Museum of New Mexico Foundation

The Museum of New Mexico Foundation is a nonprofit based in Santa Fe that supports the Museum of New Mexico system, in collaboration with the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents and New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).

The Foundation’s role in this public-private partnership is to secure private resources for exhibition development and education programs at the four state museums in Santa Fe — Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Museum of International Folk Art, New Mexico History Museum, Vladem Contemporary and the New Mexico Museum of Art—as well as eight historic sites statewide and the Office of Archaeological Studies.

In addition, the Foundation provides essential support services to these cultural institutions, including fund development, membership, retail and licensing, financial management, advocacy and special initiatives. Since our founding in 1962, we have raised more than $90 million in total giving from 25,000 donors and 15,000 members.

The Foundation manages four membership programs: The Circles ($1,500 to $10,000), The Circles Explorers ($895), General Membership ($75 to $1,000), Corporate Partners ($5,000 to $25,000) and the Business Council ($500 to $2,500). There are currently 18,000 members of the Foundation in nearly 9,000 households in New Mexico and across the United States.

Annually, the Foundation generates up to $13 million in earned and contributed revenue. It manages 31 endowments valued at more than $30 million. Retail activities include the operation of five museum shops in Santa Fe and an online store. Sales average $3 million a year.

Licensing generates royalties from the sale of products with designs inspired by the museum collections.

Special initiatives over the years have consisted mainly of capital campaigns for museum expansion, from the Amy Rose Bloch wing added to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in the late 1980s to the development of Milner Plaza on Museum Hill in the early 2000s, from the Shape the Future campaign to build out exhibitions at the New Mexico History Museum in the late 2000’s to the recent Centennial Campaign for the New Mexico Museum of Art to build the Vladem Contemporary in Santa Fe’s Railyard Arts District.

The State of New Mexico, through the Department of Cultural Affairs, staffs the Museum of New Mexico system, provides operational funding, and maintains all facilities. DCA was created in 1978 by the New Mexico State Legislature. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, as are the nine members of the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents.

The Foundation is located on the Shonnard campus at 1411 Paseo de Peralta. A board of trustees with 50 voting members governs the Foundation and its staff of 42.