An Important Update regarding McCune Foundation's Application Cycle for 2026 Funding

Starting in 2024, the McCune Charitable Foundation began phasing in multi-year grants in the Focus Grant category via invitation only, with the goal of awarding a maximum of 60 multi-year Focus grants by 2026. In addition to multi-year grants, one-year Focus and Cultivate grants (which did not require an invitation) could be applied for during each year's open application cycle.

Given the challenges of the unstable funding landscape and the complex factors contributing to its mutability, the Foundation is focusing on increasing the number of grants to be awarded overall by increasing the portion of McCune's grant distribution budget that is allocated to the Cultivate grant category through which $15,000 grants are available. In this way, we will be able to support more organizations statewide as they work in and with the communities at the heart of their missions.

As such, beginning with the open application cycle for 2026 funding, August 15 - September 15, 2025, the Foundation's Focus grant category will be wholly dedicated to multi-year grants that result from the invitation process with no Focus grants available outside the multi-year program. With regard to the Cultivate grant category, these one-year funding requests will continue to be open to any eligible organization and there is no "invitation only" requirement.

It’s our hope that this approach will support more organizations in New Mexico as they continue to pursue their missions despite the massive disruptions in funding that are currently occuring at the Federal level and impacting organizations across the state.

If you submit a request for 2026 funding during the August 15 - September 15, 2025 open application cycle:

• The McCune Foundation Board will meet in late February 2026 to consider all 2026 funding requests submitted during the 8/15-9/15, 2025 application cycle.
• The Board's decisions will be communicated by email in early March 2026.
• If you submitted a 2026 funding request and do not receive this notification email by mid-March 2026, please contact grants@nmmccune.org.

During the annual open application cycle, the Foundation accepts applications for community-based projects in the State of New Mexico related to our nine https://nmmccune.org/grant-eligibility/#foundation-priorities Foundation Priorities. Grants can be awarded to qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, federally-recognized Native American tribes, public schools, and governmental agencies. Grants cannot be made to individuals.

Please review the information available on the Grant Eligibility page to help you determine whether or not to apply during the 2025 annual open application cycle (mid-August to mid-September) for 2026 funding.

To also help you further determine whether or not to apply, review the McCune Foundation's Grantmaking Overview. Download the McCune Foundation's Grantmaking Overview For example, by reviewing the Grantmaking Overview, you would learn that the Focus Grant Category Minimum Eligibility Requirements are: a) at least 1 full-time staff member or contract position; b) at the time of application, your organization must have been operational for a minimum of 2 years; and c) you must be able to demonstrate active collaboration with other organizations (i.e., actions by your organization's staff actively impact or support partner programs or work).

• Regarding the annual open application cycle for 2026 funding, McCune Foundation staff will be available to assist callers with their application-focused questions during the following Open Call, 505.983.8300, dates/times (all times are Mountain Daylight Savings Time):  Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m.

HOW TO ACCESS THE MCCUNE GRANT PORTAL AT ANY TIME

Go to https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=mccfoundation (McCune Charitable Foundation's Online Portal url) NOTE:  The application for 2026 funding is available beginning the first day of the open application cycle (August 15, 2025).

• • Current Registrants: enter the email address and password linked to your grant account and you will see your "Applicant Dashboard."
  • If you are new to the portal, click on the "Create New Account" button to register.
  • If you are new to the portal and using a Fiscal Sponsor, when creating your online grant account, in the "ORGANIZATION NAME" field, enter the information as follows:  Name (of the sponsoring organization), fiscal sponsor for Name (of the sponsored organization).

  • RESTRICTION:  Each grant account created must be linked to a unique email address. This unique email address also serves as your username and, with the password you establish at the time of registration, will be required to log on and access your grant account. Multiple grant accounts can’t be established using the same email address. This is a system requirement. If you are uncertain whether or not you or someone at your organization has already registered in the system, before creating a new account, contact grants@nmmccune.org.

Grants@nmmccune.org is the email address for all grantmaking-related questions.

The Foundation's office schedule from May 30 - September 5 - with the exception of holidays - is Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office number is 505.983.8300.