Taos Community Foundation

Builds on Leadership Strengths

Taos Community Foundation has served the northern region of New Mexico as a leader in philanthropic services for nearly 25 years. The work of the Community Foundation is twofold; to create relationships with donors to maximize their charitable giving goals, and to link those charitable efforts to strengthen the mission of local non- profit programs. The resulting effect is to address the wide array of community needs in the most meaningful way.

The Foundation has had another banner year reflecting financial outcomes and granting dollars

awarded in their service area of Taos and western Colfax Counties. Over $2.57 million was awarded in grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local students for post high

school educational support.

The Fund for Taos, an Emergency Action Fund awarded grants in three emergency directions this past year — continued COVID response efforts, damage from the wind storm last winter

and forest fires this spring. “It was a year that kept us on our

toes” said Lisa O’Brien, the Foundation’s Director. “Our success in being able to meet several disaster needs was a direct result

of the continued generosity of so many donors in the community. People are still giving regularly

to The Fund for Taos, which allows us to be at the ready.”

In addition to the expansive granting in community, Taos Community Foundation has stepped up into new leadership roles — both locally and in the state. “Many of the partnerships we established in our early COVID response days have allowed for deeper collaborative relationships to blossom,” O’Brien said. “There is often talk of ‘silos’ in community,” shared Helen Forte, Director of Community Impact. “We have experienced the opposite. There is realization that we must work together to fully bring the change needed,” she added.

Two such examples were the formation of two fiscally-sponsored

projects administered by the Foundation. Charitable funds were established for EC-COAD (Enchanted Circle – Communities Active in Disaster) and a Community Housing Trust, now titled the Taos Housing Partnership (THP). Both of these projects were a direct result of community conversations sparked

during the first year of COVID, when most organizations had

shuttered their doors and sent employees home. “I want to be perfectly clear — our community is in desperate need for housing

that fits their budget. Taos Community Foundation provided the

platform,” remarked state Rep. Kristina Ortez, who also serves

as the Director of Taos Land Trust. “There is excitement in what will materialize, long term

for the community,” she added.

Both projects have community advisory groups that steer the work and oversee the charitable funds held by the Foundation. EC-COAD has a goal of having 1,000 community members trained and certified in CPR. The Taos Housing Partnership, which is poised to become a stand-alone 501(c) 3, has the lofty goal of helping to create 100 new homes (for rent and/ or purchase) and have at least another 400 units underway in the first five years of its operation. “Three years ago, we were not having these types of conversations, let alone having cohesive action plans, shared across sectors,” noted O’Brien. “If we learned anything during COVID, it was that none of us could do it

alone.”

Taos Community Foundation is also partnering with Taos County

this year in the administration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that will award

$500,000 to non-profit organizations. For the first time, a contract for service was initiated between the two entities.

“This is a conversation we have

had over the years, and the time was right,” shared Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo. “We know the Foundation is skilled in their oversight of the granting process. We know this will be an efficient process for non profits as applicants and for the County as the legal representative for

the federal funds,” he added. O’Brien noted, “this is a great example of leaning into each other’s expertise and demonstrating an effective streamlined approach to community funding.”

In addition to the local partnership, Taos Community Foundation is also a partner in the New Mexico Coalition of Community Foundations. This group came

together to administer the All Together New Mexico Fund

that awarded over $3.6 million in COVID response grants

throughout New Mexico in 2020. The Coalition has recently announced a new partnership to provide one-time cash assistance to New Mexicans, with priority to those who were adversely impacted by the Calf Canyon–Hermits Peak wildfires.

“We are proud of the work we do as funders. We are also honored to have the relationships we have cultivated in community,” noted O’Brien. “The Foundation is here for the long haul and having strong partnerships makes the effort so much more rewarding.”