For information about our general grant processes, please visit https://www.losalamoscf.org/grant-making/grant-process/.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
In 2019, the Los Alamos Community Foundation:
- Celebrated the close of our Founding Members giving society (2016-19). We couldn’t be more grateful to the 58 donors who provided startup capital to get the foundation off the ground. Our pledge is to continue to make you proud!
- Announced the start of our next giving society: Community Builders. These donors will strengthen our impact on the community and take the foundation to new heights.
- Kicked off a three-year Enterprise Bank Community Challenge of $50,000 per year, which will result in new unrestricted grant dollars for nonprofits in Los Alamos.
- Received grants from Con Alma Health Foundation, Delle Foundation, Enterprise Bank, LANL Foundation, and Triad National Security to underwrite our work in the community.
- Grew assets under management by more than 60%, from $235,000 to $386,000.
- Invested endowments on behalf of three local nonprofit organizations. These nonprofits receive a steady income stream from their endowments in perpetuity.
- Invested endowments created by Los Alamos donors for the following purposes: Community Endowment for UNM-LA, Endowment for Duane Smith Auditorium, Community Youth Sports Endowment, and the Rosalie Heller Annual Memorial Lecture Endowment.
- Held in-depth workshops for local nonprofits to build capacity towards fulfilling their missions.
- Convened Executive Director Roundtables to facilitate networking and idea-sharing for leaders of our local nonprofit organizations.
Look for us to announce even more exciting new programs in 2020!
Thank you for helping to make our success possible.
[Los Alamos]— Los Alamos Community Foundation will offer the next in-depth training workshop to help local nonprofits build their capacity in core areas in 2019-2020.
Is your non-profit organization looking to set or reset its marketing and communications plan? The Los Alamos Community Foundation, in partnership with The Center for Nonprofit Excellence, offers an in-depth workshop on Marketing and Communications, Wednesday, January 22, from 9:00am – 12:30pm at UNM-Los Alamos. This workshop will examine your organization’s current marketing and communications practices to ensure that they align with your mission and goals. You will develop an action plan with strategies that will build support for your work and grow your audience.
LACF recommends attendance by 2-3 staff members of your organization (including staff and/or board members). Your organization will leave the workshop with an immediately usable, measurable action plan. This workshop will be facilitated by The Center For Nonprofit Excellence and will be based on the New Mexico Nonprofit Principles & Practices Guide. The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Register here , or by going to www.losalamoscf.org .
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards seven local endowment funds and total assets of more than $350,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
[Los Alamos]— Los Alamos Community Foundation will offer three in-depth training workshops to help local nonprofits build their capacity in core areas in 2019-2020.
Each session will be approximately three hours long and is ideal for a 2-3 member team comprised of both staff and board members per organization. Nonprofits will leave each workshop with an immediately usable, measurable action plan. The 2019-20 Nonprofit Training Program is underwritten by generous support from the Con Alma Health Foundation and the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos.
The Details:
Workshops will be facilitated by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and will be based on the New Mexico Nonprofit Principles & Practices Guide. New this year is a fee of $25 per person per event, which will include the cost of lunch. Registering for all three sessions reduces the cost to $20 per person per event.
Register online at https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket (choose the “2019-20 LACF Workshop Package Deal” to sign up for all three sessions at the discounted rate.)
2019-20 Nonprofit Training Program:
Board Development
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
9:00 am – 12:30pm
Advance your fundamentals for Board Development with this in-depth workshop, building on the goals your organization set at the LACF Annual Conference (May 2019), or starting fresh. This session will look at key board responsibilities, expectations, and best practices, with a focus on identifying and tackling your organization’s biggest challenge(s) around board development. Ideal for senior staff and board members. Workshop will be facilitated by CNPE-affiliated consultant Annie Sanchez of Mariposa Strategies.
Marketing & Communications
Wednesday, January 22, 2019
9:00am – 12:30pm
Re-examine your organization’s current marketing and communications practices to ensure that they align with your mission and goals. Develop an action plan with strategies that will build support for your work and grow your audience. Workshop will be facilitated by Larry Alei and Kira Luna with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE).
Fundraising
Wednesday, April 22, 2019
9:00am – 12:30pm
Evaluate your organization’s current fundraising practices. Identify and set targeted metrics that will advance your mission and align with your strategic plan. Ideal for staff and board members.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards six local endowment funds and total assets of more than $295,500. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
[Los Alamos]— Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is excited to announce a unique opportunity to double your donation though a new partnership with Enterprise Bank & Trust.
That means that when you donate now, a contribution of equal value is matched by Enterprise Bank & Trust and effectively doubles the impact of your giving.
“Enterprise Bank &Trust selected the Los Alamos Community Foundation as a partner because it was an excellent opportunity to help the organization build capacity towards service to others,” said Liddie Martinez, President of Enterprise Bank & Trust Los Alamos Region and Director of Community Engagement.
“LACF has a solid foundation of support from local leadership and has proven to be excellent stewards with a deep understanding of the needs and challenges their community faces,” said Martinez, “their ability to identify and provide non-profits with the training needed to support their individual missions while cultivating an environment that leverages talents and skill sets has been stellar.”
According to LACF, the Enterprise Bank & Trust Endowment Fund will be one of its unrestricted funds, meaning that the Foundation will have full flexibility to address the full spectrum of needs in the Los Alamos community based on the advice of its community advisory board.
“As needs change and priorities emerge in our community, this fund will be able to adapt and support those emerging needs,” said David Izraelevitz, President of the LACF Board of Directors, “we look forward to conversations with the nonprofit community of Los Alamos about their aspirations and concerns and how this fund will be able to help them fulfill their missions.”
What is the matching grant about?
Enterprise Bank & Trust has created a challenge to benefit nonprofit organizations in the community of Los Alamos through the LACF. The bank pledged a total commitment of up to $150,000 ($50,000 per year for three years), but we don’t get the money unless we raise it! Here’s where you can help.
Why should I give?
By making a gift to the Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Endowment through LACF, your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar. The funds will be placed in an unrestricted endowment, which will allow LACF to make grants to nonprofit organizations that are doing important work in our community.
Why endowment?
Endowments exist forever, which means that the impact of your gift will be felt today, and fifty years from now. LACF invests the funds, and the interest earnings are used to make annual grants to the community. The unrestricted nature of this endowment means that funding will always be available to address the changing needs of our community, both now and over time.
Who benefits?
Grants from this endowment will be available to nonprofit organizations that operate in or serve Los Alamos County.
How can I give?
Donating By Check: Cash donations may be made via check to “Los Alamos Community Foundation” and mailed to:
Los Alamos Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1225
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Please write “Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Endowment” in the check memo line.
Donating by Credit Card: You can contribute online using a credit card by going to losalamoscf.org and clicking on our secure Enterprise Bank Match button.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards seven local endowment funds and total assets of more than $295,500. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
About Enterprise Bank & Trust: Enterprise Financial Services Corp (NASDAQ: EFSC), with approximately $7 billion in assets, is a bank holding company headquartered in Clayton, Mo. Enterprise Bank & Trust operates 34 branch offices in Arizona, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. Enterprise Bank & Trust offers a range of business and personal banking services and wealth management services. Additional information is available at enterprisebank.com.
Los Alamos Community Foundation announces the addition of Matt Schmidt to its Finance and Investment Committee. Schmidt is president and CEO of the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union, a role he has had since 2007.
“I’m excited to guide, assist and provide additional oversight to our Community Foundation and the funds that many community members and organizations have entrusted to it,” Schmidt said.
“Matt has a wealth of experience and will be a fantastic asset to this committee,” LACF Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz said. “The committee serves an important role for the foundation, ensuring the prudent management of our assets, and we are thrilled to have Matt’s expertise.”
Schmidt joins fellow committee members Edward Jones Financial Advisor Shelly Wiemann, LACF Advisor Rick Riess, LACF Vice President Pat Soran and LACF Treasurer Cindy Rooney. Eric Loucks, VP and Investment Officer with Enterprise Bank & Trust, is the foundation’s investment manager.
The Finance and Investment Committee meets at least quarterly to supervise, monitor and evaluate the foundation’s invested assets. Committee members act in an expert advisory role on behalf of the foundation, regularly reviewing investment performance and asset allocation.
Schmidt’s commitment to Los Alamos extends beyond his job. He regularly participates in community activities, fundraisers and events. He is a current member and past president of The Family YMCA Board of Directors.
Rise of the “B” Corp (and What it Means for Nonprofits)
Thursday, June 13, 2019
5:00 – 6:00pm
Room 505, Building 5, UNM-LA
Register: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket
Cost: Free
“B” Corps represent a movement of entrepreneurs who are proud of their organization’s positive impact, whether it is improving the livelihoods of their workers, strengthening their communities, or revolutionizing current green practices. The common thread linking Certified B Corporations® is that they define success as more than money – using the “B” Corp assessment and a triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Profit. For traditional nonprofit organizations, “B” Corporations represent a big opportunity for growth if the right kind of partnership can be found.
The speaker for this event is Christopher Fortson, Marketing Manager and an employee-owner of Positive Energy Solar. Positive Energy Solar was the first company in New Mexico to achieve “B” Corporation status. They have since helped other companies like Meow Wolf to obtain their “B” Corp status. Christopher grew up in Los Alamos and earned his degree in Business Administration from UNM Anderson School of Business.
Nonprofit training sessions sponsored by the Los Alamos Community Foundation are made possible with generous support from the Con Alma Health Foundation and UNM-Los Alamos.
Annual Conference for Nonprofits
Clarifying and Enhancing Board of Director Roles
May 10, 2019
Location: UNM-LA, Building 2, Room 230
The Los Alamos Community Foundation invites you to attend its 2019 Annual Conference for Nonprofits. Our theme this year will be on the topic of Board Development. This session will be held on Friday, May 10, 2019 at UNM-LA (Lecture hall, room 230, building 2) from 8:30am – 1:00pm, and will include breakfast and lunch.
RSVP here if you are able to attend. (Bring a board member with you!)
https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1033
Description:
Could your organization use help clarifying and enhancing the role of your Board of Directors? Join us to learn key board responsibilities, expectations, and best practices, with a focus on financial oversight.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the governance and financial management responsibilities of board members.
- Identify legally required and recommended standard practices for nonprofit Boards of Directors.
- Create a board development action plan using the New Mexico Nonprofit Principles and Practices Companion Workbook.
- Review board recruitment and development resources available in New Mexico.
Your Board of Directors is responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction for the organization. This workshop will help board members and executive directors get a clear perspective on what that looks like in practice. The workshop will begin with an overview of the governance and financial management responsibilities of board members, including legal requirements and recommended standard practices. The second half of the workshop will have nonprofits creating an action plan to identify, prioritize, and achieve your board development goals. Using the New Mexico Nonprofit Principles & Practices Guide as a learning tool, workshop participants will think through specific topics such as board member giving requirements, board orientation, board chair responsibilities and policy and accountability.
The Los Alamos Community Foundation will provide attendees with their own copy of the New Mexico Nonprofit Principles & Practices Guide and companion workbook ($50 value). One per organization.
Networking Lunch Session
Stay for lunch to network with our event facilitators (Larry Alei and Kira Luna with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence) and representatives from two fantastic New Mexico-based organizations (Building Beloved Communities and The Grants Collective) that might be able to help you with your work!
Bonnie Chavez, President, Building Beloved Communities. Building Beloved Communities provides fee-for-service solutions and resources for non-profits. Organizations of any size can hire BBC to manage any project, no matter how big or small. A cost-effective way to take something off your plate and get more done in the day!
Robert Nelson, Program Manager, The Grants Collective. The Grants Collective builds grant seeking capacity of New Mexico nonprofit organizations so that they are better resourced to achieve their charitable and social missions.
The 2019 Annual Conference for Nonprofits is made possible with generous support from:
Getting Your Ducks in a Row to Apply for Grants
Friday, May 3, 2019
11:00am-2:00pm
Pig and Fig Café (11 Sherwood Blvd, White Rock, NM)
Buffet lunch Included
Cost: $100
Register here: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1034
The Los Alamos Community Foundation will provide a 2/3 subsidy for the first eight participants that register. The event is limited to 25 participants. Included in the workshop:
– Organizational self-assessment of readiness for funding
– The importance of diverse “braided” funding streams and best practices
– Choosing grants which match your organization’s mission, capacity and scope
– The basics of a compelling grant proposal
– Grants as a component of an organizational strategic plan
– Workshop director will be available for one-on-one consultation from 2 to 3 PM
Questions? Contact Ellen at ellenmorrisbond@gmail.com or 505-231-5382
Workshop Leader: Ellen Morris Bond, M.S., former Executive Director of Self Help, Inc. and graduate of UC-Davis Dept. of Community Development.
Nonprofit training sessions sponsored by the Los Alamos Community Foundation are made possible with generous support from UNM-Los Alamos and the LANL Foundation.
Funds:
- Total number of endowed funds increased from two to five
- Total types of funds increased from two (internal and agency) to four (donor designated and field of interest); and the first donor advised fund is on the near horizon
- Donor portals were added for fund holders through new Foundant database, providing access to fund financial data in real time
- A total of $131,198 was received in contributions (including endowed and non-endowed gifts) to benefit the community of Los Alamos
Finance:
- Converted to new software system (Foundant’s CommunitySuite) which streamlines financial tracking and reporting
- Conducted full internal audit, and formalized internal controls
- Added additional members to Finance and Investment Committee, to round out the expertise on this advisory group
Nonprofit Events and Communications:
- Held bi-monthly Executive Director Roundtable events
- Held seven nonprofit training sessions, including annual conference (April), joint event with LANB (November), and social entrepreneurship workshop (November)
- Sent monthly and quarterly email updates to LACF constituencies regarding opportunities for training, idea-sharing and networking