The Outdoor Equity Fund, run by New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Division, funds programs that expand equitable access to outdoor recreation for New Mexico youth while promoting health, land and water stewardship, cultural heritage, and outdoor career pathways. Grants prioritize projects that serve Tribes/Pueblos/Nations, municipalities/counties, public schools, higher education, and nonprofits across New Mexico’s 23 counties. The fund emphasizes place-based, youth-focused programming that builds workforce pipelines and stewardship ethics tied to local landscapes and cultures.
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State-administered competitive project grants awarded to eligible New Mexico entities (Tribes, local governments, schools, universities, nonprofits); funding cycles are program-driven and distributed statewide—multiple awards annually totaling several million dollars.
Applicants should be New Mexico-based public bodies, Tribes/Pueblos, schools, higher-ed, or nonprofits with youth-focused, place-based outdoor programs; emphasize equity, stewardship, and career development in proposals. Monitor NMOutside.com for announced grant cycles and guidance, align budgets to program outcomes, and contact the Outdoor Recreation Division program staff (e.g., Outdoor Recreation Program Manager) for pre-application questions.
Current and upcoming funding from New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division (Outdoor Equity Fund) that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: For-profit and nonprofit businesses headquartered in New Mexico with up to 50 employees.
Deadline: Applications close Monday, August 31, at 11:59 p.m. MT; selected businesses notified by September 8.
Who can apply: Open to tribes, pueblos, nations, municipalities and counties, nonprofits (Tier 1 and Tier 2 only), public schools, preschools and districts, public colleges and universities, soil and water conservation districts, and acequia and land grant associations in New Mexico.
Deadline: FY27 cycle opens July 1, 2026 and closes September 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MT.
Who can apply: Organizations delivering outdoor programs for youth in New Mexico. FY27 Tier 2 applicants must have an annual operating budget of at least $500,000, demonstrate robust evaluation and outcome measurement practices, provide matching funds (50% urban; 25% rural and Tribal), and complete programming within 24 months.
Deadline: FY26 Round 1 opened June 1, 2025 and closed July 31, 2025; Round 2 ran January 1-31, 2026. Earlier article noted an August 31, 2024 deadline.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.