Newsletters & Updates - Los Alamos Community Foundation

June 10-for-10 Grant Presented

LACF News: Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) recently awarded First Born Los Alamos a $1,000 grant for its significant community impact.

“First Born makes a significant impact in our community, so we are thrilled to present them with this award,” LACF Executive Director Liz Martineau said.

The First Born award is one of 10 being offered in honor of LACF’s 10th anniversary celebration. Previous 10 for 10 Grant winners include: Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization, All Individuals First, Friends of Bandelier National Monument, and Los Alamos Little Theatre. LACF grants to local nonprofits are funded through generous donations and earnings from endowment funds.

“The First Born program helps families adjust to one of the most transformational moments of your life,” Miriam Kreher said. “When we’ve been at our most tired and helpless, the First Born home visitors, sleep coaches, and lactation consultants have supported us. Welcoming our first baby was a magical moment, but a bit scary, so the help provided by this nonprofit made a huge difference. Healthy families are the building blocks of a healthy community, and Los Alamos is a stronger community thanks to the First Born program.”

Anyone with a story of impact about a local non-profit organization is invited to share it with LACF and nominate them to be considered for a $1,000 grant at losalamoscf.org.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the local quality of life by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards sixteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $1.5M. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation or to donate to support local grants and programs, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

May 10-for-10 Grant Presented

LACF News:

Los Alamos Community Foundation Surprises Los Alamos Little Theatre With $1000 Grant

Opening night of Copenhagen at Los Alamos Little Theatre (LALT) was infused with extra delight when Liz Martineau, Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) Executive Director surprised Seona Zimmerman, President of LALT, with a $1000 grant, naming it May’s monthly grant winner.

The monthly surprise grants, which highlight local nonprofits, are part of LACF’s 10-year anniversary celebration leading up the organization’s anniversary in November. Community members nominate nonprofits that has impacted themselves or someone else by sharing stories via an online nomination form.

LALT received multiple nominations citing its ability to create a community and welcoming environment. One individual wrote how they did not feel like they had community when they first moved to Los Alamos.

“I do not work at the labs, and it was difficult to make friends. Then I started attending theater productions and eventually tried out for several parts. It has changed my whole idea of what community means,” wrote the nominee.

The Foundation is looking for stories about local nonprofit organizations and personal impact to you or someone you know. Nominations for awards, via a simple online form at our website (https://losalamoscf.org/giving/nominate-your-favorite-nonprofit-for-a-10-for-10-grant/). You may also choose to remain anonymous.

Nominations are reviewed monthly by a committee of board and community members. The winning organization will be given the “gift grant” through a surprise visit by LACF volunteers that may be recorded and shared.

There is no limit to how many organizations a person may nominate, nor restrictions on who may nominate an organization, but a person may only nominate a nonprofit one time as multiple nominations do not increase opportunities for the nonprofit to win. LACF, however, is looking for stories of impact. So if you forgot to include your impact story, note it in your nomination and send again.

April 10-for-10 Grant Presented

LACF News:

Los Alamos Community Foundation April $1,000 grant winner is Friends of Bandelier! Los Alamos residents value outdoor spaces for exercise, mental health, a sense of history of ancestral people, and views! One of our local treasures, Bandelier National Monument, has recently experienced funding challenges. Friends of Bandelier is there to help by providing funding for special projects. Learn more at bandelierfriends.org. Visit Bandelier on May 17 for the summer’s first cultural demonstration by a local Pueblo artist. Learn more about how you can nominate an organization for one of our 10-year Anniversary grants at losalamoscf.org.

March 10-for-10 Grant Presented

LACF News:

All Individuals First Recipient of Latest 10-for-10 $1000 Grant

Doris Roberts and a group from All Individuals First accept a $1,000 grant from the Los Alamos Community Foundation Board President Linda Daly and representative Steve Laurent as part of the Foundation’s 10 for 10 Anniversary Celebration. According to the nomination, All Individuals First provides opportunities for community engagement, programs and support for adults with developmental disabilities, and Doris Roberts is “proof that angels roam among us.”

First 10-for-10 Grant Presented

LACF News:

Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO) won a “surprise” grant from Los Alamos Community Foundation in celebration of the foundation’s 10th Anniversary.

Kristine Mazza’s personal story about LARSO won the hearts of the volunteer grant reviewers. In retirement, Kristine and her husband Pietro came to Los Alamos from Chicago to be near their son and daughter-in-law:

“We moved here in late July. The senior center has been beyond helpful in so many ways. My husband is on dialysis and needs to get to Espanola three times a week. Being unfamiliar with the area the senior center set him up for rides for dialysis. This is the ONLY option available. They have helped us navigate all of that. Also the daily meals at the center introduced us to many new friends and made the transition to living here so much easier.”

This photo captures the “surprise” award presentation on January 25. Here is a video presentation of the award and after. From left to right, LARSO Executive Director Jacci Gruninger, Pietro and Kristine Mazza, and LACF Executive Director Liz Martineau. LACF is considering stories of impact in awarding these grants, which are open on a rolling basis through November 15. The nomination form is available here.

LACF Announces February Grant Cycle

LACF News: The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) announces its annual grantmaking cycle is occurring in February this year. LACF grants are funded through generous donations to endowments (invested funds) and Donor Advised Funds, including the Anchorum Health Foundation. LACF invites 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Los Alamos County to submit a grant application in the following funding categories:

Discretionary Grants: Nonprofits may request up to $5,000 to fund projects that increase the overall financial health of the organization. LACF defines “financial health” as any effort which results in a measurable improvement across one or more dimensions of an organization’s financial sustainability. Actions may include but are not limited to: diversifying funding sources and income streams; building technological capacity for increased efficiency; investing in board development to strengthen governance and fiduciary oversight; pursuing a formal financial audit or review; and/or increasing marketing efforts to broaden outreach and bring in new donors/customers/clients.

Youth Sports: Nonprofits may request up to $2,400 to fund competitive youth sports activities; specifically, projects that build leadership skills in youth through achievement in competitive team sports. Youth served by the project or program must live in Los Alamos County and/or attend Los Alamos schools and be between the ages of 5-18. Eligible activities include but are not limited to tournament and travel expenses, team fees, and equipment purchase.

Music Organizations: Up to $750 is available in unrestricted operating support to nonprofits whose work expands knowledge and appreciation of genres such as classical, orchestral and band music, light opera, marching band, and choral performances for adult populations.

New in 2025- Health and Wellness: Nonprofits may request up to $5,000 to fund initiatives that enhance the health and well-being of the Los Alamos Community. This funding is intended to empower local nonprofits which are currently or plan to implement innovative and impactful programs to address pressing health issues, promote wellness, and foster equitable access to health resources. Eligible activities include but are not limited to initiatives or activities that align with the following health priorities: mental health and emotional wellbeing, disease prevention, food security, equity and access, health promotion, community health collaboration.

The grant application cycle opens Saturday, February 1 at 9:00 am and closes Friday February 28 at 5:00pm. Awardees will be notified by the end of March with funds available for distribution within 2-3 weeks of award notice.

Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status and would like to apply for funding may be eligible to do so through use of a fiscal sponsor.

More information on this year’s grant cycle can be found here. Please reach out if you have additional questions.

LACF Welcomes New Board Members

LACF News: The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) announces two new members to its Board of Directors: Elizabeth Allen and Matt Jackson.

“With the increase in recent donor designated funding from larger foundations, this additional expertise will help keep us in step with the responsibilities of this growth,” Board Chair Linda Daily said. “Elizabeth and Matt will be valuable assets to our foundation as we move forward.”

LACF Executive Director Liz Martineau said she is grateful to have the experience of these two community leaders.

“Elizabeth and Matt will help us continue our journey in service to the community,” she said.

Elizabeth Allen

Allen is an experienced attorney and judge with a broad legal background. She earned her law degree from Pepperdine School of Law and has practiced in Idaho and New Mexico as a prosecutor, defense attorney and solo practitioner. Her areas of practice included special education law, real estate, estate planning, business formation, child protection, appeals and criminal defense.

Elected Los Alamos Municipal Judge in 2019, Elizabeth also teaches Business Law at UNM–Los Alamos and volunteers with the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and several youth sports organizations. She mentors judges throughout New Mexico and frequently speaks at judicial conferences. Allen is a mother of three (ages 15, 12 and 9) and enjoys playing string bass in the Los Alamos Symphony.

Matt Jackson

Jackson brings more than 20 years of expertise at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he serves as the Division Leader for the Materials Science and Technology Division. His prior leadership roles include Group Leader for the Nuclear Materials Science Group and various positions within the Associate Directorate for Weapons Production. A mechanical engineer by training, Jackson has 17 years of hands-on experience in research, development and manufacturing at LANL’s Chemistry and Metallurgy Research and TA-55 Plutonium Facilities.

Jackson has extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams of varied sizes and compositions, fostering collaboration across diverse technical fields to achieve complex goals. Recognized as an expert in molten salt systems, he authored the “Molten Salt Chemistry of Plutonium” chapter in the Plutonium Handbook and has championed empirical research in this field. He has also led multiple international technical collaborations as the U.S. representative and contributed to advancing technology development at sites worldwide.

Deeply rooted in the Los Alamos community, Jackson is a graduate of Los Alamos High School and has two children enrolled in the local school system. His wife, Megan, a former elementary school teacher of 20 years, now serves as the Los Alamos Program Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Jackson is passionate about the outdoors, enjoying mountain biking, trail running, skiing, snowboarding and backpacking.

With his professional expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to community, Jackson is dedicated to contributing to the mission and vision of the Los Alamos Community Foundation.

For additional information about Allen and Jackson, along with others serving on the LACF board, visit www.losalamoscf.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors-and-staff.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation:

Established in 2015, the mission of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower the community’s nonprofit organizations. LACF stewards 15 permanent endowment funds and supports local nonprofits through training, initiatives and grantmaking. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

Seed Funds to Benefit Self-Help and Los Alamos Arts Council

LACF News:There is a new option for supporting causes and nonprofit organizations that you care about in Los Alamos – Seed Funds! The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) recently established a process for creating seed funds that can grow over time and turn into named endowment funds. “Our job is to help local donors fulfill their giving goals. So, when we heard from donors who wanted the option to start a fund with a smaller amount of money that could grow into an endowment, we decided to find a way to make it happen,” explained Liz Martineau, LACF Executive Director. Individuals or families can start a fund to benefit a cause or organization with a small investment, and have five years to reach the $10,000 necessary to create a lasting endowment.

Brandi Engeman (Executive Director, Los Alamos Arts Council) and David Hampton celebrate establishment of a Seed Fund.

Donor Linda Zwick says, “For 55 years, Self-Help has been providing support and services as a bridge to self-reliance for people in Northern New Mexico. This Seed Fund will build an endowment to provide Self Help with a new stable funding source.”

“I am so pleased that we are now able to offer a new way to support the arts in Los Alamos County and the surrounding region. This seed fund will produce an endowment that will empower people to make a lasting contribution that will benefit the arts for generations to come,“ says founding donor David Hampton.

These two seed funds need your help to grow into endowments. Please consider a donation to the Los Alamos Community Foundation (with a note designating a specific fund) to help sustain these two important community nonprofit organizations.

All of Los Alamos Community Foundation’s endowment funds accept donations at any time. Martineau encourages residents planning for the future to please consider a lasting gift to an endowment fund with the Los Alamos Community Foundation.

In addition to the two new seed funds for Self Help, Inc. and the Los Alamos Arts Council, LACF stewards endowment funds to benefit Family Council, Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization, Los Alamos Visiting Nurses, Los Alamos Little Theater, Family Strengths Network, and Duane Smith Auditorium, UNM-LA, and has a general Los Alamos fund that provides grants to many nonprofit organizations.

Other endowments benefit specific community interests: Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations, Los Alamos Community Youth Sports, Pajarito Plateau Heritage Preservation, Rosalie Heller Memorial Lecture, and the Paul and Susan Bombardt K-12 Music Education, Enterprise Bank and Trust Community Endowment, and the Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs.

What are your giving goals? The Los Alamos Community Foundation is here to help you reach them. We accept checks, credit cards, required minimum distributions, LANL payroll deductions, stocks, bonds, and more. Learn more about giving at www.losalamoscf.org or email info@losalamoscf.org.

photo: Brandi Engeman (Executive Director, Los Alamos Arts Council) and David Hampton celebrate establishment of a Seed Fund.

Photo: Brandi Engeman (Executive Director, Los Alamos Arts Council) and David Hampton celebrate establishment of a Seed Fund.

2024-2025 Nonprofit Training Program

The Los Alamos Community Foundation and United Way of Northern New Mexico are pleased to announce our 2024/25 nonprofit training series: “Managing your NonProfit in a New Era”. The following training sessions are designed for nonprofit organizations located in or serving Los Alamos and Rio Arriba Counties. Thanks to the generous support of TRIAD, LLC and the Community Partnerships Office sessions are offered at no cost to participants.

Sessions are offered in person with remote/video option as needed. To encourage in person participation and networking, travel will be reimbursed for those traveling more than fifteen miles.

These trainings are appropriate for staff, board members and volunteers.

Mission With Mindfulness

Date: Thursday, November 7th, 2024
Time: 11:00am-2:00pm
Location: University of New Mexico, Los Alamos-Room 505
Presenters: Groundworks NM-Faith Kelly and Kristi Dorr

Register Here: Closed

Join us for this information-packed workshop and gain actionable ideas for balancing work with self-care and family responsibilities.

Kristi Dorr is the executive director of Groundworks New Mexico, the statewide organization charged with connecting, strengthening, and advocating for New Mexico’s social sector. Kristi is a licensed attorney and published author with over twenty years of experience in nonprofit management and law. Leveraging her diverse leadership experience, Kristi oversees execution of Groundworks’ vision and mission with a keen focus on the core values of racial equity, collaboration, community, and impact.

Kristi holds a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School, a Master of Resource Law Studies from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado at Denver. Kristi’s informal education includes living and working abroad (Scotland, France, and Belgium) and volunteering with refugee and children’s organizations.

Faith Brainerd Kelly joined Groundworks New Mexico with a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, both as a staffer and board member. Faith’s role as Senior Manager of Training and Education draws upon her unique background to support the advancement of causes that matter to New Mexico. After attaining a BA in Fine Art at Mount Holyoke College, Faith left New England and made her way to Anchorage, Alaska. This meandering road trip included a few weeks in New Mexico, with a lasting impression that called her back years later.

Faith spent nearly two decades advocating for Alaskans with developmental disabilities, work that is foundational to her ethos and a passion for human rights. In a pivot to academia, she led operations for a statewide public health COVID response with the University of Alaska Anchorage Project ECHO. Faith then joined the University of New Mexico, where ECHO originated. At UNM, Faith applied her project management and facilitation skills to upscale ECHO replication by training university and hospital leadership in Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

Storytelling Simplified: A Practical Workshop for Nonprofits

Date: Thursday,January 14, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: McCurdy Ministries and Community Center, Española, NM
Presenter:Jane Bernard

Register Here: Storytelling Simplified: A Practical Workshop for Nonprofits

This half-day workshop, led by photographer and educator Jane Bernard, helps small nonprofits harness the power of storytelling to communicate their mission and impact effectively.

Learn how compelling narratives can help raise awareness, drive engagement, and secure funding for your nonprofit. This workshop is designed to empower you with simple, practical tools and techniques to seamlessly integrate storytelling into your communications. You’ll learn to capture and craft impactful images and stories throughout the year, build an asset library for all your communication needs, and more powerfully showcase your impact.

Outline:

Key elements of powerful and impactful storytelling.
Using photography to effectively communicate your organization’s mission and impact.
Practical tips and techniques for capturing better photos with a smartphone.
Seamlessly incorporate the creation of storytelling assets into your organization’s workflow.
Photographing kids and how to create compelling images without signed releases.
How to use natural and artificial light creatively.
Strategies for creating engaging social media content, securing press coverage, and creating email marketing campaigns.
Creating and maintaining a visual brand identity.
Cultivating a meaningful connection with your target audience.

Jane Bernard has been coaching artists and nonprofits in visual storytelling, guiding them in defining and refining their unique narratives for over ten years. Through sharing simple tools and techniques, her coaching empowers organizations and individuals to craft their own compelling photography, storytelling assets, and marketing campaigns.

In 2011, Ms. Bernard was pivotal in founding the International Folk Art Market’s Mentor to Market program. This transformative initiative has provided business training, skill- building, and marketing workshops to over 930 folk artists from more than 40 countries, supporting them in developing sustainable livelihoods.

Ms. Bernard is an award-winning documentary, editorial, and commercial photographer whose work has been published worldwide. A former member of the prestigious Black Star Editorial Agency in New York City, she also has served as a staff photographer for the Albuquerque Journal and the Santa Fe Reporter.

Established in 2001, Jane Bernard Photography includes a commercial client list that includes Toyota, Showtime, the Oxygen Network, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Inspire Brands. Nonprofit clients include Big Brothers Big Sisters, The LANL Foundation, The Austrian Relief Committee, The Trust for Public Land, Española Humane, Assistance Dogs of the West, and KandaharTreasures

Marketing and Advertising

Date: November 21, 2024 (Los Alamos)
January 14, 2025 (Espanola)

Participants will learn how to reach their target audience in this new era of communication. With the proliferation of social media, this session will cover how organizations can stand out and effectively navigate communication methods to reach their target audience.

Community Foundation Hires Brandi Weiss as Anchorum Fellow Program Manager

Los Alamos – Los Alamos Community Foundation hires Brandi Weiss as a new Anchorum Fellow Program Manager dedicated to community health and wellness. Her role will include assessing the needs of our community, and determining how we might collaborate with Anchorum Health Foundation (AHF), local nonprofits, Los Alamos County, and donors to meet some of those needs.

Brandi has a Master’s in Sociology from New Mexico State University and a passion for community health and wellness. Brandi was raised in Los Alamos, and is returning home. She has a vested interest in the health and wellness of our community. “Health and wellness is the foundation of any thriving community, and Brandi brings an enthusiasm, fresh perspective, and experience in data analysis that will help us launch this new initiative,” says Liz Martineau, LACF Executive Director.

“I am excited to get to work with members of the community who have similar passions and am honored to be a part of this incredible community initiative to make Los Alamos an even better place,” says Brandi Weiss.

This position was made possible by the Anchorum Health Foundation (AHF), whose funding includes placing an Anchorum Fellow at five community foundations across northern New Mexico. “Our aim is to strengthen these foundations so they can achieve lasting, meaningful impacts in their communities,” said Jerry Jones, President and CEO of AHF. Thanks to Anchorum’s local investment, the Los Alamos Community Foundation is excited about expanding our work in health and wellness.

If you are interested in donating to help fund Los Alamos Community Foundation’s Health and Wellness Initiatives, contact Liz Martineau at liz@losalamoscf.org

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the local quality of life by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring
philanthropy, and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards sixteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $1.5M. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation or to donate, visit www.losalamoscf.org.