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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.

Officials from Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) and the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) met recently at Family Strengths Network (FSN) to celebrate a successful matching grant collaboration in creating a new endowment fund to provide permanent support for the local nonprofit.

This is the second year such a celebration took place. Last year, the Los Alamos Family Council was the recipient of a N3B matching grant that helped grow its endowment at LACF. “To encourage nonprofits to focus on long-term sustainability through endowment funding, we approached N3B last year with a proposal to match funds raised by local organizations,” said Steve Laurent, LACF Executive Director. “N3B stepped up with a $10,000 grant that is being passed through as matching funds to organizations establishing or growing an endowment fund at LACF.”

FSN saw the N3B grant as a great opportunity to establish an endowment fund. Carie Fanning, FSN Executive Director, started working with LACF when an investment plan was adopted by the organization’s board of directors. “We know we’re an important community resource, and we want to be here for the long term,” said Fanning. “So, when LACF approached us with the N3B grant opportunity we thought, let’s give this a try, it’s perfect timing with our long-term sustainability planning.”

Fanning and her team put out a call to raise $1,500 from supporters to match up to $1,500 available in N3B grant funds. In a few short weeks, more than $5,000 has been raised for the FSN endowment. “I am floored,” Fanning said. “The support has been amazing.”

“Community commitment has always been foundational to N3B and our parent companies Huntington Ingalls Industries and BWX Technologies,” said Juan Griego, Acting Chief Financial Officer for N3B. “We’re honored to be a part of supporting the regional nonprofit community. Family Strengths Network does an excellent job supporting families in Los Alamos. We are happy to partner with LACF to help nonprofits achieve long-term sustainability.” Laurent added that LACF is working with other nonprofit organizations in Los Alamos to take advantage of the generosity of N3B’s matching grant.

“This is a wonderful investment by N3B in the long-term success of organizations at the heart of our community, he said. “We don’t expect our nonprofits and their volunteer boards to have the expertise needed to manage the investment of long-term endowment funds. The Community Foundation is here to take on that role so our nonprofits can focus on the important work of serving the community. We’re so grateful to have N3B as a partner in our efforts,” he added.

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.

Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) has established a volunteer management web portal and invites the community to connect. The system makes it simple for local organizations to post, and for local volunteers to identify, volunteer opportunities in a single location: volunteerlosalamos.org.

“We have so many talented people who are willing to pitch in if called,” said LACF Executive Director Steve Laurent. “We really hope this resource will be a vehicle for harnessing some of that talent and funneling it to organizations that do good work in the community.”

How the site works:

Step 1: Individual users create a profile that includes their skills and causes they care about.

Step 2: Local organizations post volunteer opportunities, providing details about the need or event.

Step 3: As opportunities are posted, the system matches the opportunity to user profiles that are a good fit. Suggested opportunities are listed on each user’s profile page, allowing them to sign-up with the click of a button. Users can also receive email notices of opportunities that match their interests.

Registered users can also search for volunteer opportunities by date, interest, organization or location, and can even ‘fan’ organizations to receive all of their postings.

Laurent explained that the portal is not limited to Los Alamos residents. “Many local employees live off the Hill and many Los Alamos residents volunteer off the Hill,” he said. “Organizations serving Rio Arriba County are invited to join, and volunteer users can literally be from anywhere. We welcome anyone who wants to volunteer for a local organization regardless of where they’re from.”

The ultimate goal, according to Laurent, is to have all local volunteer opportunities posted through this site, providing a one-stop shop. “This should make it easier to volunteer because you’ll only have to go to a single website. At the same time, local organizations gain more exposure and accessibility to volunteers by having all opportunities posted in the same place.”

To join, go to volunteerlosalamos.org, click the “Information and FAQ” bar, and follow the link for volunteers. Registration takes just a few minutes.

If you are a nonprofit organization wishing to join, go to volunteerlosalamos.org, click the “Information and FAQ” bar, and follow the link for organizations. You can also contact LACF at info@losalamoscf.org.

(LACF News): The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) is excited to announce our second annual Volunteer and Board Member Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 25th.

On the heels of National Volunteer Week, this event is a community-wide celebration of the volunteers and board members that make so much possible in Los Alamos.

This is the last event of the 2022-2023 season for our Community Philanthropy Series of public programs. 

Nonprofits who serve Los Alamos County are invited to participate and to encourage their volunteers and board members to attend and be celebrated. If you are a nonprofit organization interested in joining the celebration, please contact Steve Laurent (steve@losalamoscf.org or 505-661-4420).

This event is open to the public. Anyone interested in volunteering or celebrating volunteerism is welcome. Advance registration is required, and can be done here: losalamoscf.org/ticket.

Feel free to share this information with your favorite organizations and volunteers. 

Date:  Tuesday April 25, 2023
Structure:  In-person
Time: 4:30-5:30 pm
Location: SALA Event Center (2551 Central Ave)
Cost: Free; advance registration is required
Register here: losalamoscf.org/ticket
Program:  A brief hour to say hello to friends and celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. Ongoing demonstrations of the new Volunteer Los Alamos web portal (volunteerlosalamos.org) and registration of new users. Shortly after 5 pm we’ll have a brief program of remarks. Light refreshments will be available.

This event is sponsored by: 

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards 15 local endowed funds. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

(LACF News) – The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) announces its Spring 2023 grantmaking cycle, and invites 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Los Alamos County to submit a grant application under 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 $2,000 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 $500 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.

The grant application cycle opens Friday, March 31 at 9:00 am and closes Monday, May 1 at 5:00 pm. Awardees will be notified by the end of May with funds available for distribution within 1-2 weeks of award notice.

Interested nonprofits are welcome to attend an optional grant information session on Tuesday, March 28 from 4-5 pm, or Thursday, March 30 from 11 am-noon. Both sessions will be held at the UNM-LA
Student Center Auditorium (Building 2). Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status and would like to apply for funding may be eligible to do so through the use of a fiscal sponsor. More information on this year’s grant cycle can be found here.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to build enduring philanthropy to empower our community’s nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards 15 local endowed funds. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

Even the slightest of fraud events can be devastating to any nonprofit organization as a trusted steward of donor contributions and grant funds. Please join the Los Alamos Community Foundation for a special seminar geared towards nonprofit boards and staff that focuses on protecting the value of an organization’s reputation. Time will be spent examining real world examples of fraud, discussing lapses in financial management, and presenting simple steps that can be taken to protect funds from fraud in both the real and virtual worlds. Many nonprofit organizations have few or no professional staff, thus limiting their ability to implement extensive financial controls; but it is essential to have some basic financial policies and procedures in place.

Presenter Chris Daniels, CEO of The Family YMCA, has a well-developed background in nonprofit management that includes more than 18 years of financial management for several different nonprofits.

Registration is encouraged on a per organization basis, with a workshop fee of $50 per organization (up to three participants). Training is appropriate for staff, board members and volunteers. Individual registration is at the same rate ($50/session).

Title: Internal Financial Controls for Nonprofits: Viable Solutions that are Easily Applied
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Time:  9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location:  UNM-LA Student Services Auditorium (Building 2, Room 230)
Presenter: Chris Daniels, CEO, The Family YMCA
Register at losalamoscf.org/ticket

The LACF Nonprofit Training Program is made possible in part through the support of the Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in our community 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 fifteen locally endowed funds. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

The Los Alamos Community Foundation invites you to an important workshop on the basics of estate planning on Tuesday, February 7 at UNM-LA (Building 2, Room 230). Join us for an overview of common estate planning tools and discussion of how these may apply to you or your loved ones.

Topics include last will and testament, revocable or living trust, advanced health care directive, durable power of attorney, transfer on death deed, and ways to include charitable giving in your estate plan. Time is reserved for Q/A and discussion so feel free to bring your questions. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the steps you can take to ensure that those you care for are protected and provided for while gaining some piece of mind for yourself.

Estate Planning Basics is presented by Shay Burns Kendricks, Estate Attorney – Miles & Kendricks, LLC.

This workshop is made free to the public in part through the support of the Diane Warther Soran Endowment for Community Programs. No registration is required. We offer light snacks and refreshments to the attendees and the group is often small and intimate, which allows for questions to be asked comfortably in a very relaxed environment. Please encourage your loved ones to attend the free estate planning seminar so that they may learn more about the estate planning process and benefits. We look forward to seeing you and your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors! Please share this event!

Community Philanthropy Series:
Estate Planning Basics
Tuesday, February 7 (5:30p-7:00p)
UNM-LA, Building 2, Room 230

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in our community 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 fourteen locally endowed funds and has total assets of over $950,000. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

Involvement in a board of directors can be either, or even at the same time, a rewarding activity or a frustrating one. Board member responsibilities may be ill-defined and meetings ineffectual or inconclusive, or alternatively, participating in a board may result in the satisfaction of contributing to the direction and impact of a worthwhile organization. We will discuss the basics of board governance, including differences between policy and operational roles, fiduciary and other board responsibilities, and related topics. We will provide practical advice on making roles and responsibilities clearly defined and applied. We will also discuss the bane of boards – the board meeting. There are ways to make board meetings more efficient and effective; Robert’s Rules are just a means to desired ends, and we will concentrate on the product rather than parliamentary minutiae while providing advice on how to structure and participate in meetings that get the job done.

Title: Nonprofit Governance and Meeting Management: Practical Advice for Boards
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Location: UNM-LA Student Services Auditorium (Building 2, Room 230)
Register here: losalamoscf.org/ticket

Presenters: David Izraelevitz, Los Alamos Community Foundation Board Chair and J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Chair; Sara Scott, First Born Los Alamos Board Vice-Chair. Both David and Sara have extensive experience serving in leadership on local boards and commissions, including as Los Alamos County Councilors.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating, and supporting enduring philanthropy and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, tens of millions of people will acknowledge and participate in Giving Tuesday. What is Giving Tuesday anyway, and what might you do about it?

Established in 2012 in New York, Giving Tuesday began as a reaction against the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, encouraging a dedicated day of giving to charitable organizations. Ten years on, Giving Tuesday is celebrated in countless US communities and over 80 countries with a message that has broadened from donating money to encouraging community support in all ways.

Is Giving Tuesday an organized event in Los Alamos? Not really – not yet anyway. How can you participate in the spirit of Giving Tuesday? Any number of ways, including:

• Donate to a Local Nonprofit Organization. Our nonprofits do amazing work that make Los Alamos the wonderful place that it is. They address essential needs and enhance our physical and mental well-being, providing opportunities for education and enrichment. Many local nonprofits have ‘donate now’ buttons on their websites, and it takes only a few seconds to donate via credit card or check. Even small donations send a message that you appreciate the organization and its mission. Consider increasing the impact of your financial support by calling a friend and asking them to match your donation.
• Donate Supplies or Goods. You might also consider donating items you already have, especially if you have extras. Many local nonprofits collect food, clothing, and supplies for infants or school- age children, especially during the holiday season. Requests for items are often made through local news outlets or you may have a request sitting in your mailbox or inbox. Consider honoring these requests by providing the needed items; but before you donate items, please be sure to confirm exactly what is needed and what the organization can accept. As one example, LACares is our local food bank (505-661-8015).
• Donate Your Time or Talent. Your time, talent, and energy is invaluable to many organizations, such as helping to raise funds for the needy, serving food, or distributing items for the holidays. Contact your favorite organization directly or search their website to see if they need volunteers. For example, Self Help is looking for bell-ringers through the holidays. Call 505-662-4666 for more information.
• Spread Kindness. Sometimes the little things we do can have the biggest impact. Everyone can give a generous smile or say hello or thank you in person or via call, text or email. Show care for your neighbors by checking in on those who are alone or may need help with errand. Lift spirits by providing a listening ear or a friendly voice to talk to.

Let’s make this Giving Tuesday a start, and let every day be one where we give something back to our community.

About the Los Alamos Community Foundation: Established in 2015, the Los Alamos Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy and building the capacity and success of our local nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Los Alamos Community Foundation, visit www.losalamoscf.org.