Our Vision

New Mexico Women’s Foundation believes that projects and organizations, especially in underserved rural areas of New Mexico, have the best ability to encourage and develop women’s creativity and lead them to establish cottage industries, which will generate much needed income and promote positive social change for thousands of women and girls in New Mexico.

Our Mission

New Mexico Women’s Foundation supports organizations and programs that create economic opportunities for New Mexico’s women and girls.

New Mexico Women’s Foundation was established in 1988 to maintain and administer a fund for the benefit of women and girls in New Mexico. We support emerging and established groups or organizations located in New Mexico that help women participate in or develop cottage industries.

Our Women’s Cottage Industries Program helps women and girls who want to open businesses, by giving grants to nonprofit organizations serving them, by providing technical assistance, and by giving them opportunities to display and sell their handmade products at Rag Rug Festivals and other venues. We help them achieve strength and independence by encouraging development of their talents, skills, and leadership abilities.

In an innovative approach to helping women sell their crafts and other artistic products, we produce festivals in community museums which provide environments for peer-to-peer learning and personal skills development. This gives them an opportunity to reach a broader number of customers. Festivals with a rag rug theme are held annually in Santa Fe the weekend before Indian Market, in Las Cruces at the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum annually in March, and at the Farmington Museum annually in November.

Rag Rug Festivals provide needed sales outlets for New Mexico’s women under NMWF’s Women’s Cottage Industries program. The festivals are an important economic development initiative. Artisans keep 100% from sales of their beautiful rag rugs and other fine crafts. No commission is expected.