Chispa Awards

Funder: NewMexicoWomen.Org (a program of New Mexico Community Foundation) in partnership with New Mexico Community Foundation

Geographic Scope: New Mexico statewide

Focus Areas:

• Organizations that accomplish a lot with very little
• Nonprofits helping improve New Mexico communities
• Half of awards focus on issues directly relating to women and girls
• Half of awards serve rural and underserved communities

Award Amount: $6,000 unrestricted grant per organization for general operations

Award Purpose:

• Recognition award for nonprofits
• Unrestricted funding for general operations
• Support for organizations "shining a light" in their communities

Selection Process:

• NO application process - organizations cannot apply
• Nominations made by statewide community partners only
• Final decisions made by volunteer selection committee
• Recipients are surprised - they do not know they have been selected until the day of award presentation

Program History:

• 2015: 8 organizations awarded (documented recipients include Colonias Development Council, Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico, My Power Inc., Pegasus Legal Services for Children, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, TenderLove Community Center, Tewa Women United, Young Women United)

Chispa Meaning: Spanish word meaning "spark"

Contact:

• Linda Milbourn, Grants and Fiscal Sponsorship Director: lmilbourn@nmcf.org, 505-820-6860 Ext. 12
• Phone: 505-750-1732
• Address: PO Box 4954, Santa Fe, NM 87502