Zimmer Community Fund Program

The Edw. F. Zimmer Community Fund, hosted as a donor-advised fund by Vanguard Charitable, is a private funding entity focused on supporting small to medium-sized nonprofit organizations that are actively working to enhance life, culture, and the environment in New Mexico. The fund is particularly aligned with grassroots efforts and places an emphasis on direct service programs that engage with community needs hands-on. With a guiding ethos of “digging into our pockets to grow your dreams,” the fund operates with a mission-driven lens, prioritizing organizations embedded in the communities they serve. This grant program awards funding on a quarterly basis, with application deadlines set for the 10th of March, June, September, and December each year. Organizations may receive up to two grants per year through this process: the first upon successful application in a given quarter, and the second—subject to re-approval—six months later. However, the second grant is not guaranteed. Grants are only disbursed following final approval from Vanguard Charitable and, when feasible, are deposited directly to the recipient’s PayPal account. Staying active in the grant pool by submitting annual applications is recommended, as grants may still be awarded without a current application but will be limited to $5,000 semiannually. Eligible organizations are primarily New Mexico-based nonprofits classified as public charities that file annual COROS reports and have a minimum three-year record of filing US-990 long forms. Organizations located outside New Mexico may also apply, provided they register annually with NM COROS and supply a two-year accounting breakdown specific to their New Mexico operations. Notably, grant funds for these organizations are restricted to New Mexico-based programs. Exclusions apply to research-focused, event-driven, faith-based, grant-giving, lobbying, and political organizations, as well as those that do not comply with government regulations or whose IRS approval was granted less than three years prior. Organizations with annual income over $10 million or a net worth above $20 million—based on NM financials—are generally ineligible. There are three types of grants available. Unrestricted Grants are the standard offering, allowing nonprofits to allocate funds where most needed. These are calculated based on a maximum of 5% of direct program expenses minus program income and government grants, and are capped at $25,000 semiannually for larger organizations. Targeted Grants address specific or one-time expenses and require pre-approval and supplemental documentation. Token of Appreciation Grants, worth $500, may be offered to nonprofits not fully meeting eligibility but aligning with the fund’s spirit. To apply, nonprofits must complete an online application, email 2–3 program action photos (JPEGs) for marketing, and send any additional required documentation. Submissions must come from authorized employees—typically those listed on the latest COROS report. If someone else submits the application, written confirmation from the executive director approving the submission is mandatory. Notably, the fund does not follow up with applicants; the onus is on them to contact the fund one week post-submission for status updates or to resolve any issues. The fund cautions that grants may be affected by lack of acknowledgment or poor communication. Organizations receiving over $20,000 in total grants are encouraged to schedule an in-person meeting in Santa Fe to discuss ongoing goals and programs. All aspects of the fund—including award amounts, frequency, and participation—are subject to change at the discretion of the fund.

Applicants must follow up a week after submission; no status updates are sent otherwise.