McCune Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 85-0429439 · since 1995nmmccune.org·New Mexico·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$3.4M
Annual giving, 2023 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$2,900 to $25,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$10,000
Typical grant (median)
172 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • If your organisation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, a federally recognised Native American tribe, a public school or a government agency doing work that benefits New Mexicans, its stated priorities cover local food development, education and early childhood, economic development, arts and community engagement, health care, built environments and natural resource stewardship.
  • Organisations of other kinds should not apply, and it does not fund individuals.
  • About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $2,900 and $25,000, with a median of $10,000, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant was $650,000.
  • Cultivate grants (stated at $15,000 for a single programme) come through the annual open cycle, which runs from August 15 to September 15 with exact dates varying, while discretionary grants of up to $5,000 are accepted year-round, starting with a letter of inquiry.
  • Since 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the previous filing, existing ties may matter, so a first approach should explain how your work advances its priorities and leverage points during the proposed grant term.

Overview

McCune Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Santa Fe, NM.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The McCune Charitable Foundation funds qualifying charitable programmes operating in New Mexico across nine priorities: local food industry development; education transformation and early childhood development; economic development and family asset building; arts and community engagement; health care; urban planning and built environments; natural-resource stewardship; non-profit-sector capacity; and rural development. Its best fit is organisations working collaboratively across priority areas to support community well-being and long-term impact, with leadership and expertise from those closest to and most affected by the work. Grants are unrestricted general operating support and must benefit New Mexicans. Eligible applicants include qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit organisations, federally recognised Native American tribes, public schools and government agencies. The annual open cycle supports Cultivate grants, while Focus multi-year grants are by invitation.

Themes

  • Local food development
  • Education and early childhood
  • Economic development
  • Arts and community engagement
  • Health care
  • Built environments
  • Natural resource stewardship

Geographic Focus

State of New Mexico.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals

How to apply

Eligible applicants submit annual-cycle requests online. For rolling discretionary grants, the first stage is a letter of inquiry; the Foundation directs applicants to its Grantseekers FAQ for the process.

Deadlines:

  • The annual open application cycle runs from August 15 to September 15; exact dates vary.
  • Discretionary grant applications are accepted year-round.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 350 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The Foundation favours organisations that collaborate across priority areas, support community well-being and long-term impact, and draw leadership and expertise from people closest to the work.
  • Cultivate applicants should identify a specific part of their work that advances Foundation priorities and leverage points during the proposed grant term.
  • For Focus grants, collaboration means active shared work between organisations.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.

Grant dollars by state

New Mexico93%
California2%
Colorado2%
Massachusetts1%
Arizona<1%
District of Columbia<1%

6 other states: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2023, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations McCune Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 34% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

172 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $10,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 172 grants in tax year 2023 by size

$1k–$2.5k1%
$2.5k–$5k19%
$5k–$10k9%
$10k–$25k24%
$25k–$50k44%
$50k–$100k2%
$100k–$250k0%
$250k–$500k0%
$500k–$1M1%

Median $10,000 (tax year 2023)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • New Mexico Foundation · General operating support ($500,000, 5 grants; $85,000, narf program admin.; $65,000, 10% fee)
    $650,0002023 tax year
  • Keshet Dance Company · General operating support (keshet arts and justice initiatives)
    $60,0002023 tax year
  • La Semilla Food Center · General operating support (investing in farmers)
    $60,0002023 tax year
  • New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty · General operating support (systemic advocacy for equity, opportunity and economic justice)
    $60,0002023 tax year
  • Santa Fe Community Foundation · General operating support
    $50,0002023 tax year
  • Partnership for Community Action · General operating support
    $30,9002023 tax year
  • New Mexico Resiliency Alliance · General operating support (resilient communities fund projects)
    $25,0002023 tax year
  • New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light · General operating support (outreach in southern nm and rural areas, and maintaining core programs)
    $25,0002023 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • John M Edwards — Director
  • John R Losinger — Director
  • James M Edwards — Director
  • David M Edwards — Director
  • Aaron Cathey — Director
  • Michelle McCune — Vice Chair
  • Susan M Losinger — Board Chair
  • Carla M Romero — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$4,975,637$3,572,300$84,541,275Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$5,132,249$3,400,700$91,819,670Filing for 2023 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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