Zimmer Community Fund Program

The Edw. F. Zimmer Community Fund, a donor-advised fund hosted by Vanguard Charitable, supports grassroots organizations working to enhance the quality of life, environment, and cultural fabric of New Mexico. Designed for small-to-medium nonprofits, this fund prioritizes locally engaged efforts and provides support through three distinct grant types: Unrestricted, Targeted, and Token of Appreciation grants. Each type caters to different organizational capacities and financial contexts. Unrestricted Grants are the primary funding stream, enabling public charities operating in New Mexico with at least three years of filed US-990 long forms to determine their own best use of funds. Funding is generally limited to no more than 5% of direct program expenses, adjusted for specific revenue factors. Targeted Grants cover unique, often one-time expenses, and require pre-submission communication with the funder for approval and potentially additional documentation. Token of Appreciation Grants, capped at $500 annually, are awarded to nonprofits with limited eligibility—such as those filing 990N postcards, new long-form filers, or fiscally sponsored organizations. In the latter case, the fiscal sponsor must submit the application and include a signed sponsorship agreement. The fund restricts support for research, faith-based initiatives, political activity, scholarships, travel, capital expenses, or debt repayment. Organizations with gross annual income exceeding $10 million or net assets over $20 million are generally excluded unless financials are specifically for New Mexico operations. Both New Mexico-based nonprofits and out-of-state organizations serving New Mexico (with two years of NM-specific financials and annual NM COROS registration) are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted on a quarterly cycle, with deadlines falling on the 15th of March, June, September, and December. Grants are awarded at the end of each quarter, and successful applications enter a selection pool for consideration six months later. Submissions must be completed by an authorized employee listed on the COROS report; others may apply with written confirmation from an executive director. Required materials include an online form, program photographs, and additional documentation based on the grant type. Approved grants are subject to final approval by Vanguard Charitable and are typically deposited via PayPal. Communication post-submission is applicant-driven—the fund expects applicants to follow up after one

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