Our Mission
The Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table is a collaborative of 16 national, regional and local philanthropic organizations committed to creating brighter futures for young people in Northern New Mexico.
Formed in 2021, the Strategy Table works to ensure that underserved youth ages 13-29 have access to the skills, experiences, and connections they need to thrive. We especially focus on: Native American youth and young adults; young parents of young children (ages 0 – 3); and young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not currently in school or working. Known as “Opportunity Youth,” 20% of New Mexicans between the ages of 16 and 24 fall into this category, more than any other state. We want them to have the resources and pathways to reengage in school or the workforce.
Our investments in education, pathways, and economic opportunities help young people facing barriers build confidence, secure meaningful employment, and create lasting change in their communities. Through collaboration, equity-driven investments, and a shared commitment to youth success, the Strategy Table hopes to build a future where every young person in Northern New Mexico has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our Region
Northern New Mexico encompasses San Miguel, Mora, Taos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Sandoval counties, along with the 18 Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations in this region.
Northern New Mexico is a region rich in culture, resilience, and the boundless potential of its young people. Growing up in diverse, multigenerational, and multilingual communities, they are shaped by deep histories and traditions that fuel their creativity, leadership, and drive. Their talents and aspirations are the foundation of a future where every young person has access to meaningful learning experiences, career pathways, and strong community support—meeting them where they are and empowering them to succeed.
Despite historic and systemic inequities, young people in this region continue to rise, supported by a legacy of community-mindedness, mutual care, and innovation. Northern New Mexico is building on these strengths, expanding opportunities to lead and shape the world around them.
History & Past Work
A Collaborative Effort for Lasting Change
In early 2021, the LANL Foundation convened key regional funders—including Anchorum St. Vincent (now Anchorum Health Foundation), the Santa Fe Community Foundation, the McCune Foundation, and the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers (now Groundworks New Mexico)—to explore ways to expand and improve access to college, career, and community pathways for underserved youth and young adults.
Inspired by the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Thrive by 25 initiative and New Mexico’s status as the state with the highest percentage of Opportunity Youth, the group formed the Pathways to Opportunity Working Group. This initiative aimed to assess current investments, strengthen regional leadership, and increase collective impact.
Following an initial analysis, the group identified key gaps and opportunities and formally established the Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table. Additional funders—including the Daniels Fund, Annie E. Casey Foundation, LANL Community Partnerships Office, Thornburg Foundation, Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, and Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation—joined the effort.
Together, the Strategy Table committed to:
- Coordinating collective resources
- Attracting additional investments
- Expanding access to education, career, and community pathways for underrepresented youth
Key Focus Areas
To maximize impact, the Strategy Table identified eight priority areas:
- Work-based learning
- College preparation support
- College completion support
- High School/GED completion support
- Career pathways and Career Technical Education (CTE)
- Youth development and leadership
- Entrepreneurship training
- Access to financial tools
Progress & Phases of Work
The Strategy Table laid its groundwork, selecting the LANL Foundation as its backbone organization. Key accomplishments included:
- Developing guiding principles and definitions for intervention areas
- Conducting an 82-page fiscal mapping report with the Children’s Funding Project
- Analyzing philanthropic and public investments to identify gaps and opportunities
Key Findings:
- 96% of funding came from public sources, while only 4% was philanthropic
- Philanthropic investments showed greater diversity but lacked coordination
- Funding disparities existed across counties, tribes, and intervention areas
- Regional philanthropic funding is steadily increasing
- Federal funding declined after 2021, while state funding increased
Recommendations:
- Leverage and scale existing investments
- Improve coordination between philanthropic and public funding
- Streamline grantmaking processes to reduce administrative burdens
To complement fiscal mapping insights and develop a coordinated funding strategy, the Strategy Table partnered with Ocotillo Strategies to engage over 100 stakeholders, including youth, youth-serving organizations, schools, and tribal communities through a regional survey, community conversations, and focus groups. The Strategy Table’s Stakeholder Engagement Report outlined key principles and recommendations to move forward:
Principle 1: Co-Design Community-Specific Investments & Grants
- Regular Community Convenings: Engage local organizations and youth to shape strategies, share best practices, and co-create performance metrics.
- Align Investments with Community Needs: Prioritize funding for high-demand programs (youth leadership, work-based learning, career pathways).
Principle 2: Pilot a Public/Philanthropic Investment Model
- Pool Public & Private Funds: Create a mechanism for shared funding across federal, state, tribal, and private sources.
- Design for Sustainability: Offer 3-5 year flexible grants covering both operations and program delivery.
- Measure Outcomes & Impact: Develop clear, collaborative performance metrics with grantees, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Principle 3: Create a Grant Application Clearinghouse & Regional Support
- Universal Grant Application & Clearinghouse: Build a platform listing all funding opportunities (philanthropic, state, federal, tribal) with streamlined application processes.
- Regional Implementation Support Hubs: Provide grant-writing assistance, fiscal management training, and professional development through community-based liaisons.
As part of its three-year pilot initiative, the Strategy Table launched the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund to expand career pathways for underserved youth. A key goal of this initiative is to shift how funding decisions are made—bringing together philanthropy, public funders, young people and other community stakeholders to invest in solutions that work for their communities.
To support this effort, the Strategy Table is:
- Establishing and convening a Grants Committee for the Youth Fund, composed of Strategy Table members, community stakeholders, public funders, and young people from the Strategy Table’s focus populations.
- Partnering with the Semilla Project to create a Regional Youth Advisory Council, ensuring young leaders have a direct role in shaping funding priorities. Through the Youth Advisory Council’s participation in the Grants Committee, young people are not just heard—they have real decision-making power.
- Funding a regional resource hub to help grantees of the Youth Fund collaborate, implement programs, and leverage public funding.
The Strategy Table aims to pool $19 million in philanthropic and public funding by 2027, fueling grants for organizations to expand work-based learning and Career Technical Education, integrating youth leadership development and supports with transitioning from middle school to secondary education to postsecondary education and the workforce.
Sustained Commitment & Growth
Since its inception, the Strategy Table has grown to 16 dedicated members, with all contributing to the Youth Fund for at least one year during the pilot phase.
Together, we are investing in a brighter future for Northern New Mexico’s youth—creating pathways to education, careers, and opportunity.
Our Members
