The Gila Community Foundation (GCF) is proud to announce the completion of the 2025 Southline Community Investment Program (SCIP) grant cycle —one of the most competitive regional grant rounds in recent years. More than 120 nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations from Grant, Luna, Doña Ana, and Hidalgo Counties applied, requesting more than $1 million in total funding to support critical community needs.
Meeting an Overwhelming Community Need
Due to the unexpectedly high volume of applications, the SCIP Advisory Committee prioritized projects addressing:
- Food insecurity
- Senior services
- Emergency and essential community services
- Animal welfare and veterinary clinics
- Community health and wellbeing
“Getting these funds into the hands of the organizations serving our region is absolutely essential,” said Jamie Sechrist, Executive Director of the Gila Community Foundation. “We look forward to hearing from the local recipient organizations how funding tangibly improved life in the communities.
$214,000 Total Funds Awarded to 27 organizations for 2025
Grant County Awardees (Total of $84,500)
- Aldo Leopold Charter Foundation $5,000
- Asomboro Institute for Science Education $5,000
- The Commons: Center for Food Security & Sustainability $10,000
- El Refugio, Inc. $10,000
- Grant County Office of Emergency Management $5,000
- PFLAG $2,000
- Silver Regional Sexual Assault Services $10,000
- STEM Roadshow $10,000
- Town of Silver City Helping the Unhoused $7,500
- Village of Santa Clara Senior Meal Driver $10,000
Doña Ana County Awardees (Total $69,500)
-
Adelante Development Center $10,000
- Casa de Peregrinos $10,000
- El Calvario United Methodist Church $10,000
- Grajeda Huckaby Low Barrier Housing Fund $5,000
- Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue $9,000
-
Morning Start Pantry $7,500
- Nature Friends $3,000
- SNAP: Spay Neuter Action Program (of Las Cruces) $5,000
- St. Andrew’s Hospitality House $10,000
Luna County Awardees (Total $42,500)
- Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County, Inc. $5,000
- County of Luna dba as CASA of Grant, Luna & Hidalgo Counties $5,000
- Deming Animal Guardians $7,500
- Deming Luna County Commission on Aging $10,000
-
El Corazon de Columbus $5,000
-
New Mexico Legal Aid $10,000
Hidalgo County Awardees (Total $17,500)
- Hidalgo Literacy Program $7,500
Center for Health Innovation $5,000
- NM Institute of Mining and Technology (Playas Research Training Center) $5,000
Advisory Committee Leadership
The Southline Community Investment Program (SCIP) Advisory Committees, composed of community representatives from Grant, Luna, and Doña Ana Counties, led the review and selection process. Neither Southline Transmission Project nor its co-developers, Grid United and Black Forest Partners, determine grant recipients. GCF and SCIP extend sincere gratitude to each committee member for their thoughtful, thorough, and dedicated service in guiding this important regional investment.
More Opportunities Ahead in 2026
With ongoing partnership from SCIP, GCF will administer two additional grant cycles in 2026—one in late spring and another in late fall.
To receive updates, deadlines, and application details for upcoming funding opportunities, organizations are encouraged to:
About Southline Community Investment Program
The Southline Community Investment Program (SCIP) is committed to strengthening communities across the Desert Southwest by supporting local projects, essential services, and nonprofit organizations working to improve quality of life. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, municipal, and county-level organizations serving one or more of the participating counties (Grant, Luna, and Doña Ana). The next grant cycle will open in late spring 2026.
About Southline Transmission Project
Southline Transmission Project (Southline) is a 280-mile, high-voltage transmission line that will connect the electrical transmission systems of the El Paso and Tucson areas. Southline will bidirectionally transport power and enable electricity generated in the Desert Southwest to reach new markets while improving grid reliability for the region. Learn more at www.southlinetransmission.com.
