Santa Fe, NM – The Con Alma Health Foundation has awarded 16 Rural Community Grants to nonprofits in Southern and Northeastern New Mexico, focusing on addressing health disparities in underserved areas. These grants support organizations enhancing access, culturally appropriate services, workforce development, health promotion, and policy advocacy. Organizations in Catron, Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Mescalero, Navajo Nation, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, San Juan, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Union, and McKinley counties will receive funding to support programs.

Grant Priorities and Focus Areas

The Foundation prioritized organizations committed to improving access to health services, ensuring that care is culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of local communities. Key areas of focus also included health promotion initiatives that encourage preventive care, as well as policy and advocacy efforts aimed at driving systemic change for long-term impact. Additionally, workforce development was a priority, supporting programs that train and retain health workers in underserved areas to strengthen community health infrastructure.

2024 Grant Recipients

• CARC, Inc. (Region 4) – Capacity building for services for individuals with disabilities in Eddy County.
• Chaves County Health Council (Region 4) – Expansion of 2-1-1 service in Chaves County.
• Children’s Reading Alliance (Region 5) – Early childhood literacy support in Doña Ana County.
• Community Drug Coalition of Lea County (Region 4) – Enhancing substance abuse prevention programs.
• El Calvario United Methodist Church (Region 5) – Support for migrant community resiliency in Doña Ana County.
• El Corazon de Columbus (Region 5) – Community development initiatives in Luna County.
• Fort Sumner Public Library (Region 4) – Health resource improvements in De Baca County.
• Lincoln County Community Health Council (Region 5) – Expanding food security programs in Lincoln County.
• Ogallala Commons, Inc. (Region 4) – Expanding local food access to fresh nutrient rich food in multiple counties.
• Silver City Gospel Mission (Region 5) – Capacity support for operational needs in Grant County.
• The LAB (Region 5) – Youth programs in Silver City.
• United Way of Eddy County (Region 4) – Enhanced 2-1-1 services for Spanish-speaking residents.
• United Way of Eastern NM (Region 4) – Expanding 2-1-1 across nine counties.
• Ben Initiative (Region 1) – Promoting Indigenous food access in Navajo Nation.
• 100% San Juan (Region 1) – Connecting underserved populations to essential services in San Juan County.
• My Power, Inc. (Region 4) – Expanding youth empowerment programs in Eddy County.

A Lasting Impact

These Rural Community Grants mark Con Alma’s continued dedication to building a healthier New Mexico by empowering local nonprofits to address critical health needs in rural communities. “Having been born and raised in rural New Mexico, I’m well aware of the health equity challenges these communities face. My primary goal in my first year was to ensure that Con Alma’s focus on rural and tribal areas was strongly emphasized.  These grants reflect that commitment.” said Executive Director Linda Candelaria.

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New Mexico, it’s time to celebrate our health heroes! The 2024 Con Alma Heroes of Health nominations are open, and we’re calling on you to help us recognize the incredible individuals who are working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Don’t let their efforts go unnoticed— let’s give them the recognition they deserve!

• Two Award Tracks – Traditional & Youth Heroes
  This year, we’re honoring health champions in two categories:
  • Traditional Hero (Age 26+): For those dedicated individuals making waves in health and wellness across New Mexico.
  • Youth Hero (Age 25 and under): Celebrating the next generation of health advocates already transforming their communities.
    
• Statewide Nominations – Every Community Matters!
  From New Mexico’s vibrant cities to its close-knit rural communities, we want to hear about the everyday heroes who are making a difference. Whether they’re volunteers, clinicians, teachers, or advocates, this is your opportunity to celebrate those who are helping to make New Mexico a healthier, happier place for all.
  
• A $1,000 Donation – For a Cause Close to Their Heart!
  Each selected Hero of Health will get to choose a non-profit to receive a $1,000 donation in their name. This is a chance for them to further their impact by giving back to an organization that matters to them and their community.

For more information
Linda Candelaria-Dodd
Executive Director | Con Alma Health Foundation
505-438-0776 ext 3
Linda@conalma.mgldevs.com | www.conalma.org

About Con Alma Health Foundation
Con Alma Health Foundation serves as a catalyst for positive, systemic change by partnering with nonprofit organizations from around the state to provide equitable access to health resources for New Mexico’s diverse communities.

2023 Heroes of Health Winners

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The 2024 Northern New Mexico grant cycle opens Monday, June 10th, 2024 and closes Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

The Northern New Mexico Health Grants Group awards up to $20,000 to nonprofits addressing the health and wellness of the diverse peoples of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and northern Santa Fe Counties (north of the City of Santa Fe).

For guidelines and more information, please visit our Grant Making page by clicking HERE, and open the Northern New Mexico Health Grants drop-down message.

In May 2002, the Los Alamos Medical Center was sold by Banner Health Systems, a non-profit corporation, to Province HealthCare, a for-profit corporation. Some proceeds from the sale of Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) were preserved to serve the unmet healthcare needs of the people of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties.

Con Alma Health Foundation and the Hospital Auxiliary for LAMC, working as the Northern New Mexico Health Grants Group (NNMHGG) distribute the investment income from those proceeds for grants that target the populations traditionally served by LAMC.

To receive current grant-related communications, sign-up for ‘Grant Cycle Information’ updates by clicking HERE, and join us on social media.

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Our 2024 statewide grant cycle is now open, and will close Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

This year we will award up to $30,000 to nonprofits addressing the health and wellness of the diverse peoples of New Mexico.

For guidelines and more information, please visit our Grant Making page HERE.

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“We thank Denise for helping us refine our policies, and we’re excited to welcome Linda to the role of executive director,” said Board President Nathan Padilla. “We believe she’s the right person to guide our investments in nonprofits supporting people’s health and our work toward health equity for all New Mexicans.”

Linda has served as resource development manager at Carlsbad Lifehouse, Inc., where she executed major fundraising and outreach efforts, including grant writing. Prior to that role, she managed all aspects of daily operations as executive director/CEO at United Way of Eddy County and served as program director of the Carlsbad Literacy Program. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern New Mexico University.

“Growing up in rural Northern New Mexico, I have witnessed the health disparities that plague rural communities and the adverse effects they have on leading a healthy prosperous life,” Linda said. “I am eager to continue advocating and championing for the most vulnerable populations in our state.”

Linda was raised in rural Los Brazos and has spent her life residing and working in small communities in New Mexico and Arizona, including the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico and the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Cibecue, Arizona. Throughout her journey, she has cultivated strong connections and implemented effective strategies that have furthered the missions of the organizations she has been involved with, including her role as a volunteer board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of NM  and the Eddy County Health Council.

Linda will help Con Alma invest the remaining $4 million MacKenzie Scott gift as well as its annual cycles of grant giving focused on improving health and working toward health equity in New Mexico.

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To Apply: Review the full job description and submit your cover letter and resume by September 29, 2023.

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She spoke about the lessons she learned from her alma maters — University of New Mexico, University of Arizona and UT-Austin — and how that applies to her work today, including preparing her to lead during a global health pandemic because of the complex research she conducted as part of her doctoral program.

“It was an honor to return to my alma mater. My message was about leadership. We all have the capacity to lead regardless of our title or education status.”

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In “The Trouble with TANF” video, five mothers speak about their experiences with the TANF program in New Mexico, exposing the barriers that families face to get assistance during financial hardship. Parents advocate for their priorities and key policy solutions to modernize TANF, in collaboration with the New Mexico Child Advocacy Networks (NMCAN), Crossroads for Women and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. NMCLP produced the video with videographer Michael Lorenzo Lopez.

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Here’s what we learned and what we’re going to do about it.

Lesson 1. Applying for and reporting on a Con Alma grant can be complicated. It isn’t always clear what information we’re requesting or what we do with it.

What We’ll Do. We’ve eliminated the (3) grant types organizations may apply for and have simplified the application and reporting processes. We’ve removed the mid-grant progress report, have transitioned from two to one grant payment, and will disburse grant funds in the same year in which grants are approved.

Lesson 2. Site visits can serve as opportunities to listen and deepen understanding and relationships. But site visits can also be burdensome for both the applicant organization and Con Alma staff and volunteers. Scripted site visits can lead to (unintentional) power imbalances, particularly when site visits are associated with a funding decision.

What We’ll Do. Con Alma has omitted site visits as part of the grant application process. We will re-design “site visits” and consider when they are appropriate or necessary. If conducted, site visits will not be associated with a funding decision – but rather may occur during grant implementation or during an existing event the grantee is hosting.

Lesson 3. Given our modest budget, our relatively small grants may have greater meaning and impact for small and medium-sized organizations (annual budget of $2 million or less).

What We’ll Do. Con Alma will continue to encourage grassroots, small, and medium-sized organizations to apply. Larger organizations will not be excluded from applying. But the review process will ensure that the majority of funding supports organizations with an annual budget less than $2 million.

These are just a few changes we’ve already made, we will respond to other areas of feedback over time. Ongoing quality improvement should be a common practice in every organization – especially a private foundation like Con Alma, which was founded to serve the people in New Mexico.

I extend my sincere gratitude to every grantee, applicant, staff member, and volunteer who contributed to this Landscape Study. And I’m appreciative of Dr. Bloodworth’s expertise in bringing this study to life and providing tangible recommendations that can be implemented in the near term and over time.

Denise E. Herrera, PhD, MCHES
Executive Director
Con Alma Health Foundation
Office: 505-438-0776 x3
denise (at) conalma.org

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