MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 

Greetings everyone, I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness. Here at the Chamiza Foundation we are steadily moving along in the new year. We had our first board meeting the year on March 13, 2026. I am happy to announce that we awarded $47,302.20 towards programs and projects that will benefit our Pueblo people. This includes projects and programs that focus on the following areas: Language preservation and revitalization, Traditional Building, Environmental stewardship, and Agriculture. Please check out the “Impact” page on our website to see who was awarded for the first round of 2026.

 

 

Our next application deadline is May 8, 2026. We will be accepting applications for our “Traditional” priority areas which include language preservation, traditional architecture, sustainable agriculture, traditional arts & crafts, tribal & ancestral history, oral histories & storytelling, youth education & leadership, intercultural/intergenerational exchange and education. The online application portal will begin accepting applications starting April 10, 2026. If you have any questions about how to submit your application, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can apply directly online through our website. Please be aware that when you start the process you cannot stop and save your application, you must start and finish in one sitting. So please have all your documents that you will need to complete the application on hand. You can also still download the application from our website as well. If you have a project or program idea that you need help developing, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to seeing many more great applications for our next round of funding.

 

Please note, our main phone has changed. If you need to contact us, please call 505-699-4154.

 

Warm regards,

Dr. Amanda J. Montoya

 

 

 

Regenerative Agriculture Investor Convening

Santa Fe, NM

March 12, 2026

 

On March 12, 2026, our Executive Director attended an invitation-only Regenerative Agriculture Investor Convening in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hosted by the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute. This gathering brought together investors, funders, and government leaders engaged in food systems and regenerative agriculture, all with a shared interest in reimagining how capital is structured, aligned, and deployed to better support long-term sustainability.

The convening emphasized producers as essential knowledge holders and featured case studies illustrating both the successes and limitations of current investment approaches. These discussions were intended to generate practical insights for more effective and equitable capital deployment across New Mexico and beyond.

Participants included a diverse group of capital investors, state agencies, and philanthropic organizations. A central component of the program was the inclusion of local food system partners who shared firsthand accounts of their capital journeys, highlighting the ongoing challenges they face in scaling regenerative practices. Notable speakers included Mr. Gil Louis, a rancher from Acoma Pueblo, and Mr. William “Buck” Johnston (Navajo), founder of a nonprofit organization based in Taos, New Mexico.

The convening was guided by a critical question: how can investors, funders, and government entities better collaborate to mobilize flexible, layered capital in ways that meaningfully support farmers, ranchers, and food systems entrepreneurs in achieving timely, regenerative transformation?

Although our Executive Director was only able to attend the first portion of the two-day convening, she expressed deep appreciation to the organizers for the invitation and for the valuable insights shared. She also welcomed the opportunity to establish new connections with fellow participants working at the intersection of agriculture, investment, and community resilience.