Brindle Foundation

The Brindle Foundation is a family foundation established in 2002 by the Schwanfelder family as the successor to the M.A. Healy Family Foundation. Since launching its Early Childhood Initiative in 2005, Brindle has committed essentially all of its grantmaking — historically 95% or more — to a single, narrow mandate: improving the lives of children in New Mexico from the prenatal period through age three.

Brindle operates with a lean staff: Executive Director Mary Nell Wegner and recently hired Program Officer William Townley. The Schwanfelder family (Kevin as President, Craig as VP/Treasurer, Nan as Secretary) remains active on the board. This tight governance structure means relationship and communication quality matter more here than at larger institutional funders. Wegner is the primary point of contact and actively encourages pre-application conversations — a step experienced grant seekers should treat as near-mandatory. Reach her at marynell@brindlefoundation.org.

For first-time applicants, the pathway is predictable. You must be an IRS-recognized nonprofit, a public entity, or a tribal government organization operating programs in one of seven designated northern New Mexico counties (Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos) or on tribal lands statewide for the statewide systems track. Religious affiliation is acceptable, but explicitly religious missions are disqualifying. First-time awards are capped at $20,000 — a ceiling that reflects Brindle's preference for testing new relationships before deepening investment.

There is no LOI stage. Applications go directly into an annual competitive online portal process that opens each August and closes in mid-September. The entire cycle — from portal open to fund disbursement — runs approximately four months.

The relationship progression at Brindle is gradual and evidence-driven. Top grantees (Las Cumbres Community Services at $260,000 across 3 grants; La Familia Medical Center at $230,000 across 4 grants; New Mexico Voices for Children at $195,000 across 4 grants) built their funding histories over multiple cycles, each award contingent on meeting reporting requirements. Brindle explicitly asks that organizations facing unexpected program challenges contact Wegner directly rather than struggling in silence — a cultural signal that honesty and relationship maintenance are valued above perfect execution. Applicants who treat Brindle as a long-term institutional partner, rather than a transactional check source, consistently outperform those who submit cold.

Brindle's annual grantmaking has been remarkably consistent over six reported years, ranging from $1.4 million to $2.2 million in total giving, with cash grants paid falling between $1.3 million and $1.7 million. In fiscal year 2023 (the most recent fully reported year), total giving was $1,922,212, with $1,506,000 in direct grants paid. FY2022 was the highest recent year at $2,201,105 total giving ($1,717,000 grants paid). FY2021 saw $1,756,598 ($1,415,000 grants paid) and FY2020 produced $1,793,382 ($1,480,000 grants paid). Foundation assets have grown steadily from $27.5 million in 2020 to $33.4 million in 2024, and investment income ($1.2M–$4.2M annually depending on market conditions) reliably finances consistent payout levels.

Across 267 grants analyzed in the foundation's grantee dataset, the average grant is $24,045 and the median is $20,000. The full range spans from $500 at the minimum to $90,000 at the maximum — though the high end is reserved for well-established multi-year grantees. Two-year grant commitments can reach $170,000 total (e.g., $170,000 to LANL Foundation for a Tribal Early Childhood Educator Pathway; $170,000 to NM Center on Law and Poverty for legal and policy advocacy). The 15% indirect cost add-on means a $20,000 direct-cost request actually delivers $23,000 total to the organization.

Geographically, 97.8% of grants (261 of 267) go to New Mexico organizations, with rare exceptions for DC-based policy organizations or national entities with strong NM programmatic footprints. By program area, the portfolio concentrates on: community infant and toddler direct services (largest cluster by volume), prenatal and maternal healthcare (midwifery, centering pregnancy, doula services), early childhood education and workforce development, policy and advocacy, and nature-based/cultural play programs. Tribal and Indigenous early childhood programs represent a growing sub-category, with documented grants to Keres Children's Learning Center ($80,000 for language revitalization) and Navajo Nation Breastfeeding Coalition ($60,000 for doula and lactation support). Policy and advocacy organizations — including New Mexico Voices for Children ($195,000), NM Immigrant Law Center ($65,000), and Think New Mexico ($55,000) — receive consistent multi-cycle support, reflecting Brindle's sustained commitment to systemic change alongside direct services.

The five database-identified peer foundations are asset-size comparators (all holding approximately $33.4 million), not thematic peers in early childhood grantmaking. This table presents the structural comparison; analysis below contextualizes Brindle's position among New Mexico funders.

Among these asset-size comparators, Brindle is the standout in terms of programmatic focus, public accessibility, and grantee depth. None of the peer foundations operate an open competitive grant program in early childhood, making Brindle unusual for its size and sector classification.

Within New Mexico's early childhood funding landscape specifically, Brindle occupies a singular niche as the only private foundation dedicated exclusively to prenatal-to-three services in the state. It coordinates with other regional funders through the New Mexico Early Childhood Funders Group and maintains membership in Zero to Three — affiliations that signal both quality standards and willingness to leverage public and philanthropic co-investment. For organizations already funded by ECECD, Santa Fe Community Foundation, or LANL Foundation on early childhood work, Brindle is the logical complementary funder to approach.

The most significant recent staff development at Brindle is the addition of William Townley as Program Officer. A member of the Navajo Nation and a University of New Mexico graduate with legal and nonprofit experience focused on child and family advocacy, Townley's hire meaningfully expands the foundation's capacity — particularly for engaging tribal communities. This represents a notable shift from the prior single-staff model under Executive Director Mary Nell Wegner.

On the 2025 grant cycle: the online portal opened August 20, 2025, with a hard deadline of September 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM MDT. Board decisions were made in fall 2025, with award notifications and fund dispersal scheduled for late November/early December 2025. Funds became available to grantees beginning January 2026. The next application opportunity will open in summer 2026.

In the broader early childhood policy environment that directly shapes Brindle's grantee ecosystem, New Mexico enacted landmark universal childcare legislation (SB241 and SB96), becoming the first state in the country to implement a universal childcare system regardless of income. The state's Early Childhood Education and Care Department trust fund also nearly doubled to approximately $650 million in assets. These state-level developments are consequential context for grant proposals: they expand what grantees can leverage and shift Brindle's comparative advantage toward funding gaps the public system cannot yet fill — tribal and rural services, policy infrastructure, and workforce development.

Start with a pre-application conversation, not a proposal. Email Executive Director Mary Nell Wegner (marynell@brindlefoundation.org) each July or early August before the portal opens. Briefly describe your program, geographic footprint, and expected budget. This is not optional etiquette — it confirms eligibility, avoids disqualifying surprises, and begins a relationship that the foundation's culture explicitly rewards. Wegner welcomes these conversations.

Know your funding track and commit to it. Brindle funds two tracks: (1) Direct Services for prenatal-to-three populations in seven specific counties (Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Taos) or tribal lands; and (2) Statewide Systems Strengthening — advocacy, policy, coordination, and higher education workforce development across New Mexico. Select the single track that best fits your project. Proposals that straddle both tracks or check multiple boxes signal unfocused programming.

Right-size your first ask. New grantee partners may apply for up to $20,000. Do not exceed this for an initial application. Brindle's track record shows it deepens investment with proven partners — La Familia Medical Center grew from initial grants to $230,000 cumulative across four funding cycles. Begin modest and demonstrate results.

Budget only direct costs — let the 15% formula work. Brindle automatically adds 15% of your total direct costs to cover indirect costs (rent, utilities, administration). You do not itemize overhead. Focus your budget on staff time (as percentage FTE or hours), consultant fees, travel, and program materials. A $20,000 direct request effectively yields $23,000 in total organizational value.

Be specific about geography and population. Name the counties, communities, or tribal lands you serve. Vague statewide framing weakens direct services applications. For systems work, articulate a concrete and credible statewide ripple effect — the FAQ specifies that innovation must show 'clear potential for a ripple effect statewide.'

A non-discrimination policy is required of first-time applicants. This document must be signed by both board leadership and the executive director. Missing it disqualifies your submission.

Track the August portal opening and the mid-September deadline closely. The portal typically opens August 20 and closes September 16 at 5:00 PM MDT. Missing the deadline by minutes is final.