The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is pleased to announce the local nonprofit recipients from its Spring 2023 competitive grant cycle. Grants of up to $5,000 are being awarded under three funding categories, with a total of nearly $28,000 granted to nine local organizations.
“This is our third year of funding competitive grants at LACF,” said Executive Director Steve Laurent. “We’re thrilled to see steady growth in interest from our nonprofit organizations as well as an increase in the quality of applications.”
Grant applications were reviewed and scored by teams consisting of community members and LACF board representatives. “There are over 130 nonprofit organizations in Los Alamos County,” noted review team member John Ruminer. “It was a rewarding experience to review grant proposals from organizations whose common mission is to help other people.”
Reviewer Benigno Sandoval added: “We really are fortunate to have such an active nonprofit community and I appreciate the opportunity to be involved, especially as it involves the giving of grants through the Community Foundation.”
LACF Spring 2023 grant recipients are as follows:
LACF Discretionary Grants: These grants support efforts at improving long-term nonprofit sustainability. Grants are funded in part by the Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Endowment.
- Family Strengths Network
- Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.
- Pajarito Environmental Education Center
- Self Help, Inc.
- Los Alamos Family Council
- Los Alamos JJAB
Grants from the Los Alamos Community Youth Sports Endowment: These grants support the building of leadership skills in youth through achievement in competitive team sports.
- Los Alamos Junior Roller Derby (The Family YMCA)
- Los Alamos Youth Soccer League
Grant from the Judy Dudziak Endowment for Community Music Organizations: This fund supports organizations whose work expands knowledge and appreciation of genres including classical and orchestral band music and choral performances.
- Coro de Cámara
Overall, the Community Foundation reviewed over $55,000 in grant funding requests. “It’s wonderful to be able to fund so many organizations,” noted Laurent, “but it was difficult this year because every application presented a need or project worthy of community support. We were able to fund only half of the total requested amount to just over half of the applicant nonprofits.”
In the end, Sandoval summed up the process as a rewarding experience. “As a resident of the area I’d like to thank to the Community Foundation for supporting local organizations and thank all the organizations for supporting our community.”Additional details on each grant award will be shared in the coming days. Public contributions to the above-named endowments, or any of the fifteen endowments managed by LACF for the benefit of the community, are always welcome. losalamoscf.org/giving
About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the mission of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. LACF stewards fifteen 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.