June 14, 2022
Nusenda Foundation recently opened applications for the 2022 Community Rewards grant program. This program empowers positive change across New Mexico.
Nusenda focuses grant-giving on five areas: education, healthcare, environment and wildlife, the arts, and community service. This program is made possible through the financial partnership between Nusenda Credit Union and its members, who contribute with qualifying use of their Visa® debit cards. Members help direct which focus areas and regions receive support. Grants are awarded to local organizations and nonprofits to strengthen and support communities where New Mexicans live, work, and play.
Grant requests are reviewed and awarded by employee volunteers. The selection committee includes employees from across the organization, ranging from tellers to senior leadership located across New Mexico, representing the communities Nusenda serves.
“Community Rewards grants support some of the most innovative and change-driving community organizations in our state,” said Sara Keller, Nusenda’s Vice President of Community Engagement and Executive Director of Nusenda Foundation. “The community partners we support through Community Rewards work to help New Mexicans thrive. We are excited to collaborate and power positive transformation in our communities.”
In 2021 Nusenda and its members awarded $580,000 awarded to 131 programs, and plans to expand the grant program in 2022. "Cooking with Kids is honored to be a part of Nusenda's Community Rewards program,” said Anna Farrier, Executive Director of Cooking with Kids. “This kind of generous community support makes it possible for Cooking with Kids to provide hands-on nutrition education to thousands of public school kids in Northern New Mexico. We are grateful that Nusenda shares the vision that when kids are healthy and successful in school, everybody wins."
In order to qualify for a Community Rewards funding, organizations must be a 501C3. The grants are provided through a competitive application process that opened June 1, with awards being distributed in December. The application deadline is Aug. 1, 2022. For more information, visit our website, www.nusendafoundation.org/community-rewards..