Please note that applications for the Youth Fund are currently closed
We’re proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund, a first-of-its-kind, collaborative funding effort dedicated to creating stronger career pathways for underserved young people across our region.
In its very first round, the Youth Fund has awarded over $1.8 million to 20 regional organizations delivering high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs. These initiatives help young people—especially Opportunity Youth, Native American youth, young parents, and others facing systemic barriers—gain the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to thrive in the workforce and beyond.
Strengthening the Network
In addition to funding individual programs, the United Way of Northern New Mexico has been selected as the regional resource hub. With a $100,000 grant, United Way will provide technical assistance, organize shared learning opportunities, and build capacity across all grantee organizations—helping ensure programs are implemented effectively, collaboration is strong, and partners are positioned to secure additional public funding.
A Region-Wide, Collaborative Effort
The Youth Fund was launched earlier this year by the Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table, a coalition of 17 local, regional, and national partners coordinated by the LANL Foundation. This pooled fund brings together philanthropic, tribal, state, and federal resources—now totaling $1.6 million—including approximately $1.1 million from 12 philanthropic partners, $500,000 from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, and $500,000 from the New Mexico Public Education Department. Funds are administered by the New Mexico Community Trust.
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Grantees were selected through a participatory grantmaking process that included youth, funders, and community leaders. From a competitive pool of 35 proposals submitted by nonprofits, schools, tribal entities, and youth-serving organizations, the Youth Fund awarded 19 CTE/WBL project grants and one resource hub grant.
2025 grantees
Hub Grant
Career Technical Education & Work-Based Learning Grants
- Assistance Dogs of the West – $81,660 for an expanded student trainer work-based learning program.
- College and Career Plaza – $75,000 to connect high school students to paid, hands-on learning experiences.
- Forest Stewards Guild – $60,000 for the Forest Stewards Youth Corps wildland fire and forestry career program.
- Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship – $100,000 for the New Mexico Climate Justice Leadership Development Program focused on Indigenous youth.
- Las Vegas City Schools — $100,000 to strengthen CTE programs at Robertson High School.
- Moving Arts Española – $100,000 to expand Bowie’s Backstage, a career launchpad in culinary arts, agriculture, and digital media.
- National Latino Behavioral Health Association – $91,666 for the Connecting Our Voices: Youth Education and Workforce Pathways initiative, which creates equitable CTE pathways for youth ages 13 to 29, integrating academic learning with career preparation and internships.
- Northern Youth Project – $100,000 for peer mentorship and hands-on internships rooted in traditional agriculture and community leadership.
- Peñasco Independent Schools – $81,600 to develop a new on-site work-based learning program.
- Pojoaque Valley School District – $75,000 to expand CTE offerings in the construction trades.
- Pueblo of Santa Ana Tamaya Wellness Center – $100,000 for the Tamaya Elite Sports, Education, and Leadership Program focused on esports, digital media production, coding, and personal development.
- R4 Creating – $100,000 for the Student Internship Development Program, which provides underserved youth with paid work-based learning experiences, career readiness training, and technical skill development in STEM fields.
- River Source – $90,000 to provide green career training focused on watershed restoration and climate resilience.
- Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – $100,000 for an individual placement program connecting youth to careers in land management and public service.
- Contingo Immigrant Justice (formerly Santa Fe Dreamers Project) – $60,000 for a paralegal internship program that expands immigration legal services.
- Santa Fe Public Schools – $100,000 for CTE Senior Pathway Internships, supporting SFPS’s commitment to graduate each student as a career-ready, skilled individual who will contribute to their community’s upward growth.
- Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo – $100,000 for the Skills for Success program, focused on culturally relevant vocational training in traditional arts.
- Trees, Water & People – $85,000 to enhance land management employment skills for Native American youth.
- YouthWorks – $100,000 for paid, hands-on job training in construction, culinary, and other fields focused on Opportunity Youth.