The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM) is making an impact in the community with a new Executive Director, the kick-off of the Nonprofit Economic Crisis Campaign and a goal to raise $500,000 by Dec. 31.
Luan Wagner Burn, Ph.D. began her first official day as the executive director with the CFSNM July 20 and immediately started on a campaign that was kicked off at the same day Burn was announced as the new director.
The CFSNM and tri-chairs Karen Bailey, Jeremy Settles and John Munoz kicked off the Nonprofit Economic Crisis Campaign in April with a goal to raise $500,000 by Dec. 31 to help 32 nonprofits who have endowments within the Foundation.
“People everywhere are talking about sustainability,” Luan says. “Through this campaign we will be able to meet emergency needs while building endowments that will keep giving forever.”
With each contribution to the campaign, the CFSNM will designate 50 percent to an emergency fund for nonprofits that have endowments with the Foundation and 50 percent will be designated to a matching fund created to build the nonprofit endowments, leading to the long-term sustainability for the organizations within the community. The principal from an endowment continues to grow forever, providing financial security even in hard times.
Nonprofits are hit hard within the community and across the nation due to current economic challenges – so hard nearly 100,000 will close in the next year. Jardín de los Niños is one of those nonprofits fighting to stay open.
Jardín de los Niños has met the needs of homeless children and their families since 1995, focusing on building goals within a family as they progress towards self sufficiency. Homeless children face an increase in abuse, hunger, disabilities, developmental delays and shame, but with a place like Jardín they find comfort and safety. Unfortunately those children could be back in the street without adequate funding coming through the doors.
“These children are our future,” Shirley Jaquez, director of Jardín de los Niños, said. “These children are caught in a homeless situation that they have no control over.”
The needs at Jardín de los Niños are greater than ever, but the funds are not coming in.
“We have seen a decrease by a third in funding this year, and an increase by a third in needs,” Shirley says of the organization that has an annual budget of $742,000 each year and a cost of $36 per day per child. “We are going to fight to stay open but we need help.”
La Casa, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive services to individuals who experience domestic violence through 10 different programs. In the last fiscal year, approximately 2,300 people received help through La Casa.
La Casa provides emergency shelter in a 45 bed facility complete with laundry and kitchen facilities, along with counseling, crises intervention, education and case management services. Non residential counseling and advocacy support services are available to those who do not need or want residential services. Transitional housing, children’s programming, batterer’s intervention, parenting services, civil legal services, education/outreach, educational services programs like English as a second language and a satellite office in Anthony are additional programs within La Casa.
With a current $2.2 million budget, La Casa has the capacity to change the outcome of domestic violence for the abused, their children and the abuser, but the budget is not enough considering the crises within the economy.
“The individuals we serve are coming to us with bigger needs affected by the economy. For example, victims of domestic violence have a harder time finding affordable housing and affordable childcare because of the state of the economy,” Executive Director Gina Orona-Ruiz says. “Fiscally, La Casa’s funds are affected because donations are harder to come by – some of our donors are giving less – and our contracts with the state are at risk because of the state’s economic deficit.”
Jardín de los Niños and La Casa are two of 32 nonprofits with a Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM) endowment and the promise of hope through the Foundation’s Nonprofit Economic Crisis Campaign.
The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico is a charitable resource linking donors with community needs. Founded in 2000, the CFSNM uses knowledge to help connect people who care with causes that matter. Donors are encouraged to inquire about donating to the Nonprofit Economic Crisis Campaign. Call the CFSNM at 575.521.4794 or visit www.cfsnm.org for information about making a charitable contribution to your community or to see the nonprofit endowments within the Foundation.
Meeting needs now, preparing for the future together through
the Empty Piñata Fund.
The Empty Piñata Fund, a component of the CFSNM Nonprofit Economic Crisis Campaign, provides resources for 32 local nonprofit organizations with endowments managed by the CFSNM.
Anyone can help by donating or encouraging donations by holding an event on behalf of the Empty Piñata Fund or by creating a holiday gift in honor of clients. The opportunities to help are unlimited.
Ideas for filling the Empty Piñatas are limitless and no contribution is too small! Select one of the ideas below or come up with your own unique fundraiser to fill the piñata!
• Host a bake sale at your school or work
• Give a corporate contribution
• Save pennies to fill the piñata
• Host a Piñata Party and collect donations
• Give corporate donations in honor of your clients
• Hold Fill the Piñata events at civic and community organizations
• Encourage friendly fundraising competitions between colleagues
• Give a donation in honor of a loved one
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