The Foundation recently co-hosted a regional summit with the Council on Foundations and Philanthropy Southwest to discuss how work across the Southwest supports achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 SDG goals are intended to strengthen local communities to achieve larger global objectives. I learned many other philanthropic organizations are working toward these targets too. Our common ground was strong, secure and leading us forward in our own communities.I presented four of the goals to demonstrate how the Foundation is connecting locally focused organizational goals as universal goals.

The first, No Poverty, has a global objective to ensure equal rights to economic resources, including new technology and financial services. The Foundation grant example I used was Prosperity Works. Research shows children from poor socioeconomic backgrounds who have savings in their own names of just $500 or less are 3.5 times more likely to go to college and 4 times more likely to graduate than their peers without savings. A grant from our Education Field-of-Interest to Prosperity Works resulted in parents completing 10 weeks of financial literacy training to help their children with banking and educational needs.

The SDG category of Good Health and Well-Being is focused on accessibility and affordability of health care along with the promotion of mental health and well-being. The example from our Health Field-of-Interest, a grant to Centro Savila, a community mental health center in Albuquerque’s South
Valley, has provided more licensed professionals to fill a critical “provider gap” for individuals experiencing mental health concerns. At the same time, the program has created a workforce pipeline for behavioral health professionals.

The third goal I highlighted was Decent Work and Economic Growth promoting policies supporting productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. This year an Economic & Workforce Development Field-of-Interest grant was awarded to Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s EmprendeNM's high-tech accelerator/co-working space for Hispanic entrepreneurs. EmprendeNM plans to graduate 70 companies in its first four years and create 1,000+ new high quality local jobs.

The final SDG I discussed, Partnerships, will enhance policies for sustainable development and promote effective public-private partnerships. As you
are aware, access to economic opportunities through community development and workforce enhancement has been an overarching goal for the
Foundation. We are an active partner in several cross-sector partnerships in hopes of earning better results, faster. Our intention is to continue this path to reach these goals in our community. We’re encouraged other organizations around the region and world are doing the same.