for students and staff. The program encourages universities to establish a Tree Advisory Committee, develop care plans, and engage in service-learning projects. Participation helps mitigate climate change, fosters community pride, and enhances mental health, making campuses more vibrant and sustainable for all.

The Conservation Partners Grant Program, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supports private landowners in implementing regenerative agriculture and conservation practices. By awarding competitive grants, the program facilitates technical assistance for developing management plans and best practices, enabling landowners to maximize the ecological benefits of their lands. This initiative is crucial for enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, addressing pressing conservation issues, and promoting sustainable land stewardship across the United States.

The NM Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) aims to assist landowners in restoring and protecting forestland through voluntary easements and cost-share agreements. It promotes the recovery of endangered species, enhances biodiversity, and improves carbon sequestration. The program provides financial assistance to landowners, incentivizing them to enhance their land's ecological value while ensuring protections under the Endangered Species Act. Enrollment options include various agreements, allowing landowners to receive significant support for conservation practices.

The Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability (TEGS) Program in New Mexico offers sponsorship up to $50,000 for qualifying tourism events. To secure funding, applicants must demonstrate a marketing plan, financial budget, and the potential for brand impressions equal to the sponsorship amount. Events are required to adhere to New Mexico True brand standards and must provide relevant economic impact data. This initiative aims to foster growth and sustainability within the state's tourism sector.

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused Collaborations Program (RII-FEC) aims to enhance research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by fostering partnerships among government, higher education, and industry. This program supports interdisciplinary teams of researchers to tackle significant challenges in STEM fields, promoting diversity and broadening participation. By integrating Minority-Serving Institutions and early-career faculty from underrepresented backgrounds, RII-FEC seeks to build sustainable STEM capacity and drive impactful discoveries across regions.

Introduction

The mission of the Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) is to improve “the quality of life of all New Mexicans with disabilities by addressing social integration, economic self-sufficiency, political resolve, physical and program accessibility, and full participation in the benefits of life and rights of all individuals."

Quality of Life Grant Program

As part of its mission, GCD continues the Quality of Life Grant Program (QOL). QOL provides small grants to New Mexico non-profits and other tax-exempt organizations to improve or enhance programs and services that increase the quality of life of all New Mexicans with disabilities.

Applications may be submitted to address one of five categories: Adaptive Movement; Programmatic Access; Emergency Preparedness Outreach and Education; Social Integration; Technology Training and Accessibility.

The goal of the QOL Grant Program is to allow an organization to provide more (quantity) or enhanced (quality) services in one or more of the listed categories. QOL grants are not awarded for routine operating costs (salaries not related to enhanced or increased services, for instance), or costs associated with starting a new program or delivering a new service. 

Crime Victims Reparation Commission

CVRC is dedicated to providing a variety of services to victims of crime. Our primary mission is to provide financial assistance to victims of violent crime in regard to expenses incurred as a result of being victimized.

S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Grant Information

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), signed into law by President Clinton in 1994, has resulted in innovative legislation that combines tough penalties for offenders and assistance to women who have been victims of violent crime. This comprehensive approach to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking provides a substantial commitment of federal resources for police, prosecution, prevention, and victim services to communities throughout the country. The primary funding source under VAWA is the S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women formula grant program administered by the Violence Against Women Office, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. S.T.O.P. stands for Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors; the necessary elements to effect change within the criminal justice system. The goal of the STOP program is to encourage States to develop a partnership between the courts, victim advocates, service providers, prosecution and law enforcement for the purpose of reducing violent crimes against women and enhancing victim services.

The New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission (CVRC) is soliciting proposals from governmental agencies, tribal, and non-profit, non-governmental organizations conducting business in the state to develop and maintain domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence services, programs, and training initiatives under the STOP VAWA Grant Program that are:

• Flexible and designed to meet the needs of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence victims and providers at the state and local level;
• Inclusive of and responsive to the ethnic, cultural, racial and socioeconomic diversity of the state; and
• Clearly defined with goals and measurable objectives for the services provided.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant opportunity for schools across the US to implement the PLTW Gateway program for the first time. With total funding of $9,100, the grant covers participation fees and training registration costs. Schools, including public, private, and charter, are encouraged to apply, particularly those serving low-income and minority majority populations. This initiative aims to enhance educational pathways in STEM for diverse student groups.

The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) empowers tribal communities across the U.S. by promoting renewable energy projects and workforce development. Launched by GRID Alternatives, TSAF provides critical funding for solar initiatives, enhancing energy sovereignty and resilience. Since its inception, TSAF has integrated community participation into its projects, ensuring that tribes can access sustainable energy solutions. By prioritizing education and equity, TSAF supports a transition to a clean energy economy, aiming for a sustainable future for generations to come.

The Southwestern Branch John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award promotes graduate-level interest in entomology. It recognizes one graduate student from the Southwestern Branch, who will be honored at the Southwestern Branch Meeting. The recipient receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the ESA Annual Meeting, a $200 cash prize, and a certificate. Covered expenses include airfare, hotel arrangements, meeting registration, and per diem allowances, fostering attendance at the fall/winter ESA Annual Meeting.

The NMGS Grants-in-Aid program supports graduate students in New Mexico pursuing geoscience research. With a maximum award of $2000, the grants are designed to enhance educational experiences and promote mentorship opportunities. Graduate students can also apply for a Graduate Mentorship Grant, allowing them to mentor undergraduates. The application deadline is typically the 3rd Friday in February, and the selection process is managed by the NMGS Scholarship Committee, ensuring a fair evaluation of all proposals.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

Thomas R. Nickoloff Family Foundation 

Promoting Excellence in Educational Outcomes

The Nickoloff Family Foundation was founded in 2017 with the singular mission of “Promoting Excellence in Educational Outcomes,” primarily focused on New Mexico.

It is our core belief that a quality education provides a gateway to personal fulfillment, achievement, self-respect and rewarding work, for the betterment of the individual, families and society as a whole. Building stronger individuals, families and community is central to our mission of funding and “Promoting Excellence in Educational Outcomes.”

Grants

Grant support is provided by the Thomas R. Nickoloff Family Foundation (the “Foundation”) at the sole discretion and determination of the Foundation Trustee to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. 

Categories of Support

The following categories may serve as a guideline to applicants in determining whether their programs are consistent with the Foundation’s core mission of “Promoting Excellence in Educational Outcomes”.

1) Proven and Effective Educational Programming/Initiatives

• School Based Programs
• After School Programs

2) Academic and Foundation Research Focused on:

• Policy, Programming and Initiatives to Improve Educational Outcomes
• School Safety Initiatives

3) Arts Education Outreach Programs

Organizations may apply once yearly for grant support. Multi-year grants may also be considered but would be structured as one-year grants renewable annually at the sole discretion of the Foundation. Any and all grant funds, if any, awarded by the Foundation to an Organization shall be used solely for the explicit purposes noted in a grant application as use of funds.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture

NMDA is a producer-consumer service and regulatory department responsible for various statutes legislated since its inception. NMDA’s mandate has changed over the years in response to changes in population, the needs of agribusiness, and technological advancements. NMDA remains committed to serving its constituents by periodically reviewing statutes and fee structures, as well as offering compliance assistance and education in an effort to maintain a safe and secure food supply, promote a fair marketplace, and secure our natural resources.

Healthy Soil Program

Grants to improve soil health are the centerpiece of NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program. Every year, NMDA awards grants to implement on-the-ground projects that involve one or more of the five soil health principles. The soil health principles are stated as follows in the Healthy Soil Act, which created the program:

keeping soil covered

minimizing soil disturbance on cropland and minimizing external inputs

maximizing biodiversity

maintaining a living root

integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects or keystone species, such as earthworms

NMDA’s Healthy Soil Program background

NMDA created its Healthy Soil Program after the Healthy Soil Act was signed into law in 2019. The purpose of the program is “to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology and water retention to improve the health, yield and profitability of the soils of the state.”

About 

The New Mexico State Library, established in 1929, is committed to providing leadership that promotes effective library services and access to information to all citizens of New Mexico. The State Library provides services that support public libraries as well as delivers direct library services to rural populations, state agencies, the visually impaired and physically disabled, and students and citizens conducting research.

• The library supports public libraries by providing consulting services, offering training and continuing education opportunities, administering the librarian and librarianship certification program, coordinating a state-wide summer reading program and Tribal library program, and administering state and federal grants to public libraries.
• Through special library services for government employees, the State Library serves state agencies. The State Library also provides public distribution of information published by the state government through the State Publications Collection.
• Citizens benefit from State Library services provided directly in Santa Fe and through the state-wide Rural Services program (bookmobile services for those towns without a public library and books by mail services for home bound citizens) and Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped program. The State Library also offers access to a state-wide database, Magazines Online, to all New Mexicans.

Rural Libraries Program (RLP) Grant

The Rural Libraries Program Grant is to provide funds to support and expand public library services for New Mexico’s rural libraries and is issued in accordance with 4.5.10 NMAC

About

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department was created in 1987 through a merger between the Natural Resources Department and the Energy and Minerals Department. The individual administrative pieces of the department have been around much longer than that, though.

The State Parks Commission was established in 1933, followed by the Oil Conservation Commission in 1935, and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission in 1937. The latter group was transferred in 1997 to the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of State Forestry was created in 1957. The Coal Surface Commission was formed in 1972.

Both the original Energy and Minerals Department and the Natural Resources Department came into being in 1977 and existed as separate agencies until the 1987 merger.

The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps was established and administratively attached to EMNRD in 1992. The following year marked the creation of the Mining Commission.

The present-day Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department consists of seven divisions and employs approximately 415 people at 48 different work sites around the state.

Natural Heritage Conservation Act (NHCA) Program Grant

The State of New Mexico, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Forestry Division (Forestry Division) is seeking applications from state agencies, public educational institutions, political subdivisions of the state, or, nation, tribe, or pueblo for conservation projects under the Natural Heritage Conservation Act (NHCA) Program. Applicants may partner with conservation entities that are a private nonprofit charitable corporation or trust.

The purpose of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act is to protect the state’s natural heritage, customs, and culture by funding conservation and agricultural easements and by funding land restoration to protect the land and water available for forests and watersheds, natural areas, wildlife and wildlife habitat, agricultural production on working farms and ranches, outdoor recreation and trails and land and habitat restoration and management.

• Library Collections 
  • Items traditionally available at the library and intended for public use, such as books, e-books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, electronic and digital media, licensed databases (e.g., ancestry.com, mango languages), etc.
  • Non-traditional circulating/educational programming items may also be allowable. Contact the Development Bureau for more information prior to making such purchases.
• Library Staff Salaries
  • RLPLE grant funds can be used to pay regular library staff salaries and benefits for their work within the library.
  • Paying a part-time/substitute library staff member/summer intern may also be allowable. 
• Library Staff Professional Development
  • Registration for in-person or online training, travel (including meals & lodging) for attending instate (e.g., NMLA) and out-of-state library conferences (e.g., ALA, MPLA, PLA, ARSL), and trainings/workshops provided to library staff on library related services/issues, which are organized and held at the library, or held at another location, e.g., state library or other library, etc
• Library Equipment and Furnishings
  • Items associated with meeting the information needs of library patrons such as library furniture, public computers, printers, wireless routers, scanners, software, and related peripherals, etc. RLPLE grant funds may also be used for staff furniture, computers, software, and related peripherals, etc. necessary to support library operations.
• Other Operational Expenditures Associated with Delivery of Library Services
• Capital Improvements and Construction

New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Grant

The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission invites tribes, local units of government, non-profits and units of state and federal agencies operating within New Mexico to submit proposals for YCC projects.

Creative West

Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced.

Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.

We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.

Native Arts and Heritage Fund

The Native Arts + Heritage Fund (NAHF) is a community-rooted award program created to support Native American and Alaska Native artists, culture bearers, and cultural practitioners across the Creative West region.

Co-designed with Native-centered artists, advisors, and community leaders, NAHF centers care, cultural continuity, and self-determination. The fund honors Indigenous ways of knowing and values process over product, relationship over compliance, and well-being as a meaningful measure of impact. In addition to unrestricted funding, selected artists will participate in a three-month virtual cohort experience designed for connection, reflection, and shared learning.

NAHF is administered by Creative West, an organization that uplifts artists and culture bearers across the Creative West region by providing funding, mentorship, and culturally rooted support.

This is not a project-based grant.

This is an invitation into funding and relationships.

Applicants must provide a letter of support from an Alaska Native or Native American community member who can speak to their relationship to community and cultural work.

Unrestricted Funds May Be Used For:

• Taking time to create, reflect, or rest
• Purchasing tools, materials, or supplies
• Covering food, rent, childcare, or transportation
• Supporting wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, or cultural
• Participating in cultural exchanges, mentorship, or learning
• Creating space to gather, teach, or share knowledge

What does this program do?

It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

The Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants in New Mexico provide crucial funding to organizations that assist low-income families in constructing their own homes through cooperative efforts. Participants receive guidance and technical support as they work together, fostering community development and self-sufficiency. This program emphasizes the importance of empowering families in rural areas to build affordable housing while promoting economic stability and homeownership.

The Raley’s, Bashas’, and Food City Project Learning Garden Grant Program, supported by the Captain Planet Foundation, offers schools valuable resources for STEAM education through garden-based learning. Schools will receive raised garden beds, a mobile cooking cart, access to online lessons, and professional development for teachers. This initiative promotes hands-on learning and healthy eating, enriching students' educational experiences while fostering a connection to nature. A total package valued at $7,500 will enhance the learning environment for students.

The Peter E. Palmquist Memorial Fund Grant provides vital support for research into under-researched women photographers and Western American photographers from the Great Depression era. Open to both individual researchers and nonprofit institutions, this grant emphasizes the importance of quality proposals and the ability to execute projects efficiently. Recipients will contribute their findings to the Humboldt Area Foundation, thus enriching the Peter Palmquist Archive and promoting the legacy of photography history.

 Tribal Infrastructure Fund

The Tribal Infrastructure Fund was created by the Tribal Infrastructure Act in 2005. This act recognizes that many of New Mexico’s tribal communities lack basic infrastructure, including, but not limited to water and wastewater systems, roads, and electrical power lines.

Through this competitive funding, all federally recognized Nations, Pueblos and Tribes within New Mexico have an opportunity to submit a robust project proposal for their community. At each funding cycle, the project proposal is evaluated and based on scoring, is awarded funds through the 13-person Tribal Infrastructure Board, which is administratively attached to the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Grant Program (TCPP)

In July 2008, IAD received its first allocation from the Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee (TSROC), thereby initiating IAD’s administration of a grant program open to tribes.

During the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session, IAD received an Interagency Transfer Fund Appropriation for up to $249,300 from the Tobacco Settlement Fund. The funds are to support Tobacco Cessation & Prevention Project (TCPP) initiatives for tobacco cessation and prevention programs for Native American communities throughout the state. 

The funding may be used to address tobacco cessation and prevention initiatives that benefit Native American communities in New Mexico. Ideally, eligible projects will focus on culturally appropriate tobacco cessation and prevention initiatives, reducing the use of commercial tobacco and/or increasing the awareness of the harmful effects of vaping. Funds can be used to support emerging programs or expand the capacity of existing programs.

Each year, a Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFA) will be placed on our website notifying all interested parties of new monies available.

Each applying entity is limited to applying for one Tobacco Cessation and Prevention program.

Total Funding Available:

• $249,300.00

Energy Transition Act (ETA) 

Developed over the course of a year with collaboration by community organizations, unions, energy groups and advocates, the Energy Transition Act (ETA) establishes New Mexico as a national leader in clean energy. The ETA sets a statewide renewable energy standard of 50 percent by 2030 for New Mexico investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives and a goal of 80 percent by 2040, in addition to setting zero-carbon resources standards for investor-owned utilities by 2045 and rural electric cooperatives by 2050. The law transitions New Mexico away from coal and toward clean energy, ensuring greater renewable energy production and reducing costs for consumers, and provides tens of millions of dollars of economic and workforce support for communities impacted by coal plant closures, as well as the development of renewable replacement power in San Juan County.

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit sealed proposals to establish a contract, through a competitive bid process, for the procurement of professional services and/or facilities in communities affected by the abandonment or closure of a generating facility and which promotes the welfare of Indian people within those communities by:

• Utilizing a transformative approach to address systemic inequities;
• Providing education and training to community members on new technology and methods that create a modern experience and maintain the value and traditions of Indian people;
• Building capacity to revitalize a diverse economy; and
• Train and employ a localized workforce through educational enrichment that revitalizes cultural and traditional values.