The Community Foundation is about trust. Trust is a complicated term. Trust means that when a donor establishes a fund, they can rest assured their wishes will be respected forever. They know their gifts will be invested in a judicious fashion to ensure steady growth. Over the past fiscal year, the Foundation’s endowment grew from $44.5 million to $57.8 million – a 30% increase. A record $2,257,259 was awarded in grants to nonprofits serving the greater Albuquerque area.
The Foundation’s Board also voted to greatly expand our role in community leadership including growing our Impact Fund established to meet future community needs that cannot be predicted today, joining other community leaders in an effort to greatly reduce hunger in our state, developing a plan for family philanthropy to ensure our children are taught the importance of philanthropy and finally by working to grow a Now & Forever Fund for businesses that want to maximize their charitable giving with funds that benefit our community now and forever.
As a cardiologist, I see patients return each year for a check-up. After completing my examination and reviewing their laboratory studies, we talk about the prognosis for their heart. As President of the Foundation over the last year, I've had a chance to look very closely at the core health of this organization; I find the heart to be strong, steady, and most importantly caring. My prognosis: A very bright future.
I feel privileged to work with all of you who hold a special place in your heart for giving back, in some way, to our community.
Sincerely,
Barry W. Ramo, MD
President,
Board of Trustees
Albuquerque Community Foundation
A message from the Executive Director
It is with great honor that I pen my first Annual Report letter as Executive Director of the Albuquerque Community Foundation. I am honored to have been entrusted to lead the Foundation following nearly fifteen years of exemplary service and leadership by Laura Hueter Bass. Laura, along with an outstanding staff and stellar Trustees, have built a reputation for the Foundation of trust and community service in the local nonprofit arena. |
R. Randall "Randy"
Royster, Esq.
Executive Director
Albuquerque Community Foundation |
I am honored to serve under the oversight of a Board of Trustees whose reputation for leadership and community service, not only through the Foundation and other area nonprofits, but also through their respective professional affiliations, is second to none. Last, but certainly not least, I am honored to lead a staff with professional expertise and personal commitment to philanthropy that would be desired by any organization.
As we draw near the culmination of our celebration of the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, I am pleased to report a few of the year’s highlights:
- Individuals, families, business and nonprofit organizations established 14 new funds with assets of $2,471,149.
- The maximum grant available through the Competitive Grant Program was increased to $10,000.
- Under the wise expertise of our Investment Committee, consultants and money managers, the Endowment earned a return of 9.4%, outperforming a broad market benchmark composed of 70% large cap stocks / 30% bonds.
- The Endowment pool of assets, comprised of 260 component funds, including more than 70 organizational endowments, grew to more than $44 million.
- A record amount of grants and scholarships, nearly $2 million, was awarded to nonprofits and students, bringing our historical total to more than $15 million.
We are ready to help you create your legacy. As we turn our sights to the needs of the community before us, we will continue to focus on our mission of Connect People Who Care With Causes That Matter. An old African saying states, “The best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago.” Please join with the Albuquerque Community Foundation as we continue to plant the seedlings of philanthropy to provide the shade for our community’s needs for generations to come.
R. Randall “Randy” Royster, Esq.
Executive Director
Albuquerque Community Foundation
