Chamiza Foundation
The Chamiza Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 and headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The foundation is dedicated to supporting New Mexico's Pueblo Indian tribes and communities through philanthropic initiatives focused on cultural preservation and community development. With 36 years of continuous commitment to Pueblo communities, the foundation maintains active engagement with tribal leadership and grassroots organizations across the state.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.9M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$95K
-28.4% YoY
Grant Count
9
-10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-20.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chamiza Foundation reported a distributable amount of $277K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Chamiza Foundation's mission is to help ensure the continuity and "living" preservation of Pueblo Indian culture and traditions. The foundation does not view its purpose as preserving Pueblo culture as antiquity, but rather as supporting a culture worthy of emulation and sustained development.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Intercultural Exchange
- Leadership Programs (including environmental stewardship and ecology)
- Youth Education
- Storytelling and Oral History
- Traditional Arts and Crafts
- Traditional Building
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Language Revitalization
The foundation supports programs that sustain tribal life and traditions while encouraging innovative change within Pueblo communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation recommends that applicants contact the Executive Director before submitting an application to discuss their intention to apply. Grant application instructions are available online at chamiza.org.
Grant Range
** $124 to $31,200, with a median grant amount of $12,000 and an average grant size of approximately $8,000 to $55,000 depending on program.
Average Grant
of approximately $8,000 to $55,000 depending on program.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Chamiza Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds programs in New Mexico, with a statewide focus on Pueblo communities. Geographic funding distribution includes New Mexico, California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas, with primary activity in cities including Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $3.67 million
- Total Revenue: $355,577
- Total Expenses: $322,919
- Total Liabilities: $2,370
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,889,755
- Total Revenue: $538,073
- Total Expenses: $313,792
- Total Giving: $255,719
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since August 1989
- EIN: 85-0373197
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,889,755 | $3,665,380 | $3,616,693 |
| Revenue | $538,073 | $355,577 | $427,359 |
| Expenses | $313,792 | $322,919 | $373,916 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $255,719 | $267,821 | $321,322 |
| Net Investment Income | $449,859 | $305,988 | $368,381 |
| Distributable Amount | $277,420 | $249,356 | $252,509 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Chamiza Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Keres Childrens Learning Center ($15,800), Zuni Youth Enrichment Prog ($15,000), Conservation Legacy Ancestral Land ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA ANA PUEBLO SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM | SAY H-20 WATER IS LIFE PROJ | $5,620 |
| KERES CHILDRENS LEARNING CENTER COCHITI PUEBLO, NM | NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS | $15,800 |
| PARTNERS IN EDUCATION SANTA FE, NM | RIVER SOURCE GRANT | $12,000 |
| ZUNI YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROG ZUNI, NM | YOUTH ART AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS | $15,000 |
| CONSERVATION LEGACY ANCESTRAL LAND ALBUQUERQUE, NM | ACOMA TRADITIONAL FARM CROPS | $15,000 |
| LANL FOUNDATION LOS ALAMOS, NM | TRIBAL EARLY CHILDHOOD STORY TELLING | $15,000 |
| NATIONAL GHOST RANCH FDN ABIQUIU, NM | ESTUDIO CORAZON RESIDENCY | $15,000 |
| ABQ INDIAN SCHOOL ALBUQUERQUE, NM | GENERAL PROGRAMS | $1,100 |
| LAGUNA COMMUNITY FDN LAGUNA PUEBLO, NM | GENERAL OPERATING | $124 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors: The Chamiza Foundation's Board of Directors includes 13 members, with nine members from Pueblo communities. Pueblo members continue to guide grantmaking decisions.
- James L. Phillips – Chair (since June 2024; previously served as Chair from 2000 to 2010; joined the board in 1990)
- Alice Phillips Swistel – Vice-Chair
- Brian Vallo – President
- Vernon Lujan – Vice-President
- Trisha Moquino – Treasurer
- Ben Calabaza – Secretary
- Marjorie Phillips Elliott – Director (Former)
- Alissa Chavez Lowe – Director
- Aaron Sims – Director
- Claire Elliott – Director
Staff:
- Amanda J. Montoya – Executive Director (compensated staff member)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES PHILLIPS | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ALICE PHILLIPS SWISTEL | VICE-CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| BRIAN VALLO | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| VERNON LUJAN | VICE-PRESIDE | 0.5 | — |
| TRISHA MOQUINO | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| BEN CALABAZA | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| MARJORIE PHILLIPS ELLIOTT | DIRECTOR FMR | 0.5 | — |
| ALISSA CHAVEZ LOWE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| AARON SIMS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CLAIRE ELLIOTT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KAYLEIGH WARREN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ELENA AGUILAR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| NINA SWISTEL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| AMANDA J MONTOYA | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $86,004 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chamiza Foundation fund?
The Chamiza Foundation's mission is to help ensure the continuity and "living" preservation of Pueblo Indian culture and traditions. The foundation does not view its purpose as preserving Pueblo culture as antiquity, but rather as supporting a culture worthy of emulation and sustained development. **Primary funding priorities include:** • Intercultural Exchange • Leadership Programs (including environmental stewardship and ecology) • Youth Education • Storytelling and Oral History • Traditional…
How do I apply for a grant from Chamiza Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $124 to $31,200, with a median grant amount of $12,000 and an average grant size of approximately $8,000 to $55,000 depending on program. **Recent Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $255,719 • Total giving (2023): $94,644 • Grants awarded: 59 (as of most recent filing) • Giving rate: 6.8% **Eligible Applicants:** • New Mexico's Pueblo Indian organizations and tribal governments • Community leaders, artists, or other individuals within Pueblo communities • Non-Pueblo organ…
Where does Chamiza Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds programs in New Mexico, with a statewide focus on Pueblo communities. Geographic funding distribution includes New Mexico, California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas, with primary activity in cities including Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
What size grants does Chamiza Foundation award?
In 2024, Chamiza Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $95K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chamiza Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chamiza Foundation reported a distributable amount of $277K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chamiza Foundation's EIN?
Chamiza Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0373197. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chamiza Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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