Albuquerque Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,456,371 (2023)
• Total Assets: $150.5 million
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $20,000
• Annual Grant Cycle Awards: $10,000 - $20,000
• Need to Know Grants: $5,000 - $10,000
• Geographic Focus: Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia counties)
• Decision Time: Rolling for Need to Know grants; annual cycle for competitive grants
• Awards Made: 210 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 624 Tijeras Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25266, Albuquerque, NM 87125-0266
Phone: (505) 883-6240
Fax: (505) 883-3629
Email: foundation@albuquerquefoundation.org
Website: www.abqcf.org
Grants Portal: Available through their website
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-1pm
Coffee Chat Support: go.abqcf.org/coffeechat (Zoom sessions during application cycle)

Overview

Founded in 1981 and tax-exempt since November 1983, the Albuquerque Community Foundation (EIN: 85-0295444) has grown from $39.2 million in assets when Randy Royster became CEO in 2005 to over $185 million today, with annual grantmaking exceeding $15.4 million. Marisa Magallanez stepped into the role of President and CEO on January 1, 2026, bringing fresh leadership to this 501(c)(3) community foundation. The Foundation serves as the "savings account of the community," building and managing endowment funds supported by over 90 endowments to enhance quality of life through informed strategic grantmaking. In 2023, the Foundation adopted new values-aligned philanthropy and anti-hate policy commitments, embracing trust-based philanthropy principles that emphasize unrestricted funding, reduced application burdens, and equitable relationships with nonprofit partners. The Foundation has been recognized with a Four-Star rating (100%) from Charity Navigator and received a Platinum Award on New Mexico's 2025 Family Friendly Business Awards list.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grant Cycle (Competitive): $10,000 - $20,000

• Organizations with budgets under $500,000 may apply for up to $10,000
• Organizations with budgets of $500,000 or more may apply for up to $15,000
• Organizational budgets must be under $8 million (with some exceptions)
• Application period: Two-month window (2025 deadline: March 27)
• All grants are unrestricted/general operating support
• Applications automatically rollover to Need to Know grants if not selected
• Single application process through online Grants Portal
• Organizations may only apply for ONE field of interest per cycle

Need to Know Grants (Rolling): $5,000 - $10,000

• Rolling basis with monthly reviews
• No specific deadlines
• For organizations not selected in Annual Grant Cycle or new applicants
• Provides flexibility for ongoing funding needs

Additional Programs:

• Future Fund Grants (through giving circles)
• PRIDE Circle Grants ($10,000 awards)
• Social Giving Club ($25,000 annual award)
• Great Grant Giveaway (coalition-based awards ranging from $50,000-$57,000)
• DEI United Community Wealth Building (unrestricted funding $143,000-$173,000 per cohort)
• Scholarship Program (94 scholarships from 25 endowment funds in 2022)

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds seven fields of interest:

1. Animal Welfare
2. Arts & Culture
3. Education
4. Environmental & Historic Preservation
5. Economic & Workforce Development
6. Human Services
7. Health

Strategic Focus:

• Advancing racial equity and social justice
• Supporting historically marginalized and under-resourced communities
• Organizations aligned with trust-based philanthropy values
• Programs providing access to economic opportunities
• Initiatives that build community belonging and equity

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Political or religious purposes
• Fundraising events
• Endowments
• Research projects
• Legislative influence activities
• Programmatic/restricted funding requests (Annual Grant Cycle provides unrestricted support only)
• Organizations engaging in "hateful activities" as defined by their Anti-Hate Policy
• Organizations not serving the four-county Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area
• Organizations in existence for less than three years

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Marisa Magallanez, President & CEO (as of January 1, 2026)

• Quote: "It's not lost on me that a community foundation that has a permanent endowment will be here for the long term. And I get to come in for, I hope, a long time and really put my thumbprint on the organization."

Nick Williams, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

Khia Griffis, VP of Community Impact & Leadership

Randy Royster, Former President & CEO (2005-2025, retired December 31, 2025)

• Under his leadership, assets grew from $39.2M to over $185M
• Quote: "So we're the savings account of the community, whereas they're the checking account" (describing how the Foundation differs from organizations like United Way)

Board of Trustees (as of October 2024)

Officers:

• Chair: Jose Viramontes
• Chair-Elect: Emily Allen
• Treasurer: Debbie Harms (NAI SunVista)
• Secretary: Lori Waldon
• Past Chair: Marcus Mims

Additional Trustees: Anne Sapon, Arellana Barela Levenson, Becky Teague, Bob Bowman, Brian Colon, Charlotte Schoenmann, Abinash Achrekar, Esther Villas-Wingfield, Jason Galloway, Katie Esquibel, Meriah Heredia-Griego, Michelle Dearholt, Monique Fragua, Paul Mondragon, Rebecca Harrington, Sanjay Engineer, Sara Traub, Tom Antram, and Tom Daulton

The Board comprises investment professionals, small business owners, community leaders, foundation directors, and corporate CEOs. All trustees are volunteers serving three-year terms, each contributing a minimum of $5,000 annually toward operating expenses. The Foundation also maintains an Emeritus Board composed of former trustees who demonstrated long and distinguished service.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Annual Grant Cycle:

1. Review eligibility requirements and criteria at abqcf.org/grants
2. Determine which ONE field of interest aligns with your organization
3. Verify organizational eligibility (501(c)(3) for minimum 3 years, serves eligible counties)
4. Attend optional Coffee Chat sessions for application support (available via Zoom at go.abqcf.org/coffeechat)
5. Review the scoring rubric to understand evaluation criteria
6. Submit application through the online Grants Portal during the two-month application window
7. Application deadline: March 27, 2025 (for 2025 cycle)

Need to Know Grants:

1. Submit rolling requests throughout the year
2. No specific deadline - reviewed monthly
3. Suggested range: $5,000 - $10,000
4. Applications not selected in Annual Grant Cycle automatically rollover to this program

Application Requirements:

• Information about who will benefit from the project
• Population demographics
• Approximate number of people to benefit
• How the program provides access to economic opportunities
• Three measurable outcomes and outputs
• Alignment with Foundation's Mission, Vision, Values, and Anti-Hate Policy Statement

Support Resources:

• Coffee Chat hours (four sessions throughout application cycle)
• Community Impact staff available for questions and feedback via Zoom
• Scoring rubric provided to guide applications
• Application instructions and criteria available on website

Decision Timeline

Annual Grant Cycle:

• Application period: Two months (typically opening in late January/early February)
• Single review round for all fields of interest
• Decision notification timing not publicly specified
• Awards range from $10,000 - $20,000

Need to Know Grants:

• Rolling submissions accepted year-round
• Monthly review process
• No designated decision dates
• Flexible timeline based on organizational needs

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rates or total number of applications received. However:

• 210 grants awarded in 2023
• 423 grants awarded in 2022
• 256 different nonprofit organizations received grants in one reporting year
• Average competitive grant historically around $8,350
• Typical awards ranging from $50 to $532,068

The Foundation has made deliberate efforts to make the process more accessible and reduce barriers, suggesting a commitment to funding a diverse range of organizations rather than maintaining extremely low acceptance rates.

Reapplication Policy

Automatic Rollover: Organizations that submit an application in the Annual Grant Cycle but are not selected will automatically rollover into the Need to Know grant program. This provides unsuccessful applicants with a second opportunity for funding without submitting a completely new application.

No Waiting Period: The rollover system means organizations are immediately reconsidered through the Need to Know program rather than having to wait a year to reapply.

Multiple Fields: Organizations can only apply for ONE field of interest per Annual Grant Cycle, but this restriction appears to reset each year.

Application Success Factors

Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach

The Foundation consulted with the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project in 2022 and has fundamentally shifted their approach. As they state: "Trust-based philanthropy places trust in organizations and the way they implement their programs; the funder is there to learn from them, instead of telling the organization how and on what to spend grants." This means:

• Value unrestricted funding: All Annual Grant Cycle awards are unrestricted general operating support, reflecting their belief that "nonprofits need the freedom to shift in the moment to serve the greatest need"
• Demonstrate organizational capacity: Show how your organization adapts and responds to community needs rather than rigidly adhering to program plans
• Emphasize relationships over transactions: The Foundation values building mutually accountable relationships with partners

Alignment with Values and Mission

Organizations must align with the Foundation's Mission, Vision, Values, and Anti-Hate Policy Statement. Strong applications will:

• Center equity and justice: Demonstrate commitment to "addressing injustice and changing oppressive systems"
• Serve marginalized communities: Show focus on supporting historically under-resourced populations
• Build community belonging: Advance the vision of a community "built by and for all people"
• Practice cultural humility: Reflect the Foundation's values of "building relationships with authenticity and cultural humility"

Specific Application Strategies

Focus on Community Impact:

• Clearly articulate who benefits from your work, with demographic details
• Provide approximate numbers of people served
• Explain how your program provides access to economic opportunities
• Include three measurable outcomes and outputs

Use the Scoring Rubric:

• The Foundation provides a scoring rubric to accompany applications
• Review this carefully to understand evaluation criteria
• Structure your application to address each rubric element

Leverage Coffee Chats:

• Four Coffee Chat sessions are offered during the application cycle
• Community Impact staff provide support and feedback
• Use these sessions to clarify questions before submitting
• Show initiative by engaging with staff early in the process

Geographic Specificity:

• Demonstrate clear connection to Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, or Valencia counties
• Provide evidence of physical presence in eligible counties
• Show understanding of local community needs and context

Common Success Factors from Recent Grants

Recent funded organizations show patterns:

• Casa Q (PRIDE Circle, $10,000): Safe housing and advocacy for LGBTQ+ community
• Casa Esperanza (Future Fund, $23,300): Health-focused services
• New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness and Women's Housing Coalition: Addressing housing insecurity
• Organizations addressing fundamental needs: healthcare, housing, food, safe neighborhoods

What the Foundation Values in Partners

Based on their stated commitments:

• Organizations willing to engage in authentic, collaborative relationships
• Nonprofits that demonstrate accountability and transparency
• Groups that practice equity internally and externally
• Partners that embrace continuous learning and adaptation
• Organizations that center the voices and leadership of those they serve

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Unrestricted Funding is Non-Negotiable: The Annual Grant Cycle only provides unrestricted/general operating support. Do not propose specific programs - instead, demonstrate your organization's overall capacity and community impact. This reflects their trust-based philanthropy commitment.

2. Values Alignment is Essential: Review and explicitly address the Foundation's Mission, Vision, Values, and Anti-Hate Policy Statement in your application. Organizations not aligned with these commitments will not be funded, regardless of program quality.

3. Use the Rollover Advantage: If not selected in the Annual Grant Cycle, your application automatically rolls over to Need to Know grants. This doubles your chances and reduces the burden of reapplication. Consider this when deciding whether to apply.

4. Engage Through Coffee Chats: The Foundation offers four Coffee Chat sessions during the application cycle where staff provide feedback and answer questions. Use these strategically to strengthen your application and build relationships. This is trust-based philanthropy in action.

5. Choose Your Field of Interest Carefully: You can only apply for ONE of the seven fields per cycle. Research which field best aligns with your work and where competition may be lower. The single-choice restriction is strictly enforced.

6. Geographic Focus is Strict: You must serve residents in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, or Valencia counties and have been operating for at least three years. Don't apply if you don't meet these fundamental requirements.

7. Demonstrate Equity Commitment: The Foundation is "committed to using philanthropy to advance racial equity, social justice" and seeks to increase funding to "traditionally under-resourced communities." Center this in your narrative by showing how your work advances equity, serves marginalized populations, and challenges oppressive systems.

References

• Albuquerque Community Foundation Official Website. "Grants." https://abqcf.org/grants/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "Annual Grant Cycle Criteria." https://abqcf.org/annual-grant-cycle-criteria/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "Who We Are." https://abqcf.org/who-we-are/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "About Us." https://abqcf.org/about-us/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion." https://abqcf.org/dei/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "Inspired Impact - 2023 Annual Report." https://annual-report.abqcf.org/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Community Foundation. "Coming Into Focus - 2022 Annual Report." https://annual-report.abqcf.org/2022-annual-report/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Albuquerque Journal. "ABQ Community Foundation, NM Community Trust appoint new president and CEO." https://www.abqjournal.com/business/abq-community-foundation-nm-community-trust-appoint-new-president-and-ceo/2955883 (Accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator. "Albuquerque Community Foundation." https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/850295444 (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ. "Albuquerque Community Foundation." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/albuquerque-community-foundation,850295444/ (Accessed February 2026)
• GuideStar Profile. "Albuquerque Community Foundation." https://www.guidestar.org/profile/85-0295444 (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Albuquerque Community Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/850295444 (Accessed February 2026)