NMGS Foundation
Overview
The New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) Foundation was established in 2003 with the mission of providing a source of funding for educational, and scientific objectives, which directly and indirectly benefit the geologic profession in New Mexico and the general public.
The NMGS Foundation was created as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with the intent to: 1) protect the non-profit status associated with the New Mexico Geological Society and their investment income, 2) provide long-term management of assets and 3) protect scholarship assets from liability associated with NMGS Society activities. The NMGS Foundation Board's primary function is to determine the annual budget for activities associated with the New Mexico Geological Society. To achieve this function, the Board meets quarterly to evaluate investment performance, establish annual budgets, and other associated activities. The NMGS Foundation Board currently has five members, including the Vice President of the New Mexico Geological Society that represents professional and academic geologists from across the state of New Mexico.
NMGS Foundation revenues from investments of charitable contributions annually provide $70,000 to the NMGS to support activities that include the annual NMGS Fall Field Conference, NMGS Spring Meeting, numerous NMGS Grants-in-Aid to students undertaking geological research in the state of New Mexico, and other scholarships to students attending 4-year colleges and research universities throughout New Mexico.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the NMGS Foundation or remembering the NMGS Foundation and Society in your estate planning. The generous support of past donors has helped advance the careers of many young geoscientists and greatly contributed to the legacy of geologic research in New Mexico.
A special thanks to the following 2025 donors that contributed a record number of donations that allowed us to exceeded our $30,000 funding target!
- James Baker*
- Brian Brister*
- Glen Brown*
- James & Susan Cearley*
- Richard Chamberlin (In memory of Charles Chapin and Frank Kottloski)*
- Robert Couch*
- Mary Dowse (In support of WNMU or Community College professor attendance at FFC)*
- Nelia Dunbar*
- Rhea Graham*
- Karl Karstrom & Laura Crossey (in support of student scholarships)
- Jerome Kendall
- Barry Kues*
- Susan & Nakai Lucas-Kamat (In support of the Wilma Cerrati Lucas Scholarship)
- Peter Leiggi
- James & Virginia McLemore*
- Robert Newcomer*
- Frank Ramos (Ramos in support of Frank Ramos student attendance at annual FFC)*
- Jonathan Sandor*
- Albert Shultz*
- Tom Solak (In support of the Barbara Sue McBride student attendance in the FFC)*
- David Swenson*
- John & Diana Shomaker*
- Charles Thorn & Andi Kron*
- William & Sylvia Waggoner*
- Kate Zeigler*
*Indicates multi-year donor
NMGS Foundation Directors for 2025
From left to right: Frank C. Ramos — President, Bob Newcomer — Secretary, Kate Zeigler — Treasurer, James B. Cearley III — Outreach Officer,
John Shomaker — Vice President,(the NMGS Vice-President & Foundation Liason was not present).