SANTA FE – Today the Thornburg Foundation announced the expansion of its grantmaking

portfolio with the hiring of Natalie Florence as its first Housing Policy Officer. Florence will lead a

new, statewide Housing Initiative aimed at increasing affordable housing stock to reduce rents

and homelessness across New Mexico.

Florence will design and direct the Foundation’s Housing Initiative, focusing on evidence-based

strategies to advance deeply affordable housing development and reduce regulatory barriers.

Her work will bridge public policy, philanthropy, and infrastructure to advance equitable

community development and housing stability.

“Natalie’s unique blend of academic insight, practical experience in housing policy, and

dedication to equitable community development makes her the perfect architect for this crucial

new initiative,” said Allan Oliver, President of the Thornburg Foundation. “Her expertise will be

invaluable as we work to translate bold housing reforms from other states into effective, lasting

solutions for New Mexico.”

The Housing Initiative is a strategic expansion to meet New Mexico’s urgent need for affordable

housing. Over the next five years, through an annual grantmaking portfolio of $1 million dollars,

the initiative seeks to support streamlined development, increase housing supply, and

strengthen homelessness prevention and housing stability systems.

Natalie Florence brings a multidisciplinary background to the role. Prior to joining Thornburg,

she worked at Abt Global, where she researched, monitored, and evaluated federal, state, and

foundation-funded housing programs. She has extensive experience collaborating with public

housing authorities, state and local governments, nonprofit providers, and philanthropic partners

to strengthen program design and system alignment.

“I’m thrilled to bring my research and experience working with diverse stakeholders to the

Thornburg Foundation to help partner with and lift up our communities. To solve complicated

housing problems, we must remain humble and grounded in evidence, but also, relentlessly

optimistic, ” says Florence.

Florence holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Arizona State University, a

Master of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University, and a Bachelor of Science in

Architecture and Environmental Design from the University of Colorado.

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SANTA FE – Today, the Thornburg Foundation announced Elisa Montoya will lead the

Foundation’s Pursuing Public Funds initiative, which aims to increase the effectiveness of New

Mexico’s nonprofit sector by securing and stabilizing essential public resources. Montoya will

also serve as general counsel for the Foundation.

Montoya will direct and refine the initiative’s strategy which includes providing support to keep

key grantees viable through funding shifts, increase nonprofit capacity to sustain essential work,

and fund strategic advocacy to improve the public funding environment for non-profits. Montoya

will manage the initiative’s annual grantmaking portfolio of $1 million and identify new

opportunities to strengthen New Mexico’s nonprofits in a dynamic funding landscape.

“Elisa’s exceptional leadership in both the public and private sectors, combined with her deep

roots in New Mexico, makes her an ideal person to lead this critical initiative,” said Allan Oliver,

President of the Thornburg Foundation. “Her experience navigating complex systems—from

local to state to federal government—will be invaluable as we work to protect and expand the

public resources our communities rely on.”

In 2024, the Foundation launched the Pursuing Federal Funds Initiative to help New Mexico

nonprofits and tribal governments overcome barriers like grant writing and matching funds so

they could successfully secure new federal dollars and maximize the return on philanthropic

investments. In 2025, the Foundation provided rapid-response grants to help nonprofits

navigate these shifts, trained over 150 nonprofit leaders to adapt their funding models, and

hired contractors to provide monthly updates on the impacts of federal cuts across the state.

Elisa Montoya brings more than 25 years of executive experience across the public and private

sectors. Most recently, she served as the Community Development Director for the City of

Santa Fe, where she co-led the effort to raise the city’s minimum wage to $17.50 per hour and

secured project approvals for the development of affordable homes in Santa Fe. Before joining

the city, she spent over seven years at Meow Wolf, playing a critical role in creating more than

1,000 jobs and helping launch four experiential entertainment businesses across multiple

states.

Montoya has also served at the highest levels of government, advancing social justice policy,

civic engagement, and public service. She served as professional staff to U.S. Senators Harry

Reid (NV) and Ken Salazar (CO), and Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA). She also worked as

a policy associate at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP in Washington, DC.

Elisa remarked, “I’m honored to join the Thornburg Foundation team to help align strategy and

policy at a moment when nonprofit stability and public funding are essential to New Mexico’s

communities.

”Montoya is a graduate of Stanford University, the University of Southern California Law Center,

and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She is also a graduate of St.

Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, where her family has lived for generations.

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Read the Article & Report

A new report from the New Mexico Groundwater Alliance issues a stark warning about the state’s most critical, yet misunderstood, water source. With groundwater supplying nearly 80% of drinking water and over half of the state’s total water, its invisible decline poses an existential threat. The report calls for treating aquifers as essential infrastructure and closing dangerous data gaps in monitoring, especially in rural communities.

Patrick McCarthy, a senior water policy officer for the Thornburg Foundation and alliance member, emphasizes the unique severity of the current crisis. “The water scarcity, water stress that we’re facing now … it’s not your grandfather’s drought,” McCarthy states. He points to higher temperatures and a growing imbalance between use and replenishment, making New Mexico particularly vulnerable. His message is clear: proactive, collaborative, and well-funded strategies are urgently needed to secure the state’s water future.

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Download the Report

January 14, 2026 – Santa Fe, N.M. – As the water crisis in New Mexico deepens, a new report released today by the New Mexico Groundwater Alliance details significant data gaps, challenges and opportunities to protect the state’s declining groundwater supply. The report can be downloaded here and a document with groundwater management frameworks from other Western states can be downloaded here. 

The New Mexico 360 Groundwater Report comes as groundwater levels plunge to historically low levels as they remain threatened by challenges like drought, climate change, water-hungry data centers and PFAS contamination. The report warns that without a proactive strategy for sustaining groundwater, more communities will face aquifer depletion, water quality degradation, and service disruptions.

The report builds off of recommendations made by the Governor’s New Mexico Water & Policy Task Force and the state’s 50-Year Water Action Plan, which warns that New Mexico will have 25% less water by 2050. Groundwater provides more than half the state’s total water supply, and 81% of public water systems in New Mexico rely on groundwater to provide drinking water for their communities.  

The New Mexico 360 Groundwater Report takes a deeper drive into New Mexico’s groundwater history and current challenges by detailing data gaps, water use by category, and policy and administrative structures. It also highlights where New Mexico leaders are already deploying successful groundwater management strategies while offering case studies from other western states. 

​

The report concludes with specific recommendations for policymakers to advance proactive, long-term groundwater solutions, including: 

• Science, Data and Modeling: As part of a multiyear effort, accelerate and sustain aquifer mapping, monitoring, and metering by filling the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources’s budget request of $22 million in Fiscal Year 2027. This funding would support aquifer characterization studies to provide essential basin level information — such as quantity and quality of groundwater resources — and address a funding gap for the Water Data Act to help state agencies share, integrate and manage water data better using 21st century technologies.
• State Policy Reform: Develop a statewide groundwater management framework that establishes basin management goals informed by data, science, historical and cultural traditions, and community-driven solutions. 
• Funding: Allocate state funding to provide support for locally driven groundwater management and provide legal avenues for local groundwater authorities to generate funds to support operations.
• Incentive-based Tools: Explore and provide support for locally relevant incentive-based tools such as water banks, rotational conservation or voluntary fallowing.
• Local and Tribal Engagement: Create a pathway for meaningful local and Tribal involvement in groundwater management and ensure representation of all interests in planning and decision-making. Build upon New Mexico specific strategies, such as the Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy and Pecos Valley Artesian Conservation District, for a community-driven framework based on community engagement.

“This report serves as a call to action to protect New Mexico’s groundwater before it’s too late,” said Gretel Follingstad, Ph.D., Senior Manager, climate resilient water systems, at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “New Mexicans know we are in a water crisis, but groundwater is often out of sight, poorly understood, and inconsistently governed — especially in rural areas and small systems. We hope this report will be a launching point to elevate the urgency of groundwater declines and spark collaboration to develop a more long-term, well-funded and proactive statewide strategy to secure our water future.” 

A key component of the New Mexico 360 Groundwater Report details significant gaps in groundwater data, reinforcing the need for more groundwater mapping, monitoring and metering tools to provide local water managers the information they need to make long-term management decisions and ensure groundwater is not overused. For example, less than half of all New Mexico’s groundwater withdrawals are metered today. 

“Policymakers understand that we need sound science, data and modeling to better manage our groundwater resources and we’re ready to supply it,” said Stacy Timmons, Associate Director, Hydrogeology Programs at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. “Building on the initial funding provided by the Legislature last session, we’re prepared to execute a long-term strategy that will close our water data gaps and modernize our antiquated systems using 21st century technology.” 

Using available data, the report warns that groundwater declines are reaching crisis levels that threaten water supplies for agricultural and rural communities, including in the High Plains (Ogallala) aquifer near Clovis and Portales, the Mimbres Basin near Deming, and the Estancia Basin. Other basins reaching dangerously low levels are the Albuquerque Basin and the Placitas and East Mountains areas.  

The New Mexico 360 Groundwater Report also highlights positive case studies from New Mexico water leaders who are deploying new, successful groundwater management strategies for areas like the Pecos River Valley in Chaves and Eddy Counties, the Ogallala Aquifer in Curry County, the Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation program in southern New Mexico, and through conservation efforts by the Cañada de Los Alamos Mutual Domestic Water Association in Santa Fe County. 

“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” said Aron Balok, superintendent of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District. “Many of our local communities already have the experience, knowledge and determination needed to protect our groundwater. The state should look to these communities and figure out how to replicate what we know is already working.”

“Time is not on our side. We must put forth a more comprehensive groundwater management statewide, building on the work we’re doing in eastern New Mexico to protect the Ogallala Aquifer,” said Dr. Ladona Clayton, executive director of the Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy. “Our voluntary, market-based model is proving the concept that we can conserve agriculture land and aquifer levels at the same time.” 

The New Mexico 360 Groundwater Report was co-authored by the New Mexico Groundwater Alliance, which is composed of:​

• Aron Balok, Superintendent, Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District
• Ladona Clayton, Ph.D., Executive Director, Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy
• Gretel Follingstad, Ph.D., Senior Manager, Climate Resilient Water Systems — Environmental Defense Fund
• Maurice Hall, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Climate Resilient Water Systems — Environmental Defense Fund
• Phil King, Ph.D., Principal Engineer, King Engineering & Associates Inc.; Special Technical Advisor to OSE/ISC
• Ramón Lucero, Regional Field Manager, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)
• Patrick McCarthy, Senior Water Policy Officer, Thornburg Foundation
• Adrian Oglesby, J.D., Director, Utton Transboundary Resources Center (UNM)

​

Advisory members: 

• Lisa Henne, General Counsel, Interstate Stream Commission / Office of the State Engineer
• Michelle Hunter, Deputy Director, NM Interstate Stream Commission / Office of the State Engineer
• Phoebe Suina, Owner, Project Manager, and Hydrologist, High Water Mark, LLC
• Stacy Timmons, Associate Director, Hydrogeology Programs, New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
• Hannah Riseley‑White, Director, NM Interstate Stream Commission / Office of the State Engineer
• Katie Zemlick, Chief, Hydrology Bureau, Office of the State Engineer

For more information about the New Mexico Groundwater Alliance, visit nmgroundwateralliance.org. 

Download the Report

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Facing a critical need for better data, a new state report emphasizes that sustainable groundwater management must begin with comprehensive monitoring. In a detailed examination of New Mexico’s aquifers, the report calls for a significant expansion of the state’s network of monitoring wells to address widespread data gaps. This foundational step is considered essential for making informed decisions about one of the state’s most vital yet strained resources.

The Albuquerque Journal’s coverage of the report outlines the challenges of managing groundwater across diverse regions—from agricultural basins to growing municipalities—especially as demands increase and supplies face pressure from drought and legal settlements. The article presents the perspectives of hydrologists and state officials who argue that without a clear understanding of what is underground, effective and fair policies for conservation and allocation are difficult to achieve. This report marks a pivotal effort to establish the knowledge base required for long-term water security.

Read the Article

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A recent report from The Santa Fe New Mexican examines the significant water management challenges for New Mexico farmers along the Rio Grande. The article highlights a basin-wide study which found that a large majority of the water used in the state each year is not being naturally replenished, creating a growing gap between supply and demand. This comes as the state prepares to implement new groundwater use reductions following a major interstate legal settlement.

Featuring perspectives from local farmers, water policy experts, and state officials, the New Mexican explores the range of responses to these pressures. These include voluntary fallowing programs and long-term planning to balance water needs. The piece outlines the ongoing efforts to find equitable and effective solutions for sustaining both agriculture and communities in a region where water is a critical and shared resource.

Read the Article

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Source NM: A new and urgent report reveals that New Mexico is facing a severe and imminent threat to its most critical resource: water. The study, conducted by leading water researchers, details a “looming groundwater crisis” driven by the one-two punch of climate change and unsustainable overuse. With aquifers declining faster than they can be replenished, the findings warn of profound risks to agriculture, household water supplies, and the state’s economic stability in the coming decades. The analysis underscores that without immediate and coordinated action, New Mexico’s water future hangs in the balance. 

Read the Article

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A major new study, funded in part by the Thornburg Foundation and released on November 20, provides the first full accounting of water consumption across the entire Rio Grande–Bravo basin. The findings reveal a systemic crisis, with 52% of annual use being unsustainable, ultimately draining finite reservoirs and aquifers faster than they can be replenished. While this unsustainable use threatens water security for millions across the Southwest, the impacts are acutely felt in New Mexico. The state has lost 71% of its reservoir storage since 2002, and water scarcity has reduced irrigated farmland by 36% along the Rio Grande. This new data crystallizes the urgent need for basin-wide collaboration, offering a critical roadmap to rebalance our water budget and build resilience for New Mexico’s communities, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Contact :

Patrick McCarthy: Senior Water Policy Officer — patrick@thornburgfoundation.org

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher: Land & Ag Policy Officer — sarah@thornburgfoundation.org

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By David W. Chen Photographs by Meridith Kohut

Federal budget cuts are hitting New Mexico hard, threatening critical services and programs across the state. A recent New York Times article highlights how these reductions could impact everything from education to infrastructure, leaving local leaders scrambling to fill the gaps. Thornburg Foundation’s survey and report, released in April, “Impact of Federal Funding Freeze on NM Philanthropic Sector,” provided statistics and insights about the real impact of the budget cuts to our nonprofit partners. The report was commissioned alongside Anchorum Health Foundation and Santa Fe Community Foundation.

Read the NYT Article

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Photo credit: NM Community Trust
Press release: Stephanie Montoya Lobaugh | stephaniem@lanlfoundation.org

ESPAÑOLA, NM — The Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table proudly announces the inaugural round of Youth Fund grant recipients, awarding over $1.4 million to 16 regional organizations committed to expanding career pathways for underserved young people. The Northern New Mexico Youth Fund, launched earlier this year, is the first pooled fund of its kind in the region, combining philanthropic, tribal, state, and federal resources to support equity-driven Career Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs for young people ages 13 to 29. These programs are designed to help underserved young people – especially Opportunity Youth, Native American youth, young parents, and others facing systemic barriers – gain the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed.

The Youth Fund is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table, a coalition of 17 local, regional, and national partners coordinated by the LANL Foundation. Contributions from 12 funding partners now total $1.6 million, including approximately $1.1 million in philanthropic investments and $500,000 from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, which are administered by the New Mexico Community Trust.  Through a participatory grantmaking process that engaged underserved youth, funders, and community leaders, the Youth Fund selected 15 CTE/WBL projects and one regional resource hub from a highly competitive pool of 35 proposals submitted by nonprofits, schools, tribal entities, and youth-serving organizations from across Northern New Mexico.

“The launch of the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund is the realization of a dream many years in the making. It’s incredible to see so many like-minded partners come together to align not just funding, but a shared vision for investing in our region’s most valuable resource – our young people – and the organizations that support them. This is more than a grant cycle; it’s the beginning of long-term, transformational work. We are excited to see the impact these grantees will have and to continue building the momentum to grow both the number of partners and the financial support for the Youth Fund in the years to come.”   – Alvin Warren, Vice President of Policy and Impact for the LANL Foundation

“At NMCT, we believe that when philanthropy centers equity and collaboration, transformative change becomes possible. The Youth Fund represents a powerful example of what it looks like when communities, funders, and young people co-create solutions. We’re proud to be part of this growing movement to invest in youth potential, cultural strengths, and long-term opportunity across Northern New Mexico.” 
– Marissa Magallanez, COO New Mexico Community Trust

In addition to the programmatic grants, United Way of Northern New Mexico has been selected to serve as the sole regional resource hub, receiving a $100,000 grant to provide technical assistance, organize shared learning opportunities, and deliver capacity-building support for all grantees. The hub will help organizations implement programs effectively, strengthen collaboration, and secure additional public funding.

“We’re beyond thrilled to receive this award—and even more energized about what’s ahead! As the Northern New Mexico Youth Fund Resource Hub, United Way of Northern New Mexico is honored to uplift and empower our incredible grantees who are leading the way in work-based learning and career technical education. Together, we’re building a movement rooted in collaboration, equity, and real opportunities for youth and young adults across our region,” said Cindy Padilla, CEO.

2024 Northern New Mexico Youth Fund Grant Recipients

• 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.

• Moving Arts Española – $100,000 to expand Bowie’s Backstage, a career launchpad in culinary arts, agriculture, and digital media.

• 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.

• 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.

• Santa Fe Dreamers Project – $60,000 for a paralegal internship program that expands immigration legal services.

• 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.
  
  
  
  The Northern New Mexico Youth Fund is supported by a diverse group of contributors, including the Anchorum Health Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions, The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Davis New Mexico Scholarship, The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, The LANL Foundation, The Taos Community Foundation, The Thornburg Foundation, TRIAD National Security, United Way of North Central New Mexico, and The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
  
  
  
  Press Release/Contact:
  
  Stephanie Montoya Lobaugh
  Communications Director
  stephaniem@lanlfoundation.org
  (505) 500-5730
  

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