The educate2elevate (e2e) Grant is a collaborative funding opportunity that brings together funds from across New Mexico to pool resources and engage in high impact grantmaking. This grant is a collaborative investment from funders in various sectors and we encourage organizations to demonstrate similar collaborative thinking when submitting applications. In 2018, after the passing of one of our founding members, Jennifer Riordan, e2e was temporarily named in her honor in celebration of her passion for education. Today, the fund continues to celebrate the legacy of Jennifer and others who have dedicated their lives to community service.
We're excited to announce that the Funder's Collaborative is venturing into food security funding for this Request for Proposals (RFP) cycle. This year’s RFP will still focus on education and school based partners, remaining tied to the original intent of the e2e funding area. However, over the last year, our participating funders have heard repeatedly from different partners, the pressing challenge and importance of supporting food security. Because this has surfaced across many conversations and communities, we see this as an emerging need and are eager to address it through this collaborative funding effort.
APPLICATION OPENS: May 8, 2024
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 12, 2024, 5pm MT
Proposals may only be submitted online through the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s online grant portal.
What You Need to Know:
Organizations that have received funding from the NM Funders Collaborative are not eligible to apply for three (3) years following the award.
The 2024 e2e grant is focused on providing funding that supports issues of food security within educational settings/institutions.
Awards will focus on holistic, innovative approaches to ensuring students and their families have sustainable access to healthy foods and meal preparation.
While funding amounts vary based on contributions throughout the year, past grants have ranged from $25,000 - $45,000.
Applicants must be serving students and their families in Central New Mexico: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia and/or Torrance counties.
Applicants may only submit one proposal.
Applicants from nonprofit organizations and public education institutions are preferred.
A complete list of FAQs can be found here.
Eligible Organizations must be…
exempt from U.S. federal income tax pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and classified as a public charity under section 509(a)(1) or section 509(a)(2) of the Code; and/or
an educational institution or governmental entity;
located anywhere in the United States, however a local partner supporting Central New Mexico is required.
Requirements:
Proposal Narrative/Questions
A detailed project budget relating to this request
Most recent financial statements
Audited financial statements are required if your organization has an operating budget of $500,000 or more
Current year operating budget
Description of recent grants, pending proposals and/or plans for additional funding relevant to this proposal
Funding Areas:
This grant opportunity is intended to support nonprofit organizations, schools or other programs with an innovative approach to ensuring that students have consistent access to healthy food options regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location. This can include pilot projects, programs in their infancy or investments to bring projects to scale.
Interest areas for this opportunity include programs that provide:
Enhancement of School Meal Programs: Projects aimed at expanding equitable access to nutritious meals for students. This can include out-of-school time meal programs, nutrition programs, and school-based gardens. (We will not consider funding to support free and reduced lunch programs).
Community Partnerships: Collaborative efforts between local organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders to expand food access, provide food resources, and support initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity among students in Central New Mexico.
Early Childhood Education: Initiatives targeting early childhood education settings, such as preschools and daycare centers, to address food insecurity among young children and their families, ensuring that all children have access to nutritious meals and snacks during crucial developmental years.
Narrative:
While the e2e grant application will be online via Albuquerque Community Foundation’s online grant portal starting Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the following bullets indicate information which will be required in various questions in the online application.
Your organization and/or program’s mission and goals.
Description of program for which you are applying for funds (this should include the description/explanation of the population served and how this population has been impacted by issue of food security as well as the approximate number of people the program will serve).
How your program fits into one (or more) of the above-described funding areas.
Description of how your program includes a holistic approach to ensuring students and their families have sustainable access to healthy foods and meal preparation.
Description of how you measure and evaluate the success of the program.
How your program is ensuring social, racial, economic, and cultural equity to support underserved populations.
If you are collaborating, please describe how you are sharing talent and resources with other organizations in our community.
Applicants that do not meet the requirements or that submit an application that fails to address every one of these bullets will not be considered.
Proposals must be received by 5pm MT on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. No exceptions can be made for late proposals.
Timeline:
May 8 - RFP opens
June 12 - RFP closes at 5 pm MT
June 26 - Grant review panel convenes; Select nonprofits invited to present
July 24 - Presentations from selected nonprofits
July 31 - Awards announced/Grantees notified
Review and Awarding:
A review panel will be composed of representatives from all funders who have contributed to this funding opportunity.
Applicants may not contact reviewers and reviewers may not contact applicants during the open application and/or review period.
Grant announcement will be made on July 31, 2024.