Outdoor Equity Fund

Grant Cycle Now Closed

The 2024 Outdoor Equity Fund application closed on August 31, 2024.

Outdoor Equity Fund Grant Guide

Please review our Grant Guide to learn more about the application process and eligibility requirements.

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Access to the outdoors is a basic human right – yet it’s one that has often been denied to many of our youth. As a result, our underrepresented kids haven’t had the chance to experience some of the best of New Mexico: Its outside world.

In 2020, the Outdoor Equity Fund opened to applications for the first time, awarding $270,000+ to 25 applicants across the state. It continues to support transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for lands, waters, and cultural heritage.

In August 2021, the ORD announced the 57 recipients of the 2021 Outdoor Equity Fund, who together will get more than 22,000 young New Mexicans outside through 2022.

The 2022 Outdoor Equity Fund awardees were announced in August with 48 organization grants totaling over $800,000 to get 12,391 kids outside through 2023. Congrats to all the awardees and thank you so much to everyone who applied!

The 2023 Outdoor Equity Fund opened in May 2023 with over $3.5M in funding. In the first round of the 2023 grant cycle, ORD awarded $1.7 million to 54 programs in 16 counties, which will get 20,000 kids outside. Round two of OEF recipients was announced in December of 2023, with over $1 million awarded to 30 organizations, school districts, and local governments in 12 counties and five Tribal communities. A third round of 2023 recipients was announced in March 2024 with over $900,000 awarded to 31 programs.

The Outdoor Equity Fund has granted over $5.7 million to nearly 250 organizations throughout the state since creation in 2019, to get over 72,000 young New Mexicans outside for transformative experiences, inspiring our next generation of outdoor recreation and conservation leaders.

The 2024 application closed on August 31, 2024.