(LACF News) – Judy Dudziak had a strong passion for music, which she pursued from childhood throughout the rest of her life. She played piano and violin in her youth. Then later, the recorder and French horn, the latter in the Los Alamos Symphony, the Municipal Band, and as a member of the orchestra for many theatrical plays. Judy encouraged all her children to play instruments and often supported the Los Alamos High School Band and Orchestra.
To honor Judy’s lifelong passion for music, her husband Don Dudziak has created the Community Endowment for Music Organizations at the Los Alamos Community Foundation. The initial gift of $10,000 includes a dollar-for-dollar match by Dudziak of up to $5,000.
“I was always aware of the financial needs of the orchestras and bands in which Judy played French Horn, so when I heard about the Community Foundation. I thought it would be an ideal vehicle for establishing an endowment to support groups such as those in which Judy played,” said Dudziak.
Annual distributions from the fund will provide support for organizations in Los Alamos County whose work expands knowledge and appreciation of genres such as classical orchestral and band music, light opera, marching band, and choral performances.
To match funds, please visit: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list
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 eleven local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $800,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
(LACF News) – Six area non-profit organizations have been selected by the Los Alamos Community Foundation to participate in Jumpstart, a year-long fundraising capacity building program. After a competitive selection process, the six organizations chosen are: Embudo Valley Library, Family Strengths Network, Los Alamos Family Council, Los Alamos Historical Society, Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB), and Santa Fe Dreamers Project. These organizations will receive personal coaching, specific tools, professional services, software and an evidence-based framework in an immersive, twelve-month program designed to take them to the next level of financial stability.
The Jumpstart Fundraising Program is funded by Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) and Network For Good.
“To be successful, nonprofit organizations have to run sound, effective businesses in addition to delivering services to their clients,” said Todd Nelson, N3B Senior Communications Specialist. “We’re pleased to partner with LACF to help drive impact in the region through philanthropy, and with this project, help area nonprofits become better businesses.”
Network for Good’s Jumpstart Fundraising Capacity Building program uses a high-impact combination of tools during a 12-month period: a Personal Fundraising Coach (PFC) plus state-of-the art fundraising and donor management technology, that simultaneously, increase nonprofit leaders’ abilities to fundraise while increasing revenue, in real time.
Lisa Zuhn, executive director of Los Alamos JJAB is especially excited by the opportunity to implement new fundraising tools and processes. “We’re thrilled to be chosen for the Jumpstart Fundraising Program, especially the ability for our staff to work with an individual fundraising coach over the next year,” said Zuhn. “Our goal is to increase our diversification of funding and enhance our efforts to provide additional programs and resources for youth and families within the community.”
Typically, after one year of committed fundraising while implementing fundraising skills learned in the Jumpstart in real time, participants see an average increase of more than 20% more revenue, while building their organizational capacity. “A non-profit’s financial sustainability cannot be achieved in one year, nor through a single grant,” explained Rachel Kizielewicz, executive director of LACF. “To create the lasting impact our donors, boards and volunteers envision, we must ensure our local nonprofit organizations are financially-resilient, with the capacity to deliver services and sustain impact, year after year.”
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 eleven local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $800,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
(LACF News) – The Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs was recently established at the Los Alamos Community Foundation. Annual distributions from the fund will underwrite expenses associated with conducting nonprofit training programs, donor training programs, or other community training programs that the foundation develops over time.
The fund was created by Denise Soran Brown and P. David Soran in honor of their late mother, Diane Warther Soran.
Rachel Kizielewicz, Executive Director of the LACF, says for now the annual distributions from the endowment will partially underwrite expenses associated with its nonprofit training program and a soon-to-be-announced program to provide philanthropy-related training to donors and community members.
“Our non-profit training series, now in its fifth year, has become a pillar of our work at the foundation. The creation of this endowment will support the growth of these programs, and will allow us to expand our offerings to include philanthropy education for community members. We are thrilled for the opportunity this brings,” said Kizielewicz.
Upcoming nonprofit training workshops include: “Leading with Vision: From Strategic Planning to Strategic Doing”, conducted by Angelo Gonzalez on Thursday, March 18 from 9:00am – 12:00pm. And “Board Governance for Effective Leadership”, conducted by Linley Daly on Wednesday, April 7th from 9:00am – 12:00pm. For more information and to register, go to: losalamoscf.org/ticket.
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 eleven local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $800,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
(LACF News) – The Los Alamos Community Foundation announces its inaugural discretionary grantmaking cycle, and invites 501(c)(3) organizations located in Los Alamos County to submit a grant application requesting up to $5,000 to improve the financial health of the organization.
LACF defines “financial health” as any effort which results in a measurable improvement across one or more dimensions of an organization’s financial sustainability, to include, but not limited to, areas such as: diversifying funding sources and income streams, building technological capacity that allows for increased efficiencies, investing in board development to ensure proper governance and fiduciary oversight, pursuing a formal financial audit or review, evaluating/increasing current fundraising efforts, or increasing marketing efforts to broaden community outreach thereby bringing in more customers/clients/donors.
“Core to the foundation’s mission is to increase the capacity and success of our nonprofit organizations,” said Rachel Kizielewicz, executive director of LACF. “We are excited to offer this funding opportunity to our local nonprofits, to provide grants that encourage organizations to focus on their long-term viability.”
The grant application cycle opens Monday, March 29 at 9:00am and closes Friday, April 30 at 5:00pm. Grant recipients will be selected and notified by late May.
Nonprofits interested in applying are welcome to attend either of the following optional information sessions: Friday, March 19 at 9:00am, and Thursday, March 25 at 3:30pm. To attend either session, register here: losalamoscf.org/ticket. A zoom link will be provided.
More information can be found at losalamoscf.org/grantmaking.
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Nonprofit organizations that serve our community turn to the Los Alamos Community Foundation for help in building organizational capacity and increasing financial stability. 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 eleven local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $800,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
(LACF News) – The Los Alamos Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications requesting up to $1,200 to fund youth sports activities in Los Alamos County.
Organizations are invited to apply for funding for projects that build leadership skills in youth through achievement in competitive team sports. Youth served by the program must be located in Los Alamos County and/or attend Los Alamos public schools and be between the ages of 5-18 years old.
This grant is funded by the Los Alamos Community Youth Sports Endowment established by Paul and Jill Cook to benefit youth sports in Los Alamos. Endowment earnings from the fund are directed to organizations that serve youth sports in the community through an annual competitive grant process. The public is invited to contribute to the fund, to help grow the impact it is able to have on our youth.
The grant application cycle opens Monday, March 29 at 9:00am and closes Friday, April 30 at 5:00pm. Grant recipients will be selected and notified by late May.
Nonprofits interested in applying are welcome to attend either of the following optional information sessions: Friday, March 19 at 9:00am, and Thursday, March 25 at 3:30pm. To attend either session, register here: losalamoscf.org/ticket. A zoom link will be provided.
More information can be found at losalamoscf.org/grantmaking.
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 eleven local endowed funds and has total assets of more than $800,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.
We are excited to share with you our accomplishments during 2020. Here is our LACF 2020 Year in Review report.
(LACF News)– The Board of Directors of the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is proud to welcome former Los Alamos National Laboratory Director, Dr. Charles McMillan, as its newest member.
“I continue to believe, as I have throughout my professional career, that a vibrant community is the base from which we serve the nation,” said McMillan. “I am pleased to be joining the Los Alamos Community Foundation in its mission to ensure the enduring philanthropic goals of our unique community in ways that strengthen that base.”
“Dr. McMillan brings unique and strategic strengths to our foundation,” said Rachel Kizielewicz, executive director of the LACF. “We’re excited to have him contribute his many talents and provide
guidance as we continue to strengthen community, and build philanthropy and legacy giving in Los Alamos.”
McMillan moved to Los Alamos in 2006 where he held various leadership positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory before becoming Director in 2011. He retired from the Lab in 2018 and serves on the boards of several start-ups. During his tenure at the Lab, he was actively engaged with the Northern New Mexico community working to strengthen it through education, business, and employment opportunities.
He has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from Columbia Union College and a PhD in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a recipient of the Secretary of Energy’s Exceptional Service Award and the NNSA Administrator’s Distinguished Service Gold Award. He and his wife Janet enjoy life in the Los Alamos community. McMillan joins Frances Chadwick, Don Cobb, Linda Daly, David Izraelevitz (President), Jenny McCumber (Secretary), Cindy Rooney (Treasurer) and Pat Soran (Vice President) as board members of the LACF.
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.
(CNN)– With its vast mountain ranges, diverse wildlife and clean air, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, has been ranked the healthiest community of 2020.Located about 40 miles from Santa Fe, the county is home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which developed the first atomic bombs during World War II. The county received a perfect score for measurements including drinking water quality, affordable housing availability, park access and population with an advanced degree, according to the annual U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings report.
Follow link for full article.
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.
(LACF News)– Enterprise Bank & Trust recently provided the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) with a $50,000 check from the Enterprise Endowment Fund matching gift campaign.
Enterprise pledged a total commitment of up to $150,000 – $50,000 per year for three years – to the LACF that will contribute resources directly to the needs of the Los Alamos community.
“On behalf of everyone at LACF, we thank Enterprise Bank & Trust for making this commitment that will benefit our local nonprofits for years to come,” LACF President David Izraelevitz said. “We are grateful to the many community members who have contributed to this fund to help us receive the full $50,000 match from Enterprise. This is truly a community-wide partnership, which LACF is honored to be a part of.”
In 2019, Enterprise made a collective investment of nearly a half million dollars to seven New Mexico nonprofit organizations through the Enterprise Bank & Trust Foundation. This commitment provides resources directly to the Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque communities over three years. These contributions will provide for the building of new or expanded facilities, enhanced programming and access to additional resources for the New Mexico communities.
“We are proud of our partnership with Los Alamos Community Foundation and pleased to provide them with financial support that will impact nonprofits throughout the Los Alamos community,” said Enterprise President – Los Alamos Region Liddie Martinez. “Enterprise has a reputation as a strong community partner, and we are dedicated to strengthening the well-being of the Los Alamos community.”
Enterprise Bank & Trust is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
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.
2020-2021 Nonprofit Training Program
During our 2020-2021 session, LACF and United Way of Northern New Mexico are partnering to offer local nonprofits three in-depth training workshops designed to build organizational capacity in the wake of the pandemic. Each workshop will be held virtually and will be approximately three hours long (including discussion, breakout sessions and breaks). Nonprofits are encouraged to send 2-3 participants to each workshop, including senior staff and/or board members. Tickets are $50 per organization per workshop. A discounted package deal is available which includes access to all three sessions for $100. Nonprofits will leave each workshop with an immediately usable, measurable action plan. Included in the ticket price is access to a follow up session which will be held 4-6 weeks after the workshop, designed to keep each organization on track to accomplish its plan. Workshops will be facilitated by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
2020-21 Workshops
Purchase a discounted package deal for access to all three workshops here: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1399 Community Services and Community Engagement Thursday, October 15, 2020 9:00am – 12:00pm Register here: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1396 This session will help your organization re-examine how it serves its constituents and communities, both in the time of COVID and in looking ahead to a new normal. Focus areas include: strengthening service delivery; increasing outreach, impact, and engagement with your nonprofit clients; examining your diversity, equity and inclusion practices; managing and developing your volunteers; and measuring and assessing the impact of your services. Fund Development and Sustainability Thursday, January 14, 2021 9:00am – 12:00pm Register here: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1397 This workshop will provide your organization with a pathway to diversifying funding sources and building successful sustainability practices. It will include an overview of various types of funding including grants, fundraising events, donor cultivation, recurring giving programs, and revenue generating initiatives. This session will help your organization examine which fund-development initiatives best fit your goals, and will explore how to undertake these programs during the time of COVID and into the new normal. There will also be discussion on mergers and the value of collaboration for shared services. Board Development and Strategic Planning Thursday, April 8, 2021 9:00am – 12:00pm Register here: https://alamos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=1398 The success of any organization begins with a strong board. And successfully navigating your organization’s mission in a post-pandemic era begins with a strong plan. This workshop will offer key lessons of what constitutes a high-functioning, impactful board, including use of an assessment tool to provide a baseline understanding of where your organization is today. It then dives into strategic planning to help guide your organization to where it wants to go. Additionally, key fundamentals will be addressed such as review of mission and vision, the relationship between board and executive director, and the duty of care.