Albertsons Companies Foundation funds organizations that strengthen the neighborhoods we serve. We support nonprofit organizations whose mission is aligned with our priority areas:

• Health and Human Services
• Hunger
• Youth and Education
• Veterans
• Supporting Diversity and Inclusion of All Abilities

Outside of a specific RFP, a first-time funded organization will typically receive a grant of $1,000 to $5,000. Once we have some history with an organization, we will entertain a request at a higher value.

Mission

It is our mission to support our customers, colleagues and communities by helping them achieve their aspirations and helping their communities thrive. This shapes our work as a responsible corporate citizen. We deliver high-impact funding and initiatives that support people, businesses and non-profit partners so that together, we can make a meaningful difference in the world.

Charitable Contributions

Our goal with financial contributions from BOK Financial and the BOKF Foundation is to enhance the quality of life and economic wellbeing in the communities where BOK Financial operates and where our employees work and live including Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Our charitable contributions are focused on four pillars of giving: United Way, economic development, education and basic needs

Our long-term strategic plan guides all contributions to assure maximum impact in the community and to develop mutually beneficial relationships with our nonprofit partner agencies. BOK financial contributions are budgeted on an annual calendar basis. We accept online charitable contribution/grant applications throughout the year.

Pillars of giving

Basic Needs

We provide volunteer and financial support to organizations serving the most vulnerable members of our community. Our efforts largely focus on organizations providing direct services addressing such issues as poverty, hunger, healthcare, housing and safety.

Education

An equitable, robust educational system drives long-term community growth. We support local nonprofits whose primary mission is promoting basic education, including public school foundations, early childhood education, financial literacy, and institutions of higher education.

Economic Development

Actions that raise the standard of living and economic health of our communities make them better places to live and work. We provide support to local chambers of commerce; nonprofits focused on workforce development, job training, etc.; and public/private partnerships investing in our communities.

Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

Home

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenging for low- to moderate-income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable energy-efficient housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct stepping stone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Clean energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments
• Organizations that provide access to renewable energy
• Improving waste management systems to include recycling and composting programs

Homeownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Work

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reduce the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

• Small business technical assistance programs
• Job skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success

• To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:
• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Supporting the green economy through workforce development

The green economy is fast becoming an area of opportunity for workforce development programs. Funding support includes:

• Reskilling or retraining for jobs in renewable or clean energy
• Building and maintaining infrastructure to support renewable energy, including EV charging stations and bike/transportation programs

Play

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Outdoor places to play

Environmental stewardship enhances and improves the livability of our communities. Supporting efforts to preserve, protect and enhance outdoor spaces is now part of our Play pillar of giving. Funding support includes:

• Cleanup efforts in community spaces, including (but not limited to) beaches, rivers, and streams
• Protecting green spaces within the community, including planting trees, mangroves and seagrass
• Programs that support community, native and/or pollinator gardens, including community composting

Our Vision

For more than 25 years, the Dakota Foundation has sought to combine business discipline and charitable intentions to solve social problems. With grants and program-related investments (PRIs) we take an investment approach: we want the total social return of our investments to be higher than the cost.

In doing so, we hope to foster organizations and activities that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. We help people invest in themselves to improve their economic condition and those of their families and communities. This mission stems from our values: self-reliance, personal responsibility, human dignity, equal opportunity, and the preservation of life and beauty on our earth.

General Rules of Thumb

The Dakota Foundation generally makes PRIs with non-profit groups whose programs empower people and increase their control over their own economic destinies. For more information about our PRIs, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .

The Dakota Foundation opposes unlawful or unfair discrimination in all its activities, and our resources are available to organizations that serve their constituencies without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or national origin. 

We support organizations that collaborate with other community groups to create bottoms up solutions to common issues. It is important to us that a project or program is sustainable, scalable, and that benchmarks and indicators are in place to ensure meaningful and measurable results. 

The Native Plant Society of New Mexico is a non-profit organization that strives to educate the public about native plants by promoting knowledge of plant identification, ecology, and uses; foster plant conservation and the preservation of natural habitats; support botanical research; and encourage the appropriate use of native plants to conserve water, land, and wildlife.

Grants

Would you like a little help getting your conservation or restoration project off the ground? Do you need matching funds for another grant or donation that requires that? Do you teach students about plant ecology, or have a botanical research study underway and need money for materials, transportation, equipment, or analysis? If your project falls in line with our mission, consider applying for a grant. Acceptance of your proposal by the NPSNM can demonstrate the worthiness of your organization and your project to other funding groups or foundations.

In the past, grants have been limited to a maximum of $1500. However, substantive proposals that especially serve our mission and will inspire others will be considered for greater amounts (details below). We encourage you to get the most from our grants by working with volunteers if appropriate, combining efforts with other groups or landowners, or obtaining matching funds.

Examples of Past Grant Topics:

• The removal of invasive species from public and private lands to restore native vegetation.
• Habitat restoration at the New Mexico Wildlife Center using volunteers from Master Gardeners
• Giving hands-on, multi-skilled experience to elementary school children as they learn about the yucca and its life cycle
• Training and employing Pueblo youth in the recognition, collection and processing of native plant seeds in support of the National Seed Strategy
• Overhaul and new design of the New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council's interactive website
• Repeating a 1970s field study of bees pollinating wild sunflowers in order to document changes in bee species composition in the same areas over time
• Enabling a local farmer to enter the new market of native plant seeds and starts that are in demand for land restoration
• Gardens are funded only if there are verifiable arrangements that assure the garden's continued maintenance into the future.

Proposals less likely to receive approval are those that appear to be salary support, and we do not fund overhead charges by an institution. Supplies, tools, seeds, equipment rental, contractor charges, safety items and refreshments for volunteers are examples of typical expenses we approve. It is up to the applicant to propose a practical and realistic project budget, knowing that fewer grants are available for the higher amounts.

Three levels of funding have been approved by our Board for this year.

• $1000 -- Many projects have succeeded with budgets of under $1000, and several will be awarded this year.
• Up to $2000 will be furnished for proposals needing greater support for greater benefits to the environment, public knowledge of native plants, ecological education or botanical research.
• Up to two grants of $5000 each may be awarded to projects with a more significant and lasting impact. Examples: revegetation of a despoiled area, protection of a wetland, research benefitting a threatened or endangered species of plant, or repurposing wasted water to maintain a native wildflower zone at a school or nursing home. Anything in line with our mission can qualify if it is well-conceived, attainable, and ambitious, but competition is stiff for awards at this level.

One Year Grants - Successful grant winners are required to submit a written report (a template will be provided) due by November 1. If the project is not yet complete, it will be a status and progress report with a final report due afterward. The report should describe how the funds were used and be sent to: cartergrantapps"at"gmail.com. Subject line: Project Report

Follow-on Grants - Projects spanning more than one year can only be funded a year at a time. A new application accompanying a progress report submitted by the end of the funded year will be considered for a new round of support. Inspire us with your accomplishments and determination.

TourWest is a competitive grant program, supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, that provides subsidies to arts and community organizations for the presentation of touring performers and literary artists within the 13-state WESTAF region. The WESTAF region includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Pacific jurisdictions (American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam). Applications are reviewed by a panel of industry leaders on artistic and cultural merit, presentation of programs to underserved and/or culturally diverse audiences, quality of the outreach activities, engagement and collaboration (including block booking), and thoroughness of the project’s planning.

For the 2023 cycle, WESTAF will be providing support for the administration of an organization’s regional touring program. WESTAF defines regional touring as programming that presents out-of-state touring artists and/or in-state touring artists traveling at least 50 miles to your venue. WESTAF also encourages the inclusion of community/educational outreach as part of an organization’s presentation of touring artists. This programming can be virtual and/or in-person in accordance with state guidelines.

For the 2023 program cycle, applicants may apply for one TourWest grant up to $5,000 or 50% of the overall programming expenses, whichever is less. Support is available for use by organizations for their regional touring program budgets for any of the following:

• Artist/contractor fees
• Administration costs
• Programming/marketing costs

Program Requirements

TourWest 2023- 2024 support is available to organizations that meet the following programmatic requirements:

• Support applies to activities between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024.
• Applicants may submit one application.
• Applicants are required to apply for grants that support the presentation of out-of-state touring performers, musicians, and literary artists as part of administering the organization’s regional touring programming. As described above, regional touring is defined as at least 50 miles from the performance venue. Applicants are encouraged to feature performers from the western United States; however, the performers do not have to be from WESTAF’s region and can be internationally based.
• TourWest funds can be used to support performances in festivals. The festival organization itself, not individual presenters participating in the festival, may apply.
• TourWest funds are federal funds and require a one-to-one cash match. As the grant award will support a portion of regional touring program expenses, the remaining program expense amount is to be paid by the grantee and is considered the cash match for the grant.
  • Grantees cannot match Arts Endowment funds to other Arts Endowment grants funds or other federal funds, nor get two different federal grants for the same program costs (overlapping costs).
  • Grantees cannot match resources with another Arts Endowment award or other federal program.
  • Certain contributions or gifts provided to your organization are restricted and cannot be used to support the program.
  • Gifts (bequeathed or otherwise) that are not available to your organization during the award period of performance cannot be used to match the Arts Endowment award.
• TourWest funds cannot be used in any portion for institutional overhead or F&A costs or applied to any indirect costs. These funds, which are made possible through the National Endowment for the Arts regional touring program, are to be specifically directed to regional touring programming.

Background

The McCune Charitable Foundation supports community-based work in the State of New Mexico that aligns with our nine Foundation Priorities and their corresponding Leverage Points. The best fit for our funding are organizations that work collaboratively across our priority areas to support community well-being and create long term impact, and whose leadership and expertise come from those who are closest to and most affected by the organization's work.

Priority Areas

Capacity Building in the Non-Profit Sector 

The McCune Foundation supports initiatives that build operational capacities for non-profits, making expertise in communications, finance, leadership development, organizational development and other areas more broadly available in service of a more structurally equitable and resilient sector

Economic Development & Family Asset Building

A Foundation priority is to create and expand the economic base in New Mexico and to view its grant making through an economic development lens whenever possible, in particular supporting programs and organizations that seek to foster entrepreneurship across sectors. The Foundation also supports programs and initiatives that support and help drive growth in family assets across the diverse communities of the state, enabling a broader base of economic stability for our families.

Education Transformation

The McCune Charitable Foundation holds equity as a core value, and sees equitable access to engaging and culturally relevant education as a key component of thriving, prosperous communities. New Mexico is blessed to be home to diverse cultures, languages, and traditions that make learning and growing up here in the 21st century an experience that is uniquely rooted in place and community. This is an asset that was unfortunately ignored by 20th century models of education, but is beginning to be recognized now.

Leveraging Opportunities in Health Care

After many generations in relationship with the land, vegetation and elements in New Mexico, communities have developed ways to sustain physical and mental health and wellness that often involve uses of medicinal plants, traditional practices and community support. Many of these traditions have endured and been adapted to contemporary contexts as alternatives and complements to modern approaches. Introduction of newer, less healthy diets and practices have taken a toll, however, with many New Mexicans facing challenges that traditional modalities sometimes cannot address.

Local Food Industry Development

Far too often, existing food systems (referring to all the processes, infrastructure and activities related to feeding a community) in the state of New Mexico contribute to poor nutritional outcomes for individuals and families, especially those considered low income. Not only does New Mexico have among the highest obesity and diabetes rates in the nation as a result of these significant shortcomings, the systems in question also contribute little to the state economy, with as much as 80 percent of all money spent on food and nutrition leaving the state, according to the New Mexico State University Extension Service.

Building Links Between Arts and Community Engagement

The arts play a significant role in the culture and history of New Mexico and contribute substantially to the state’s economic and civic livelihoods. The McCune Foundation supports efforts that seek to leverage arts, creative expression, and culturally relevant, transformative experiences for the purpose of inspiring and driving higher levels of community and civic engagement.

Stewardship in Community

As we face growing disruption due to climate change, it is our frontline communities–those who experience the "first and worst" of the consequences of climate change–that will be the primary focus of the Foundation's support. Frontline communities include tribal and rural communities, and in urban areas, lower and middle income families and communities of color living in areas that have been negatively impacted by poor infrastructure and industrial practices.

Influencing Planning of Built Environments

Well-conceived built environments provide a key platform for many functions of family and civic life and are fundamentally connected to many factors that contribute to community health. These functions include economic development and higher levels of community and civic engagement, among others. The Foundation supports the development of built environments across the state that seek to take advantage of the role these environments can play to move New Mexican families toward a more prosperous and healthy future.

Strategies for Rural Development

New Mexico is the fifth largest state in the nation in terms of land area and, somewhat conversely, it is the 36th most populous state. This means that New Mexico is largely rural, with 26 out of 33 counties considered “frontier counties” (six or fewer people per square mile). While a majority of the population in the state lives in four urban areas (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe), New Mexico maintains a significant population base that honors its rural roots. Among many New Mexico communities, a rural way of life supports a fundamental cultural connection with the landscape of the state and to the values that many families honor and maintain.

Please refer to FAQ for additional guidelines.

Our Mission

Believing that every baby deserves a great start in life, the Foundation’s board launched Brindle's Early Childhood Initiative in 2005 to focus grantmaking in this area of critical need. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of young children in New Mexico by supporting and expanding the services and resources available to them and their families. By focusing on pre-natal to three, our hope is that this youngest, most vulnerable and vital part of our population can grow, thrive and reach their potential.​

Early Childhood Initiative

Research shows most brain development occurs within the first three years of life; there is a narrow window of opportunity to create a solid foundation for future health and well-being. To address this important need, Brindle focuses grantmaking on prenatal to three, with particular interest in underserved populations and equity.

We have two funding streams: one for direct services in six counties and tribal lands in NM and one for systems strengthening statewide:

Services for Babies and their Families

• Geography: Services must be in one of the following counties: Santa Fe, Sandoval, San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba, Taos or tribal lands in New Mexico

Grants for providers of direct services that benefit babies and toddlers prenatal to age three and their families/caregivers or local collaborations around the delivery of early childhood services. We seek programs to advance the well-being of infants and toddlers (and of underserved populations in particular). We recognize the broad range of approaches this may include such as prenatal support, maternal/infant healthcare, home visiting, parent/caregiver education, early childhood development, etc.

Strengthening Early Childhood Systems in New Mexico

• Geography: New Mexico statewide

By one or more of the following means:

• Through advocacy or policy: Grants that support organizations engaged in local or statewide early childhood advocacy, policy development, and awareness campaigns that will benefit our youngest and most vulnerable.
• Through innovation: Grants that will attempt to meet critical prenatal and/or early childhood needs in new or catalytic ways. The crises of the ongoing pandemic, inflation, impact of climate change, and civil unrest demand creative thinking and innovative approaches. Brindle seeks innovative strategies for systems strengthening that have potential for impact statewide.
• ‍Through coordination and collaboration: Grants that foster partnerships, coalitions, or networks (or other mechanisms) to increase efficiency and effectiveness. The emphasis of these grants is to improve systems and collaborations that address the needs of the youngest New Mexicans and their families/caregivers by working together and/or using shared resources.
• Through higher education programs: ‍Grants that promote higher education to impact system-level changes in the state’s early childhood sector. Opportunities include expanding the quality of New Mexico’s infant and toddler care workforce, excellence in teaching, lab schools, model programs, research, building leadership and capacity.‍