The Marshall L. and Perrine D. McCune Charitable Foundation is dedicated to enriching the health, education, environment, cultural and spiritual life of New Mexicans.

The Marshall L. and Perrine D. McCune Charitable Foundation is dedicated to enriching the health, education, environment, cultural and spiritual life of New Mexicans.


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McCune Charitable Foundation Grantmaking: Phasing in Multiyear Funding

We have been working toward implementation of trust based philanthropy principles over the last several years. In that time, we have worked toward simplifying our application and reporting requirements, made all of our awards unrestricted general operating grants, made an effort to be more transparent about our practices, and have worked to provide support beyond the check for grantees and partners. Our next step is phasing in multiyear funding.
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New Mexico Collaborative Zone Grant

The “New Mexico Collaborative Zone Grant” (“Zone Grant”) is a unique grant structure that provides an opportunity for collaborations and organizations to apply for flexible funding from multiple local and national foundations to develop, prove, and support innovative responses to New Mexico’s challenges.  In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, participating funders have decided to focus the 2021 - 2023 Zone Grant on supporting recovery efforts in New Mexico’s tribal communities.
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Priorities Wheel

Building

& Family Asset

Development

Economic

Environments

of Built

Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

in Community

Stewardship

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Foundation

Priority Areas

Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Two men in a construction site

The McCune Foundation supports initiatives that build operational capacities for non-profits, making expertise in communications, finance, leadership development, organizational development and other areas more broadly available in service of a more structurally equitable and resilient sector.

Capacity Building In The

Non-Profit Sector

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Person learning to weld

A Foundation priority is to create and expand the economic base in New Mexico and to view its grant making through an economic development lens whenever possible, in particular supporting programs and organizations that seek to foster entrepreneurship across sectors. The Foundation also supports programs and initiatives that support and help drive growth in family assets across the diverse communities of the state, enabling a broader base of economic stability for our families.

Economic Development

& Family Asset Building

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Child playing in playset with blocks on the ground

The McCune Charitable Foundation holds equity as a core value, and sees equitable access to engaging and culturally relevant education as a key component of thriving, prosperous communities. New Mexico is blessed to be home to diverse cultures, languages, and traditions that make learning and growing up here in the 21st century an experience that is uniquely rooted in place and community. This is an asset that was unfortunately ignored by 20th century models of education, but is beginning to be recognized now.

Education Transformation

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Man dancing with children in a studio

The arts play a significant role in the culture and history of New Mexico and contribute substantially to the state’s economic and civic livelihoods. The McCune Foundation supports efforts that seek to leverage arts, creative expression, and culturally relevant, transformative experiences for the purpose of inspiring and driving higher levels of community and civic engagement.

Building Links Between

Arts and Community

Engagement

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

People cooking in a professional kitchen

Far too often, existing food systems (referring to all the processes, infrastructure and activities related to feeding a community) in the state of New Mexico contribute to poor nutritional outcomes for individuals and families, especially those considered low income. Not only does New Mexico have among the highest obesity and diabetes rates in the nation as a result of these significant shortcomings, the systems in question also contribute little to the state economy, with as much as 80 percent of all money spent on food and nutrition leaving the state, according to the New Mexico State University Extension Service.

Local Food Industry

Development

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Downtown Albuquerque street at night

Well-conceived built environments provide a key platform for many functions of family and civic life and are fundamentally connected to many factors that contribute to community health. These functions include economic development and higher levels of community and civic engagement, among others. The Foundation supports the development of built environments across the state that seek to take advantage of the role these environments can play to move New Mexican families toward a more prosperous and healthy future.

Influencing

Planning of Built

Environments

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

Woman setting up a cafe sign

New Mexico is the fifth largest state in the nation in terms of land area and, somewhat conversely, it is the 36th most populous state. This means that New Mexico is largely rural, with 26 out of 33 counties considered “frontier counties” (six or fewer people per square mile). While a majority of the population in the state lives in four urban areas (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe), New Mexico maintains a significant population base that honors its rural roots. Among many New Mexico communities, a rural way of life supports a fundamental cultural connection with the landscape of the state and to the values that many families honor and maintain.

Strategies for Rural

Development

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

People running for exercise along an acequia

After many generations in relationship with the land, vegetation and elements in New Mexico, communities have developed ways to sustain physical and mental health and wellness that often involve uses of medicinal plants, traditional practices and community support. Many of these traditions have endured and been adapted to contemporary contexts as alternatives and complements to modern approaches. Introduction of newer, less healthy diets and practices have taken a toll, however, with many New Mexicans facing challenges that traditional modalities sometimes cannot address.

Leveraging Opportunities

In Health Care

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Priorities Wheel

& Family Asset

Building

Development

Economic

Environments

& Built

Urban Planning

Influencing

Development

Rural

Strategies for

In Health Care

Opportunities

Leveraging

Resources

of Natural

Stewardship

Development

Childhood

& Early

Transformation

Education

Engagement

and Community

Between Arts

Building Links

Development

Industry

Local Food

Capacity

Non-Profit Sector

Building in the

A river spilling down a dam

As we face growing disruption due to climate change, it is our frontline communities – those who experience the “first and the worst” of the consequences of climate change – that will be the primary focus of the Foundation’s support. Frontline communities include tribal and rural communities, and in urban areas, lower and middle income families and communities of color living in areas that have been negatively impacted by poor infrastructure and industrial practices.

Stewardship in

Community

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