Vision
We envision a vibrant, effective, and equity-driven social sector that promotes the well-being of New Mexico's people and communities.
Mission
To connect, strengthen, and advocate for New Mexico’s social sector while unleashing its full potential.
Core Values
Racial Equity, Collaboration, Community, and Impact
Our Story
Groundworks New Mexico is the preeminent membership association for funders and nonprofits charged with uniting New Mexico's social sector through collaboration, strategic partnerships, and capacity building services. Groundworks New Mexico was founded on the idea that by working together, rather than apart, we will have a greater impact in our beloved state. According to four separate research efforts, New Mexico needed a coordinated and networked entity to advance the needs and capacity of its social sector. Based on this research a 19-member community advisory council was formed and supported the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers (NMAG) as the entity tasked with serving the full social sector. So in 2020, after nearly 25 years as a philanthropic-serving organization, NMAG re-organized to 1) build nonprofit capacity by acquiring the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE); 2) opened membership to the full social sector; and 3) pivoted to promote collaboration and strategic partnerships across the social sector by incubating projects such as the Broadband Collective, the New Mexico Collaborative Zone Grant, and managing and convening New Mexico Counts 2020; and 4) improving systems, policies, and investments in the sector.
The Social Sector Institute
In February 2024, Groundworks New Mexico launched its new Social Sector Institute to revolutionize New Mexico's nonprofit landscape to improve organizational outcomes and deepen the sector’s collective impact. Building on Groundworks’ foundational elements, the Institute houses two arms:
- Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE) which provides nonprofit capacity building services and resources
- Center for Strategic Partnerships which will house Groundworks’ collaboration and strategic partnerships initiatives, as well as its convenings, research, and projects focused on improving systems and policies in New Mexico
This work is already rooted in our history, and now it has an intentional framework around it to elevate the capabilities and impact of our sector.