The Thornburg Foundation advances systemic change that serves the public.
For more than 25 years, we have used an evidence-based strategic approach to solve systemic problems that impact people and communities across New Mexico.
The Thornburg Foundation uses an evidence-based strategic approach to solve systemic problems that impact people and communities.
How we work
Our mission holds the purpose. The five principles below describe how that purpose becomes practice.
We make grants to organizations aligned with our strategies.
We share nonpartisan research and build collective expertise on policy issues.
We help our grantees secure public and private funding for systemic change.
We lead with expertise and collaborate to advance nonpartisan policy solutions.
We ensure effective policy implementation.
Our values
Eight values guide how we work, with grantees, funder partners and each other.
Trust evidence
We rely on independent research, data and analysis to guide our work.
Collaborate
We collaborate with aligned funders, grantees, experts and stakeholders to leverage resources and create better results.
Work strategically
Systemic change depends on investing in champions and strong organizations, as well as acting with decisive and strategic timing.
Strive for excellence
We make the extra effort, practice continuous improvement and conduct self-evaluation.
Adapt
We stay nimble in our work and adapt to changing circumstances.
Model transparency and accountability
We publish our grants, learn and share our results, and stay accountable to ourselves and our partners.
Promote equity
Our work improves when we include diverse voices, and we deliberately engage with underserved communities.
Do the right thing
We work with integrity as an organization and as a philanthropic partner.
Strategic Plan 2023-2028
The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan translates our vision into a five-year work plan, organized into five focus areas.
Building capacity
Staff development, community engagement, new partnerships and expanded public knowledge of the Foundation's work.
Leveraging funding
Coordinated funding with public and private funders, sustained funder groups and grantee capacity building.
Spreading the model
Teaching other family foundations how to fund towards advocacy and systemic change; sharing our approach at national philanthropic forums.
Monitoring and evaluation
A rigorous evaluation framework to measure and improve the impact of every strategic initiative.
Strengthening the nonprofit sector
A new strategic initiative Helping New Mexico nonprofits pursue and secure public funding.
Depth over breadth. A five-year story of strategic grantmaking.
Across all our initiative areas over five years, our grantmaking shows a clear commitment to sustained, multi-year investment in a select group of proven organizations, not broad distribution.
25 years of grantmaking
From Santa Fe community organizations in 1999 to systems-change advocacy across New Mexico today.
Foundation created by Garrett Thornburg.
Thornburg Foundation moves from traditional grantmaking to its strategic, policy-focused model.
Land & Agriculture, Early Childhood Education and Good Government Reform initiatives launch.
Early Childhood Education initiative sunsets; K-12 Education initiative launches.
Water initiative launches.
Strategic Plan 2023-2028 adopted.
Housing initiative launches; Good Government Reform concludes.
Our team
Our policy officers are experts in their fields, working in close collaboration with grantees, funders and policymakers to advance change.
Allan Oliver
President
Leslie Garcia
HR Director & Community Funding Officer
Tim Bedeaux
K-12 Education Policy Officer
Lynn Trujillo
Water Policy Officer
Natalie Florence
Housing Policy Officer
Jolene Valdez
Grants & Accounting Administrator
Natasha Chin
Executive Assistant to the PresidentFinancials
The Foundation publishes its financials annually as part of its commitment to transparency.