Nusenda Foundation opened applications for the 2022 Community Rewards grant program at the start of June. Grants are open to 501C3 organizations in New Mexico.

Grant giving is focused on five areas: education, health care, environment and wildlife, the arts and community service. Grants are awarded to local organizations and nonprofits, and members help direct which focus areas and regions receive support.

Grant requests are reviewed and awarded by employee volunteers. The selection committee includes employees from across the organization, ranging from tellers to senior leadership located across New Mexico, representing communities Nusenda serves.

“Community Rewards grants support some of the most innovative and change-driving community organizations in our state,” said Sara Keller, Nusenda’s vice president of community engagement and executive director of Nusenda Foundation. “The community partners we support through Community Rewards work to help New Mexicans thrive. We are excited to collaborate and power positive transformation in our communities.”

In 2021 Nusenda and its members awarded $580,000 to 131 programs. Nusenda plans to expand the grant program in 2022. Nusenda provides individualized guidance to each nonprofit who is interested in applying, and grant sizes vary and can be as much as $15,000 depending on the needs of the organization who is applying.

“Cooking with Kids is honored to be a part of Nusenda’s Community Rewards program,” said Anna Farrier, executive director of Cooking with Kids. “This kind of generous community support makes it possible for Cooking with Kids to provide hands on nutrition education to thousands of public school kids in northern New Mexico. We are grateful that Nusenda shares the vision that when kids are healthy and successful in school, everybody wins.”

To qualify for funding, organizations must be a 501C3. Grants are provided through a competitive application process that opened June 1. The application deadline is August 1, and awards are distributed in December.