SPECIAL PROJECTS FUNDS
MANAGED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF
SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO

Special Projects Funds are created for groups who have a specific mission, but either do not wish to create a separate 501(c)(3) or are in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) but wish to start their programs in the meantime. 

• SpringBoard!  (Empowering Every Woman)
        A scholarship and grant fund to benefit women
• Over The Rainbow
        A fund to provide scholarships for economically disadvantaged women
• Bill and Renee Cupit Fund
        A fund to benefit local nonprofit organizations
• Mayor's Top Teens 
        A fund to recognize and celebrate deserving teenagers
• AGUA -- Aquatics Get Us Active
        A fund to promote swimming
• Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico
        A fund to recognize World War II Veterans
• Mesilla Valley Preservation Inc.
       A fund for preservation of historic buildings
• Mesilla Valley Skeet & Trap Club
        A fund to construct a skeet and trap sports facility
• Ziacase
        Provide handmade pillowcases to every deployed New Mexico National Guard
• Monagle Second Chance Scholarship
        Provide scholarships to students attending Doña Ana Community College part time
• For the Sake of Animals
        A fund to support the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley
• Hearts for Autism
        Provide an autism summer caqmp and therapy scholarships to needy families for autism therapy
• Pi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega
        Renovate the Pi Delta chapter of Chi Omega sorority's current house
• Young Philanthropists
        A fund from which to award grants to local causes and charitable organizations
• Sensory Kids of New Mexico
        A resource center serving children with sensory integration needs, to include family support and outreach
• Frank Hartman Dyslexia Scholarship
        Provide assistance to dyslexic individuals needing therapy and instruction
• AWARE --Animal Welfare and Responsibility Education
        Increase awareness of humane treatment of cats and dogs
• Dr. Bishnu Rauth
        Scholarships for students attending Doña Ana Community College part ime
• R.W. Van Pelt Education Fund
        Scholarships for graduates from Mayfield High School majoring in Education at New Mexico State University
• The Disability Coalition from Southern New Mexico
        Creating a common voice for the purpose of advocating for disability rights for all
• Southern New Mexico Basset Hound/Beagle Rescue
        Rescuing, providing care for and finding homes for cast out basset hounds and beagles
• Southern New Mexico Sheperds
        Rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for German Sheperds and German Sheperd mixes
• Willie's Heroes   
     Assist active duty and U.S. military personnel and their families; especially the Army's 1st Calvary Division in Afghanistan
• Feral Cat Management Program (FCamp)
      Maintain a stable feline population on the New Mexico State University campus through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and adoption
• Mayor's 5-2-1-0 Fitness & Nutrition
      Grantmaking to address childhood obesity prevention and other community issues
• Doña Ana County Big Kitty Fix
      Reduce feline euthanasia at shelters by facilitating feline sterilization in the county
• Barry McClure Memorial
      Promote growth of junior golf programs and provide scholarships
• The Great Conversation
      Promote informed and respectful community dialogue on community issues
• Community Coalition for Pets & People
      Recuce the number of healthy and adoptable pets authanized at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley to zero within seven years  
• The Mesquite Historic Preservation Society
      Promote a spoken history of our region via a "Platicas Series" and preservation of the historic Mesquite district of  Las Cruces
• Mayor's 5-2-1-0 "Hands Up"
      Providing assistance to people in transition to include food, shelter and utilities
• New Mexico Handmade
      Assist artisan entrepreneurs and emerging businsses keeping cultural traidtions alive
• Tres Manos Weaving of New Mexico Inc.
     Provide training and assistance for low income women to hone weaving skills and marketing items
• Mayor's Paralympian
      Providing assistance to paralympic athletes and their families
• 150 Year Mesilla Civil War Event
      Educating the public on the importance of the Civil War and how it shaped the Mesilla Valley
• City of Crosses Dachshund Rescue (CCDR)
      Rescue and re-home stray, abandoned and owner-relinquised dachshunds
• Vida de Las Cruce
      Fundraising for community nonprofits
• New Mexico In-Depth Inc.
      Foster a culture of in-depth journalism in New Mexico, with special focus on several counties including Doña Ana, that supports democracy and strengthens community
• New Mexico Alpha Gamma Pho Building Association Inc.
      Making building improvements to the Alpha Gamma Rho house which will increase educational resources, leadership development and professional opportunities for agriculatral students at NMSU that are members of this fraternity
• Adopt a Kennel
     Fundraising for kennel improvements
• Emergency Winter Warmth
     Provide heat for emergency conditions for residents of rural Doña Ana County
• Combat Veterans Motorocyle Association 47-1 NM
     Betterment of communiction and camaraderie between other motorcycle associations and and veterans associations with a major focus of veterans helping veterans
• Give Us This Day Company
     Raise Awareness to honor veterans of the Bataan Death March
• Heart of My Life Ball
      An annual event to raise funds to educate the community about cardiovascular disease and treatment options
• Boxer Rescue of Las Cruces
      Rescue, rehabilitate and rehome purebred boxers in the Las Cruces area as well as educate the public on the boxer breed
• Organ Mountain Institute for Spiritual Growth
      Serve those who have experienced trauma within the Las Cruces and surrounding community
  
  

  DONOR ADVISED FUNDS 

Simply stated, a donor advised fund is a charitable vehicle in which a donor contributes cash or assets to create a fund in a "sponsoring organization" such as The Community Foundation.

The donor, or someone the donor names, makes recommendations to the Community Foundation about how the funds should be used. Some donor advised funds will be fully expended during the donor's lifetime; others will be a permanent legacy, benefiting communities into the future.

The Community Foundation educates donors about community needs and about the charities that are working effectively to meet those needs. The Community Foundation also takes care of the administrative details - tax, legal and accounting matters.

The most important reason why donors establish donor advised funds is they are generous and committed people with a passion for their causes and their communities. Donor Advised Funds can be set up as permanent funds, preserving the donor's legacy long after the donor has passed away.

Donor Advised Funds are professionally managed and maintained in The Community Foundation. The Foundation is overseen by a public board of directors that reflect their community. The organization conducts an audit and files Form 990 - making key financial information available to the public.

Because a public charity supervises activities and ensures that fund distributions are for legitimate charitable purposes, there is no need for a donor to establish a new organization or to seek IRS approval. The Community Foundation administers the details, freeing donors to focus on philanthropy.

The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has three donor advised funds:

• EL PASO ELECTRIC DONOR ADVISED FUND: This Donor Advised Fund is a permanent fund and the donor makes a recommendation annually about the use of the distributable income.

• AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL RESEARCH DONOR ADVISED FUND: This Donor Advised Fund is an expendable fund and its purpose is a project to recognize contributions of African Americans

• THE RICHARD & ANNE MARKMAN FUND: This is an expendable fund and the donor makes recommendations about the use of the fund.

• DEVASTHALI FAMILY FOUNDATION FUND: This is an expendable fund and its purpose is to provide grants in the earea of the arts, education and elder care.

•  GRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUND: This is an endowed fund to meet critical but unmet needs in purposes in Grant County, NM 

•  Mayor's 5-2-1-0 FUND: This is an expendable fund and its purpose is to promote healthy eating and exercise starting with grade school children.

•  SUNSPOT LOVES LAS CRUCES COMMUNITY FUND:  Grantmaking to local nonprofits.

  ENDOWMENTS 

An endowment is a permanent fund created in the Community Foundation.  The donor's gift is invested over time.  A portion of the earnings from the principal of the endowment is used to make grants addressing community needs.  The donor's gift is a permanent source of community capital, helping do good work today and in the future. 

The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico also holds endowments that are purposed for healthcare.  For a list of those funds, please visit our "Healthcare Committee and Healthcare Funds" page on this website.