?SANTA FE – The Thornburg Foundation has announced Shana Baker will lead the Foundation's newly created strategic initiative for Pursuing Federal Funds. This latest initiative focuses on strengthening New Mexico's nonprofit sector's capacity to secure competitive federal grants.

The Foundation's latest strategic initiative will empower New Mexico communities to take advantage of the once-in-a-generation recovery funding available to states through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan. Following the federal government's move toward making federal grants more accessible to underserved communities, Thornburg's initiative will support entities that have limited capacity or access to federal funding.

"We are thrilled Shana Baker has agreed to lead our new Pursuing Federal Funds initiative. She is deeply committed to helping rural and underserved communities build their capacity to secure much needed federal funding," said Allan Oliver, Executive Director of Thornburg Foundation. "She brings invaluable nonprofit and government experience to help us further our partnerships with the public and private sector."

This initiative will support leveraging public and private funding toward current Thornburg Foundation initiatives of K-12 Education, Water, Good Government, Land and Agriculture, and Homelessness. In developing the strategic plan for the initiative, Shana will work with stakeholders statewide to look for ways to improve research, training, and technical support for nonprofits pursuing complex federal funding opportunities.

The Thornburg Foundation created the Pursuing Federal Funds initiative following a pilot program started in 2022 that awarded grants between $5,000-$25,000 to New Mexico nonprofit organizations, local governments and tribal communities for grant writers, technical assistance and other supports needed to apply for federal grants. The success of these grantees in leveraging these relatively small grants to secure more than $37 million in federal grants to New Mexico convinced the Thornburg Foundation to continue to further invest in this effort.

Shana joins the Thornburg Foundation with a background in government, law, and nonprofit management. Most recently, Shana served as senior policy advisor and Chief of Staff to a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Shana received her JD from UNM School of law in 2002.

Thornburg Foundation is a family foundation based in Santa Fe that seeks to advance systems change that serves the public good. The Thornburg Foundation uses an evidence-based strategic approach to make grants to nonprofits focused on K-12 Education, Water, Land and Agriculture, Good Government and Homelessness.

For more information on Thornburg's Foundation policy funding visit : www.thornburgfoundation.org