Santa Fe, New Mexico — Vital funds to improve health outcomes in northern New Mexico were awarded to 44 nonprofit organizations this month. The Community Health Funder Alliance released $1.8 million in grants in 2020, its first year of annual collaborative grantmaking. These resources arrive at a critical time for health organizations in the northern region of our state as we continue to grapple with the challenges of COVID-19.

Las Cumbres Community Services, an integrated, trauma-informed Child and Family Services organization operating throughout northern New Mexico, is one of this year’s 44 grantees. “Pregnant women and their families are especially vulnerable during the pandemic and need services now more than ever,” said Stacey Frymier Interim Executive Director of Las Cumbres. “The Community Health Funder Alliance grant frees resources to focus on the essential work of providing care to families.”

The Community Health Funder Alliance includes Anchorum St. Vincent, CHRISTUS St. Vincent, and the Santa Fe Community Foundation. The Alliance was founded prior to the pandemic, but its relevance to supporting organizations and communities through challenging times is underscored by the impacts of COVID-19.

The $1.8 million dollars in grant funds for the 2020-2021 grant cycle were distributed through annual Community Grants of $5,000 to $15,000 for general operating support, and through larger scale Health Impact Grants ranging from $20,000 to $175,000. Larger scale grants support multi-year programs and strategic partnerships.

“It is essential that nonprofit providers have the capacity to deliver the services needed to address critical health and social needs, especially now,” Said Lillian Montoya, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHRISTUS St. Vincent. “As an Alliance we are working together to strengthen the system of care and achieve greater impact on health outcomes across northern New Mexico from multiple angles.”

Together, the Alliance supports nonprofits in health and wellness across the lifespan: from maternal health and early childhood to school-age children, adolescent, adult and senior health services. The Alliance also invests in social determinants of health including housing and homelessness, healthy food, and healthy neighborhoods.

“Our health and social support systems are complex and interconnected,” said Peter Bastone, President and CEO of Anchorum St. Vincent. “Alongside providing funds, our Alliance has streamlined the application process to save nonprofits valuable time, and we will promote stronger partnerships and better results for the programs that are improving health outcomes in our communities.”

Now, instead of completing three separate grant applications, contracts, and reports, organizations complete just one. “For us, this means our staff and volunteers have more time each year to serve grieving families and for that we are deeply grateful!” said Katrina Koehler and Nicole Maes-Gonzales, co-executive directors of Gerard’s House, a center for grieving children in Santa Fe among the 44 grantees this year.

“By combining our efforts as funders, and leveraging our unique strengths, we are in a much better position to help our most vulnerable friends and neighbors,” said Christa Coggins, Acting President of the Santa Fe Community Foundation.

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The Community Health Funder Alliance is a funder collaborative to improve health & wellness in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. The Alliance members currently include Anchorum St. Vincent, Christus St. Vincent (CSV) and the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Their mission is to enhance and strengthen the systems of care that address the most challenging health and social needs in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico with a unified funding strategy.