Con Alma recently received a $5 million gift from global philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott. This investment will further Con Alma’s mission to advance health equity and improve the health and well-being of all New Mexicans.
“Con Alma is the only foundation in New Mexico focused solely on health. We are honored and well-equipped to direct these resources and maximize impact, particularly among communities most in need,” said Denise Herrera, PhD, Con Alma’s Executive Director.
Since its founding in 2001, Con Alma has granted more than $17 million to nonprofits improving health in New Mexico, prioritizing rural and underserved communities. In addition to grantmaking, Con Alma has supported or led coalitions that encourage participation in local and national efforts, such as the U.S. Census and Healthcare Reform.
With this donor gift, Con Alma will develop a strategic initiative aligned with its goal of advancing health equity — when all New Mexicans have equal opportunities for a healthy life, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. The Foundation will prioritize addressing the most urgent health needs and will publicly announce when it is ready to accept grant applications in 2024.
“We are living in a different world than before the pandemic—and more inequities continue to emerge each day,” said Nathan Padilla, Con Alma’s Board President. “Ms. Scott’s investment is an opportunity to innovate and invest in long-term solutions to improve health here in New Mexico.”
Con Alma is fortunate to be one of the nonprofits Ms. Scott is supporting since she signed the Giving Pledge in 2019 – a promise by the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to give the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.
“Accepting this gift, I stand on the shoulders of Con Alma’s founders,” said Herrera. “Our founding leaders, staff, and volunteers positioned the Foundation to leverage external resources, while further strengthening relationships and investments statewide.”
Ms. Scott also drew attention to the Foundation’s work when she announced the gift on Nov. 14, linked here. Ms. Scott’s latest round of philanthropic giving supported at least 20 rural-serving health conversion foundations in the United States and was featured in Inside Philanthropy.
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