State Bar of New Mexico
The State Bar of New Mexico is a public charity based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its grantmaking is administered through the Bar’s Access to Justice Fund Grant Commission, which awards funding to qualified organizations providing civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans. The State Bar serves as the Commission’s fiscal agent.
Key facts about State Bar of New Mexico
In short: State Bar of New Mexico gave $1.4M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $114K), mostly in New Mexico. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 85-0242641
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,367,912
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $113,993
- Median grant
- $72,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $9,326,023
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Commission accepts annual applications. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2024–2025 RFP deadline was noon, April 1, 2024 (past).
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
+23.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+33.6% YoY
Grant Count
12
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$114K
+22.5% YoY
Is State Bar of New Mexico open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $59K; repeat grants $119K. How we count
Medians: $59K first-time, $85K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The State Bar’s stated mission is “to be a united and inclusive organization serving the legal profession and the public.” Through the Access to Justice Fund, the Commission supports nonprofit civil legal service providers serving low-income New Mexicans, consistent with the current State Plan for the Provision of Civil Legal Services to Low-Income New Mexicans.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Disability Rights New Mexico says its mission is to protect, promote, and expand the legal and civil rights of people with disabilities. Pegasus Legal Services for Children says it promotes and defends children’s and youths’ rights to safe, stable homes, quality education and healthcare, and a voice in decisions affecting them. (De)serving Life says it helps people transition from serving life to living it and promotes a supportive reentry community and public safety system rooted in healing and accountability.
Grantmaking
The State Bar’s 2024 filing reports 12 grants totaling $1,367,912. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $347,362, with a median of $72,000.
The largest 2024 grants included $347,362 to New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, $294,661 to New Mexico Legal Aid, $198,891 to New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, $111,209 to Disability Rights New Mexico, and $104,289 to Pegasus Legal Services for Children. The filing lists each of these grants as general support.
The Commission solicits applications annually and considers both new and ongoing projects. The 2024–2025 request for proposals described a 12-month grant period and approximately $1.5 million available for all awards. Its deadline was noon on April 1, 2024; that application cycle is past. The Commission’s website reports that it awarded $1.9 million to 14 organizations for the 2025–2026 cycle and just over $2.2 million for the 2026–2027 cycle.
Applicants must be a nonprofit organization or an in-house legal department within a nonprofit with current or pending 501(c)(3) status. The organization must have a primary mission of delivering legal services to low-income people, use a service-delivery method identified in the current State Plan, and employ at least one full-time attorney who devotes at least 75% of their time to representing low-income people. The 2024–2025 RFP specified that people directly served or benefited must have household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, with most at or below 125%. Out-of-state providers may apply if funds will serve New Mexico residents; the Commission gives preference to in-state projects providing the same or similar services and asks out-of-state applicants to explain why the services are not otherwise available in New Mexico.
Review Cycle
The 2024–2025 RFP deadline was noon, April 1, 2024 (past).
How to Apply
The Commission accepts annual applications. Applicants should consult the current request for proposals for application materials and guidance. The 2024–2025 RFP named the State Bar point of contact for obtaining materials, application questions, and submissions; that contact information and deadline pertain to a past cycle.
Ready to take the next step with State Bar of New Mexico?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went primarily to New Mexico recipients: 93% of grant dollars went to organizations in New Mexico, 4% to Texas, and 3% to Arizona. The Commission allows out-of-state providers to apply when funding will serve New Mexico residents, subject to its stated preference for in-state providers offering similar services.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $753K (2020) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was NM Center on Law and Poverty ($347K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 57 (54%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NM Center on Law and Poverty Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $347,362 |
| NM Legal Aid Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $294,661 |
| NM Immigrant Law Center Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $198,891 |
| Disability Rights New Mexico Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $111,209 |
| Pegasus Legal Services for Children Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $104,289 |
| Enlace Comunitario Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $85,000 |
| (DE)SERVING Life Albuquerque, NM | General Support | $59,000 |
| Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Ctr El Paso, TX | General Support | $52,500 |
| DNA People's Legal Services Window Rock, AZ | General Support | $37,500 |
| Native American Disability Law Ctr Farmington, NM | General Support | $35,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,326,023 | $4,205,627 | $4,040,403 | $1,367,912 (12 grants) |
| 2023 | $7,574,584 | $3,836,979 | $4,159,646 | $1,023,662 (11 grants) |
| 2022 | $6,148,038 | $3,987,221 | $3,784,769 | $785,626 (11 grants) |
The 2024 filing explains that Access to Justice Fund receipts and disbursements are pass-through funds, with undistributed funds reported as a liability. The filing says these amounts are not reflected in the State Bar’s revenue or functional expenses, while grant disbursements are reported on Schedule I.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,326,023 | $7,574,584 | $6,148,038 |
| Revenue | $4,205,627 | $3,836,979 | $3,987,221 |
| Expenses | $4,040,403 | $4,159,646 | $3,784,769 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,800 | $19,174 | $8,113 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The State Bar’s website lists Allison H. Block-Chavez as 2026 President, Lucy H. Sinkular as President-Elect, Tomas J. Garcia as Secretary-Treasurer, and Aja N. Brooks as Immediate Past President. Richard B. Spinello is Executive Director.
The 2024 filing lists Erinna Atkins as President and Ben Sherman as Past President. It also lists Aja Brooks, Allison Block-Chavez, and Tomas Garcia, along with Dan Behles, Rosenda Chavez-Lara, Sean Fitzpatrick, Connie Flores, and Parker Folse, as officers or directors.
State Bar of New Mexico is led by Aja Brooks, President- E since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 27 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aja Brooks
President- E
Commissioner → Secretary-Tr, 2023
Secretary-Tr → President- E, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erinna Atkins
President
Secretary-Treasurer → President- E, 2023
President- E → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R. Powell
Director of
Director of Finance → Director of, 2023
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $132K (2024)
Pamela O. Moore
Director- Pr
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $112K (2024)
Richard Spinello
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2020
59 hrs/week
$131K (2020) → $163K (2024)
Stormy Ralstin
General Counsel
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $143K (2024)
Allison Block-Chavez
Secretary-Tr
Commissioner- Yld Chair → Commissioner, 2022
Commissioner → Secretary-Tr, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Sherman
Past President
President-Elect → President, 2023
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Flores
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Lutz
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Travis
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Sinkular
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell Mender
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Parker Folse
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tomas Garcia
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Phelps
Commissioner
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Perez
Commissioner
Commissioner - Yld Delegate → Commissioner, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olga Serafimova
Commissioner
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Fitzpatrick
Commissioner
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Simone Seiler
Commissioner
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Behles
Commissioner
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Sawyer
Commissioner
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosenda Chavez-Lara
Commissioner
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Scholl
Commissioner
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Salazar
Commissioner
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meryl Sutton
Commissioner
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Taylor
Commissioner
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Carolyn Wolf (2020–2023) — Past President
- Former: Linda Sanders (2022–2023) — Commissioner
- Former: Damon Hudson (2023) — Commissioner
- Former: Carla Martinez (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Daniel Behles (2020–2022) — Commissioner- Sld Delegate
- Former: Joseph Sawyer (2020–2022) — Commissioner
- Former: Robert Lara (2021–2022) — Commissioner
- Former: Catherine Cameron (2022) — Commissioner
- Former: Constance Tatham (2020–2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Ernestina Cruz (2020–2021) — Past-President
- Former: Michael Eshleman (2020–2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Angela Minefee (2021) — Paralegal Division Liaison
- Former: Elias Barela (2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Jesus Lopez (2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Kevin Fitzwater Ret (2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Shasta Inman (2021) — Yld Chair
- Former: Clara Moran (2020) — Commissioner
- Former: Gerald Dixon (2020) — Past President
- Former: Kevin Fitzwater (2020) — Commissioner
- Former: Yolanda Hernandez (2020) — Commissioner- Paralegal Di
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $163K, to Richard Spinello (Executive Di). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 5121 Masthead Rd Ne, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Phone: (505) 797-6000
Website: https://sbnm.org
Frequently asked questions about State Bar of New Mexico
How much does State Bar of New Mexico give each year?
State Bar of New Mexico gave $1.4M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 11 grants.
What is State Bar of New Mexico's typical grant size?
State Bar of New Mexico's median grant in 2024 was $72,000, and its average grant was $113,993, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from State Bar of New Mexico that year got $59K on average.
Where does State Bar of New Mexico give grants?
State Bar of New Mexico gives mostly in New Mexico: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (8 grants).
Does State Bar of New Mexico give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of State Bar of New Mexico's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are State Bar of New Mexico's largest grantees?
State Bar of New Mexico's largest 2024 grantees include NM Center on Law and Poverty ($347,362), NM Legal Aid ($294,661) and NM Immigrant Law Center ($198,891), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is State Bar of New Mexico?
State Bar of New Mexico reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does State Bar of New Mexico fund?
The State Bar’s stated mission is “to be a united and inclusive organization serving the legal profession and the public.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from State Bar of New Mexico?
The Commission accepts annual applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is State Bar of New Mexico's EIN?
State Bar of New Mexico's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0242641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching State Bar of New Mexico by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in State Bar of New Mexico's focus areas in our free grants database
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