General grant guidelines
In keeping with our mission, we strive to make the grant application process simple and learn what we can through direct communication with our grantees.  Please contact Mary Nell, Brindle’s Executive Director, if you have questions about your organization’s eligibility or Brindle’s funding priorities and process.

  • At this time, our funding is focused on early childhood in New Mexico, which we define as prenatal to three.
  • Grants are only made to organizations recognized as nonprofit by the IRS, that have a fiscal sponsor classified as such, or are a government or other tribal nonprofit entity.
  • We do not fund grants to individuals, for religious purposes, or for political activity.
  • Grant applications are accepted in response to specific Requests for Proposals (posted on website) via our online portal (the login portion of this website).
  • The Foundation will only support organizations whose boards have passed a comprehensive policy of non-discrimination applying to employees, volunteers, and services.  Organizations applying for first-time funding are required to submit a policy (guidelines may be found here).
  • Grants generally are given for a one-year period towards projects or programs; multiyear, challenge, or matching grants will also be considered. Collaborative efforts between two or more organizations are encouraged.
  • In most cases, the limit for a first-time grant is $15,000. Exceptions may be made for larger initiatives.
  • At this time, the Brindle Foundation is not able to support a Facilities and Administrative rate applied to grants awarded to institutes of higher education.
  • All grantees are expected to provide updates and share learnings. Specifically, an interim conversation with the Executive Director or a brief written report is requested within the first six months of receipt of funds, as well as a final written report within two months of the end of the grant period.
Learning shapes and colors at the Early Childhood and Family Center at the University of New Mexico-Gallup
Early Childhood Initiative - 2024 guidelines
Research shows most brain development occurs within the first three years of life; there is a narrow window of opportunity to create a solid foundation for future health and well-being. To address this important need, Brindle focuses grantmaking on prenatal to three, with particular interest in underserved populations and equity.  

We have two funding streams: one for direct services in six counties and tribal lands in NM and one for systems strengthening statewide:


Strengthening Early Childhood Systems in New Mexico
Geography:  Across New Mexico/tribal lands*

By one or more of the following means:

(A) Through advocacy/policy: Grants that support organizations or coalitions engaged in tribal or statewide early childhood advocacy, policy development, and awareness campaigns that will benefit our youngest and most vulnerable.  

(B) Through innovation: Grants that will attempt to meet critical prenatal and/or early childhood needs, in new or catalytic ways, with impact across New Mexico.

(C) Through coordination/organization support: Grants that guide implementation of policies, provide shared resources, or foster collaborative efforts statewide to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

(D) Through higher education: Grants that support training, education, or research focused on the wellbeing of young children and their families/care providers or the systems that support them.


Services for Babies and their Families
Geography: Services must be in one of the following counties: Santa Fe, Sandoval, San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba, Taos or tribal lands* in New Mexico

Grants for organizations or collaborations providing direct services for prenatal to age three. We seek programs to advance the well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families/caregivers (particularly from underserved populations). We recognize the broad range of approaches this may include such as prenatal support, maternal/infant healthcare, home visiting, parent/caregiver education, workforce strengthening, early childhood development, etc.


*As long as the grant applies to tribal lands that include a portion of NM, then all contiguous territory is also eligible for Brindle funding.

In a program empowering teen moms, a Mother Tongue Project student reads her essay along with an admiring onlooker.


2024 Grantmaking Calendar    


August 21st
Portal opens for submission of grant proposals
September 18th
Proposals due by 5 PM, MDT
Early December
Grant award announcements, funds dispersed
Grant History
Brindle’s early childhood initiative represents the majority of the foundation’s grantmaking, which is distributed across a range of program types. See below for our 2022 grants list and those of previous years.

We also award a small number of invited grants outside of our early childhood focus. Some of these complement our passion for babies; others reflect long-standing interests such as social justice and protection of our natural environment.
Technical Assistance Grants
Supplementary to our annual grantmaking, and to help in building vital organizational capacity and infrastructure, small technical assistance grants are available for organizational enhancement, professional development and other capacity-building needs.

This support is generally reserved exclusively for existing grantees towards their own purposes with some exceptions within the scope of our Early Childhood Initiative. To apply for a technical assistance grant, send an email with your request to MaryNell@brindlefoundation.org. An acknowledgement email will be sent. Requests are reviewed by the Board during monthly meetings and may take up to 4 weeks to process.
See Brindle Fund Summary for 2022