Community Impact Fund

Geographic Scope: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia counties

Focus Areas:

• Family stability and improving education
• Building foundations for lifelong health, learning, and social-emotional wellbeing
• Ensuring students are safe, curious, and achieve in school
• Supporting young adults to engage in school regularly with solid career exploration
• Helping adults find pathways to higher education

Funding Categories:

• Mission: Families: $982,155 (programs supporting family stability)
• Mission: Graduate: $626,429 (education-focused programs)
• Basic Needs: $412,744 (food, medical, and housing insecurity including emergency needs)
• Capacity Building: $73,671 (staff development, professional training, data systems, convening/collaborative support, community organizing)

Award Details:

• 2020-21: 52 grants totaling $2.1 million
• Awards to health and human service agencies
• Informed by community volunteers reviewing agency financials and program applications
• Processed by UWCNM's Community Investment Team and volunteers
• Ratified by UWCNM's Board

Eligibility:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Health and human service agencies
• Agencies with aligned purposes supporting community vision

Application Process

Applications are reviewed by community volunteers through the following process:

1. Volunteer Review Panel Formation
   • Approximately 100 volunteers participate in grant review panels
   • No subject matter expertise required; objectivity, commitment to process, and empathy to vulnerable populations needed
2. Mandatory Training
   • All volunteers (new and returning) attend mandatory two-hour training
   • Training includes cultural sensitivity and poverty awareness
   • Multiple session times available
3. Application Review
   • Volunteer panels review agency applications
   • Panels listen to agency presentations
   • Sessions typically scheduled for four-hour blocks
   • Review period typically March 28 - April 15 (annual timeline)
4. Scoring and Recommendations
   • Panels compare scores
   • Make funding recommendations based on agency applications and presentations
   • Final recommendations due by April 17
5. Board Ratification
   • Grant awards ratified by UWCNM's Board

Required Materials:

• Agency financials
• Program grant applications
• Agency presentations (live presentations to review panels)

Contact: Melissa Fox, UWCNM Grants Manager