Philanthropy in New Mexico: Navigating a Shifting Landscape

Robin Brule
Robin stresses the Office of Philanthropic Outreach is an independent entity bridging national and New Mexican philanthropy with state government priorities for vulnerable children and their families. A special plea is made for support for children in foster care. Might the OPO provide a focal point for NMAG priorities?

Governor Toney Anaya
(Former) Governor Anaya outlines the process of stimulus funding, some of the complications of working with federal funding and the positive impact ARRA funding has had on New Mexico's economy and energy future. Asked if grantmakers could play a role funding watchdog groups providing bridge capital for transitions or granting funds for capacity building to NGOs and counties to apply for stimulus funds, Governor Anaya gave a resounding "yes." Will NMAG members be organized enough to act quickly for the next round of stimulus money?

Jeff Pryor
Have we lost our way as a civil society? What is philanthropy's role in bringing society back to a place where human beings care for one another and share responsibility for each other's survival and well-being? This thoughtful and provoking discussion asked those questions and more, focusing on foundations' responsibilities to strengthening the nonprofits they fund, and in so doing, the civil society as a whole.

Jeremy Rifkin
Arguing that human existence on the planet has been driven to a precarious point in its existence due its reliance on fossil fuels, Mr. Rifkin connects the global energy crisis, the credit crisis and the dangers of accelerating climate change. Fortunately, he proposes there may be a way out: distributed energy and communications systems to replace the centralized energy distribution represented by the past industrial revolution. Attendees ask, "Could New Mexico help lead the way?" To do so means promoting a new social vision as well as an economic one a democratization of energy networks.

Anne Mosle
The Kellogg foundation is shifting 50% of hits domestic spending to three priority states: Michigan, Mississippi, and New Mexico. How do NMAG and the Office of Philanthropic Outreach want to shape this relationships: Kellogg is committed to walking with us in tackling strategic blockages keeping New Mexico's children from being healthy, well educated and safe. Are we up for the challenge?

Sonal Shah
The Obama administration is committed to increasing volunteerism and Americans' participation in improving our society. As such, they have opened the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in hopes that people all over the country recognize the unique gift of working together in common purpose. Housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Social Innovation Fund will help solve some of our nation’s most difficult social challenges. The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) will work with the grantmaking community to fund promising nonprofits that have demonstrated outcomes. It will provide nonprofits with growth funding and other support to scale and spread their impact.

NMAG Board meeting
The board adopts a budget for 2010 adding new resources for affinity groups, changes by-laws to create the position of immediate past chair as an executive committee member and elects new officers: Elizabeth Crittenden Palacios , Chair; Dolores Roybal, Vice Chair; Frank Sanchez, Secretary; Tripp Killin, Treasurer, Gay Dillingham, Immediate Past Chair; renews four board members terms (Frank Sanchez, Diane Ogawa, Dolores Roybal, and Tripp Killin) for 2010-2011, with Lisa Oppenheimer stepping down after many years of service.