What We Do
The New Mexico Women’s Foundation was established in 1988 to maintain and administer a fund for women and girls. In 2003, the Foundation strategically sharpened its focus and launched its Women’s Cottage Industries Program.
The Women’s Cottage Industries Program seeks to create more abundant lives for New Mexico’s women and girls by generating economic opportunities for them through an innovative complement of means and approaches. These approaches strive to break cycles of poverty and include:
- Grassroots-type grants to nonprofit organizations and programs, especially in underserved, rural areas of New Mexico, that strengthen and support groups of three or more women coming together to develop cottage industries within their local communities;
- Education and mentoring through the Women Entrepreneurs Learn (WE Learn™) Program;
- Distinctive product distribution outlets, including Rag Rug Festivals and Design Collectives and small community museums.
