Thursday, October 1, 2026
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June marks the official arrival of Pride Month, a time dedicated to honoring LGBTQIA+ history and celebrating the belief that everyone deserves to live authentically.
In every community, there are moments when people come together around a shared vision for a better future. For many years, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, alongside dedicated community partners, supported efforts that strengthened the LGBTQIA+ community across the region.
Building on that longstanding commitment, those efforts were formalized in 2023 with the official establishment of the Rainbow Fund through CFSNM. Overseen by the Rainbow Committee, the Rainbow Fund serves as a vehicle for people to make a lasting impact on the quality of LGBTQIA+ life in our region.
Supported by a base of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations with the desire to improve Southern New Mexico through CFSNM, the Rainbow Committee raises funds, awards grants and seeks to provide resources to organizations that serve the LGBTQIA+ community.
With the goal of improving quality of life, the Rainbow Committee awards funds and strives to make an impact in the following categories: arts and humanities, improving mental and physical health, encouraging self-awareness, recreation and addressing youth and elderly needs in Southern New Mexico within the 12 counties CFSNM serves.
The fund awards grants through an annual grant cycle and has also supported emergency grant making and nonprofit capacity building for many organizations in our region.
In 2024, the Rainbow Fund celebrated an important milestone — its inaugural year of grantmaking. Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, the fund awarded $4,000 in grants to four organizations serving Southern New Mexico. Those investments helped support a variety of initiatives, including Pride celebrations, legal guidance, and expanded community programming.
Building on that momentum, the Rainbow Fund continued to grow. In 2025, the fund increased its grantmaking to $6,000, supporting organizations working to strengthen and uplift LGBTQIA+ communities throughout Southern New Mexico.
Grant recipients included Deming Pride for its Senior Scholarships Night and Yearly Toy Drive, LGBTQ Grant County for its Building Sustainable Infrastructure for Rural LGBTQIA+ Support initiative, Southern New Mexico Pride for Pride on the Plaza event security, and the Truth or Consequences Pride Foundation for T or C Pride.
Each of these projects reflects the creativity, resilience, and commitment of local organizations working to ensure that LGBTQIA+ individuals have opportunities to connect, celebrate, and access meaningful support.
As we look ahead, the future of the Rainbow Fund is bright. The committee remains committed to growing the fund's impact and expanding opportunities for grantmaking throughout the region. Every donation, partnership, and act of support helps strengthen a permanent resource dedicated to serving LGBTQIA+ communities for generations to come.
What began as a vision shared by community members has grown into a lasting source of support and hope. With continued community involvement, the fund will continue creating opportunities, fostering belonging, and helping ensure that every LGBTQIA+ individual in Southern New Mexico knows they are seen, valued, and celebrated.
