Impact Grants Advance Hire-Ready Technology Initiatives in New Mexico
$400,000 awarded to organizations amplifying the digital workforce
Published on Monday, May 4, 2026
Albuquerque, NM: Four organizations have been awarded $400,000 in total through The Encantado Foundation’s open, competitive Impact Grant funding cycle. Awardees were recommended by the Impact Grant Committee and approved by The Encantado Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Awardee organizations include:
- Vetsin Tech-New Mexico Chapter ($125,000);
- New Mexico Tech Foundation ($115,000);
- Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation-Belen High School STEM Center ($85,000); and
- New Mexico Highlands University Foundation ($75,000), respectively.
The four organizations and their leadership have been working towards implementing their hire-ready trainings, course offerings, and hands-on learning experiences in cybersecurity, application development, and IT operation fields, which will commence in June 2026 and progress throughout the year. Impact Grants advance the Foundation’s mission to “stimulate the development of a hire-ready workforce” in Central and Northern New Mexico.
“I am truly impressed with the breadth and scope of digital workforce initiatives we are supporting through the Foundation’s open, competitive Impact Grant funding program,” says Louis Jeantete, Executive Director of The Encantado Foundation. “During this recent grant making round and through this slate of funded initiatives, individuals will have the opportunity to upskill their technology knowledge, gain hands-on learning experience with cutting edge tools, such as high-performance computing systems, and test for industry recognized credentials—all while building their skill sets and confidence for a career in the digital workforce,” says Mr. Jeantete. O*Net Online that references recent Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlights roles in the Foundation’s priority funding areas being careers with Bright Outlooks, which includes one or more of the following elements: (1) roles that have projected, faster than average growth; (2) more than 75,000 anticipated job openings nationwide; and/or (3) new and emerging occupations.
The Encantado Foundation is pleased to amplify each Impact Grant recipient and their funded initiatives.
“The Encantado Foundation’s support allows us to directly invest in the veteran and military spouse community in New Mexico by expanding access to career-aligned training and workforce opportunities. This effort will strengthen local talent pipelines and help ensure that those who have served our country are prepared to contribute to the growing technology and innovation economy across the region,” says Katherine Webster, CEO of Vetsin Tech. This initiative will serve twenty-five veterans and military spouses, in cybersecurity training, with a goal for each participant to prepare for and sit for the Security+ CompTIA exam.
“The Encantado Foundation’s Impact Grant will enable New Mexico Tech (NMT) to expand our Miner Mayhem Career Stream Program, providing students with hands-on, industry-relevant experiences in IT, app development, and cybersecurity,” says Colleen Foster, Executive Director of NMT Foundation. “This funding ensures students not only gain practical skills, but also earn industry-recognized certifications, helping build a workforce that is fully prepared for high-demand STEM careers.” Students will work directly with NMT faculty mentors on projects, such as maintaining the NMT High Performance Computing System, implementing secure local area networks for sensitive AI training model data, and managing web domains for K-12 STEM education resources.
“We are deeply grateful to The Encantado Foundation for investing in the potential of students at Belen High School and across New Mexico. This new STEM Center represents more than equipment and curriculum. It creates a space where young people can explore, build confidence, and discover pathways into careers that are shaping the future. As the first high school STEM Center of its kind in the state, this initiative has the power to spark momentum across the region, strengthening workforce readiness and expanding opportunity for communities that have historically had limited access to hands-on STEM learning. Partnerships like this demonstrate what is possible when philanthropy and education align to open doors for the next generation,” says Steve Salem, President & CEO, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. By creating the first high school STEM Center of its kind in New Mexico, the effort establishes a critical bridge between early STEM exposure and post-secondary training. The program is designed to strengthen the regional workforce pipeline while giving students sustained access to modern technology, industry-aligned learning experiences, and clear pathways into high demand careers.
“Research demonstrates that providing learners with more opportunities to develop career-focused skills through applied learning, internship[s], micro-credential, and mentoring programs allow college graduates to more seamlessly transition into the workforce. They are more apt to begin their careers ‘on the job’, rather than ‘learning the job’ because of career readiness skills learned through the Code for Community project sponsored by this Impact Grant-funded initiative. As a result, students completing this project will enter the workforce contributing to a stronger economic community in our region, state, and nation,” says Dr. Daniel A. Brown, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs at New Mexico Highlands University. The Code to Community program is designed to serve 25-35 participants in 2026. Graduates will exit the program with comprehensive, interdisciplinary experience that spans both technical and business dimensions of software development.
Impact Grants support efforts that cultivate quality job candidates; create opportunities for professional development; and/or engages with new graduates, returning students, and working learners for digital technology careers in Central and Northern New Mexico.
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About The Encantado Foundation: The Mission of the Encantado Foundation is to stimulate the development of hire-ready candidates for STEM-related positions, particularly in the areas of cyber security, application development and management, and IT operations. We will seek to foster the professional development of individuals who wish to be a part of the digital workforce — including those from underrepresented communities in tech careers such as women, people of color, native people, and people with physical limitations — while also reshaping the way that workforce resources are acquired by technology-related employers. Since 2022, The Encantado Foundation has awarded over $2,000,000 in grants to 47 unique charitable organizations and educational institutions serving Central and Northern New Mexico. Previous Impact Grant awardees include Adelante Development Center, CNM Ingenuity, Cultivating Coders, HealthInno NM, New Collar Network, and Santa Fe Community College. To stay up-to-date with the Foundation, please visit and bookmark: https://theencantadofoundation.org/news/
Founded in 2001 by Cal Ripken, Jr., his brother Bill, and their family, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that honors the legacy of coach and mentor Cal Ripken, Sr. by bridging critical gaps for at-risk youth in underserved communities across the country. Through their three pillars of work: Youth Mentoring, Youth Development Parks, and the STEM Center Initiative, the Foundations provides opportunities that build character, foster mentorship, and promote STEM education. To learn more, please visit: www.ripkenfoundation.org
New Mexico Highlands University is a public, state-run institution located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, with centers in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Farmington. Our mission is to provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to attain an exceptional education by fostering creativity, critical thinking and research in the liberal arts, sciences, and professions within a diverse community. In line with the University’s mission, the Department of Business Administration provides academic programs that promote a solid foundation for students in leadership roles in business, government, and education. To prepare students for professional careers, the curricula address both the specifics of the workplace and the more general aspects of society. To learn more, please visit: https://www.nmhu.edu/business-administration/
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech, NMT) is a nationally recognized STEM university dedicated to educating highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technologists. NMT offers ABET-accredited programs, a strong research portfolio, and extensive hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in New Mexico and beyond. Through programs like the Miner Mayhem Career Stream Program, NMT connects rigorous academic training with real-world career experiences in engineering, IT, data security, robotics, and applied sciences. To learn more, please visit: www.nmt.edu.
Vetsin Tech supports current and returning veterans and military spouses with reintegration services and connects them to the national technology ecosystem. The organization is committed to building a tech specific network, resources, and programs for veterans and military spouses who are interested in education, entrepreneurship, and employment. To learn more, please visit: www.vetsintech.co
