LANL Foundation Opens New Outreach Grants Application

By LANL Foundation

The LANL Foundation is now accepting applications for up to $5,000 in funding through its competitive Outreach Grants. The Foundation’s new grants cycle comprises three major changes: these specific grants are now offered one time a year, available funding per proposal has increased from $2,500 to $5,000, and funding can be utilized for organizational capacity-building.

LANL Foundation offers two types of Outreach Grants. Education Outreach Grants directly support public school children in grades K–12. Community Outreach Grants meet the Foundation’s mission and vision of innovative programming, collaboration and advocacy for lifelong learning, but need not be tied directly to K–12 public education. Early childhood and adult programs, basic needs, family and community support programs and some community events also fall within the category of community funding.

Public school districts, nonprofit New Mexico educational institutions, IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies and Pueblo/Tribal communities may be eligible to receive grants and must serve one or more of the seven Northern New Mexico counties of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe or Taos.

These latest grant process changes arose from the Foundation’s recent Center for Effective Philanthropy grantee perception survey, where community partners offered feedback requesting more support beyond the grant dollar, cultivation of collaborative relationships, and operational investment.

Programs considered for Outreach Grants must align with LANL Foundation’s Theory of Change which maintains that 1.) engaged communities, along with outstanding school boards, educators, principals and schools lead to; 2.) improved learning opportunities and outcomes, which lead to; 3.) whole child development, which leads to; 4.) pathways to careers and thriving, engaged communities.

In 2019, 108 outreach grants and sponsorships were awarded totaling more than $245,000.

The deadline to apply is March 12, 2020, by 5:00 pm MST.