New Mexico Foundation

Established in 1983, New Mexico Foundation (NMF) supports the diverse people, communities, and nonprofits throughout our state. As the only statewide community foundation, NMF has distinguished itself as a nationwide leader in philanthropy through our trust-based, grassroots approach. We work to improve the quality of life for all residents of New Mexico in three main ways:

    1. We establish funds to provide grants, partnering with local and national philanthropic organizations to build programs and provide community funding.
    2. We provide investment management and services for donor-advised funds and agency endowments.
    3. We sponsor over 65 small community organizations as their fiscal agent while they build capacity over time to stand on their own.

Our Mission: To steward community resources, build partnerships, and create opportunities that transform lives throughout New Mexico.


Healthy Entry for Asylee Lives (HEAL) Fund | Contractual Position

The Healthy Entry for Asylees Lives (HEAL fund), managed by New Mexico Foundation (NMF), supports New Mexico non-profits by providing vital, flexible assistance and advocacy for vulnerable children, families and adults lawfully seeking asylum in the United States with supportive services in New Mexico. The fund was established in April 2021 in response to the massive influx of families seeking asylum from those fleeing Central and South America, Haiti and other countries throughout the world. The pandemic exacerbated already challenging living conditions, making migration even more dangerous and while the fund was initially established to support asylees, it has expanded its scope to support refugees and other migrants. 

Adults, families, and children entering the United States fleeing from persecution and violence in their home country need adequate legal representation, language interpretation, medical services, communication, transportation to a safe and secure shelter, and support for a successful transition to a healthy productive life. Local trusted nonprofits, when provided adequate support and capacity, are the most effective advocates and deliverers of humanitarian assistance to asylees. The HEAL fund was created as a public-private partnership that leverages local and national philanthropic dollars alongside state funding and federal relief funds to have the greatest impact.

As a border state, New Mexico continues to be an important entry point for immigrants but is not as highly resourced as neighboring states. Nonetheless, New Mexico funders were able to establish the fund with $1.4 million. Since 2021, 25 grants totaling $1.36 million dollars have been disbursed to New Mexico non-profits. Unfortunately, there continues to be significant obstacles facing families fleeing their countries of birth due to innumerable hardships and changing U.S. policies (e.g. the June 2024 Biden-Harris Executive Order that bar migrants who cross the southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum, the April 2022 Centers for Disease Control termination of Title 42, a public health authority that allowed the government to immediately turn away migrants at the southern border; the 2018 Trump-era policies of family separation which separated over 5,500 children, including infants, from parents or guardians placing them in detention facilities under the supervision of the US Department of Health & Human Services and prosecuted and held adults in federal jails). In addition to emergency/primary relief needs, longer term advocacy strategies are needed to address structural barriers that impede the health and wellbeing of asylees, refugees, migrant workers and new immigrant families.

To support the Fund’s growth, the HEAL Fund Advisory Committee is seeking a consultant to provide fund development support inclusive of researching grant opportunities, drafting and finalizing polished writing proposals and branding documents for review and submission by NMF.

Expectations and deliverables, not to exceed 80 contractual hours, include:

  1. Study to understand the grantmaking history, structure, objectives of the HEAL Fund. (est. 8-10 hours)
  2. Research grant opportunities from local and national philanthropic entities (community, private, and corporate foundations). Diligent research will be required.
    • a. Develop a database of funders both locally and especially nationally, that could potentially support the fund. This database should be easily accessible and must also include specific contact information for the Committee to conduct outreach. (est. 8-14 hours)
  3. Draft grant proposals and supporting documents based on the funding requirements.
    • a. Submit and revise a minimum of four draft proposals to grant coordinators for finalization and approval.
    • b. Respond to queries by NMF and/or Advisory Committee on grant opportunities, drafted and submitted proposals. (est. 34-40 hours)
  4. Develop 1-2 simple cases for support compendium highlighting the HEAL Fund and its impact (including anecdotes from grantee reports and/or recipients). These documents will explain the Fund’s purpose, needs and opportunities to seek additional financial and social capital resources. (est. 10-16 hours)

Qualifications

  • Proven experience in grant writing, with a track record of successfully securing grants from national and New Mexico foundations and corporations
  • Knowledgeable of strategic opportunities for seeking funding, marketing and communication strategies
  • Ability to diligently research the philanthropic landscape on this issue area, particularly the national landscape
  • At least 3 years of experience as a grant writing consultant
  • Preference for consultants with prior experience on these types of tasks and topic
  • Preference for New Mexico consultants

Contractual Range
Total of 60 to 80 hours at $50-$100/hour will be considered, dependent on experience.

To apply please submit a letter of interest with a resume or corporate profile and fee structure to:
Nancy Pope, Development & Operations Director, New Mexico Foundation at: npope@newmexicofoundation.org

Deadline for submission: October 15, 2024

Finance Grants Manager

Position Overview

The Finance Grants Manager provides critical financial and technical support for the grants, contracts, and governmental agreements received by fiscally sponsored projects and New Mexico Foundation (NMF). The person selected will work closely with the Finance Director, Development Director, and Program Director.

The Finance Grants Manager reports directly to the Finance Director and establishes and ensures compliance with strong financial and administrative procedures

The Finance Grants Manager believes in the vision, mission, and values of NMF and, in principle and practice, is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They support NMF’s Strategic Plan as the guidepost for realizing them.

Responsibilities

  • Provides grant research, procurement, and compliance expertise to NMF team, making sure that NMF team understands and meets all grant, contract, and governmental agreement requirements for both fiscally sponsored projects and NMF
  • Provides financial management and analyses for complex grants and projects
  • Works with the Finance department to set up grant budget coding and track revenues
  • Supports program staff in setting up grant-funded contracts with consultants and reviewing invoices
  • Facilitates any audits by external granting agencies
  • Develops and maintains a database of grant financial documentation for historical reference and compliance purposes, ensuring the confidentiality and security of financial records
  • Monitors grant related accounts receivables and accounts payable to ensure timely incoming and outgoing cash flow
  • Supports the Program staff in the monitoring of grant budgets and their financial reporting needs
  • Collaborates with program staff and the finance director in the development of grant proposals, providing financial data and budget estimates as needed
  • Performs general accounting functions specific to grants such as posting journal entries, reclassing expenses, allocating costs, and supporting month-end close reconciliations
  • Reviews and processes reimbursement requests from subrecipients, and manages tracking and issues related to subawards
  • Prepares, maintains, and tracks complex or extensive billings and financial information for grants as required
  • Prepares projections and forecast cash needs within programs
  • Assists the finance director in annual audit preparation, including supporting analyses and schedules, including the schedule of expenditures of Federal Awards. Assist auditors by researching issues, creating reports and responding to audit findings
  • Performs financial analysis and reviews as requested
  • Participates in implementation, improvement, and oversight of fiscal policies and procedures, with an emphasis on creating efficiencies
  • Provides excellent customer service and respond in a timely fashion to inquiries from staff, vendors, customers and other stakeholders
  • Professionally represent NMF in interactions, both verbal and written, with partners, funders and staff

Education/Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher educational training
  • Experience in non-profit accounting
  • Ability to write clearly and accurately
  • Proficiency in CRM and Finance software

Qualities

  • Passionate about New Mexico Foundation’s Mission
  • Motivated and able to take initiative
  • Able to multi-task
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills
  • Experience and sensitivity to the needs and expectations of a multi-cultural work environment

Benefits

  • Competitive salary, based upon experience
  • Competitive benefit package

How to Apply

To apply for this position, send your resume and a one-page cover letter to Nancy Pope, Development and Operations Director at npope@newmexicofoundation.org

Application Deadline

Friday, October 4, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (MST).

Click here for the full job description (PDF format) of the Finance Grants Manager position. 

Government Liaison (Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, New Mexico)

In Summer 2023, the Bezos Earth Fund (the Earth Fund) launched Greening America’s Cities (GAC), a new, multi-year $400M initiative to invest primarily in community-led environmental justice organizations through 2030.  In 2023, $50M was granted to 24 community based organizations and 6 national partners who provide technical assistance and support in the following US cities and their surrounding counties: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Wilmington. Each city will have a Government Liaison who will bring capacity to local government partners to ensure success of the community greening projects. Learn more about the Earth Fund Greening America’s Cities initiative and the community grantees in the Albuquerque region here.

Position Overview

The Government Liaison position is a unique opportunity for a person with passion for and commitment to sustainability and environmental justice, demonstrated excellence around the nexus of local government and community-building and engagement, and is excited to contribute creatively and strategically to the overarching mission and vision of the Greening America’s Cities initiative. This position will report to the Development and Operations Director at the New Mexico Foundation and the Special Projects Manager at USDN.

The Government Liaison will serve in a coordination role working closely with the New Mexico Foundation, USDN and in partnership with local government departments in service of the Greening America’s Cities initiative. This position will liaise with local, state, and federal government entities to expedite support for community-based organizations, including, e.g, ensuring policies are in place to implement community greening projects, supporting and increasing community engagement and access to community green spaces, supporting partners with technical assistance and training, and connecting with peers in other Greening America’s Cities to share best practices and exchange resources. This role will work closely with the Earth Fund Community Fellow to establish quarterly goals and priorities based on the needs developed by the GAC cohort in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The Liaison will also work closely with two Regional Partner Networks – Coalition for Sustainable Communities New Mexico and Western Adaptation Alliance – on researching and sharing best practices for nature-based solutions.

Responsibilities:

Program Management & Delivery

●        Serve as the primary liaison and relationship manager with multiple City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County departments and other local government jurisdictions as relevant, to support the current Earth Fund GAC grantees, and create a fertile environment for other community based organizations.

●        Facilitate technical assistance support to the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and community-based organization grantees through USDN staff and technical partners to ensure effective delivery aligned with grantee needs and goals of the initiative.

●        Organize regular meetings and trainings that include local government and community based organizations in partnership with the Earth Fund Community Fellow.

●        Attend in person meetings and convenings with local government partners

●        Facilitate community engagement at  local, county, state, and national levels in support of current and future project delivery.

●        In partnership with Coalition for Sustainable Communities New Mexico (CSCNM) and Western Adaptation Alliance (WAA), compile research on best practices in implementing and maintaining greening projects, develop a collective urban greening vision for the Southwest, and support peer learning opportunities with the CSCNM and WAA networks.

Program Strategy & Development

●        Collaborate with the Earth Fund Community Fellow to develop a shared vision for success of the GAC initiative.

●        Build systems to ensure active information sharing between the grantees in the Albuquerque region and across the other GAC cities, identifying where possible common areas of interest for cutting edge implementation, policy options and/or collaborative problem solving.

●        Commits to engaging in peer learning opportunities and sharing lessons learned with National and Regional Learning Networks.

Communications & Relationship Building

●        Work alongside the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and the Earth Fund Community Fellow to document progress and communicate successes and lessons learned, potentially including marketing support and amplification for greening projects and community-led dialogues with USDN and  Regional Partner Networks – Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico (CSCNM) and the Western Adaptation Alliance (WAA.)

●        Contribute to written briefs, blogs, interviews, videos, and other educational materials that USDN, CSCNM and WAA may develop to broadly share and influence field knowledge.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Focus

●        Cultivate and maintain professional competency in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). EDI is a central goal, fundamental value, and required competency for the practice of sustainability.

●        Emphasize USDN’s adopted EDI principles in the design and delivery of programming and throughout the performance of job responsibilities. The position will advance EDI principles as a characteristic of responsible governance, where all levels of government have a fiscal and moral responsibility to address the long-term implications that inequity has on prosperity, health, and safety of residents.

Position Requirements:

●        Bachelor’s degree required.

●        Minimum five years experience working for or in close collaboration with local governments, understanding city processes and systems and delivering results with local government entities.

●        A well-developed network of relationships and deep understanding of the City of Albuquerque and/or Bernalillo County environmental and climate justice and/or greening ecosystems, and knowledge of the region’s communities and their needs.

●        Experience and working knowledge of climate adaptation and mitigation and green infrastructure and community greening projects.

●        Experience working with diverse community-based organizations, community leaders, and associated stakeholders.

●        Commitment to social justice and anti-racist principles.

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Benefits Package Includes vacation and sick days, health insurance, life insurance, and short and long-term disability insurance. Vision and dental insurance is also included along with a 401(k) Plan..

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, send your resume and a one-page cover letter to Nancy Pope, Director of Development and Operations, at npope@newmexicofoundation.org 

Application Deadline: Monday, September 30, 2024, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) MST.

Click here for the full job description (PDF format) of the Government Liaison opportunity.
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About New Mexico Foundation

Since 1983, New Mexico Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life for all residents of New Mexico. New Mexico Foundation’s mission is to steward community resources, build partnerships, and create opportunities that transform lives throughout New Mexico. New Mexico Foundation envisions a state where every New Mexico community has access to resources that support their ability to enjoy a better quality of life. Through new and established partnerships with leaders in the communities we serve, we support effective strategies to address statewide issues together.

About USDN

Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) supports local governments to implement bold change in pursuit of equitable and sustainable communities. USDN builds the capacity of local governments to act, scaling promising practices and solutions, and harnessing data and insights to advance and influence the field. The heart of USDN’s work is a network of local government sustainability professionals from over 300 cities and counties across the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a healthy environment, advancing racial equity, and building thriving and resilient communities. USDN believes that a diverse, inclusive, and equity-centered climate movement is essential to achieving our ambitious goals for just, resilient, carbon neutral communities. Our work prioritizes those who experience the most vulnerability to climate change, disproportionate exposure to environmental injustice, and the biggest barriers to benefiting from climate solutions.

Equal Opportunity Employment

NMF is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity.  It is our policy to encourage and support equal employment opportunity for all applicants without regard to gender, age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity, spousal affiliation, marital status, military/veteran status, handicap or disability or membership in any other protected group.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are, or become, disabled must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.