You have 24 hours to make a massive difference in your community and all of New Mexico through UNM Big Give.
Starting on February 12, 2025, Santa Fe residents can support UNM-Los Alamos and UNM-Taos, campuses that directly impact the region and provide valuable resources for education, art, innovation, and economic growth.
By donating to UNM Big Give, you become a catalyst for positive change across New Mexico. Your generosity empowers students to pursue their dreams, increases enrollment, and enhances educational quality..
Contributing to UNM Big Give, means you directly invest in student success and the advancement of vital programs. Your support provides crucial resources like scholarships, easing the financial burden of higher education and opening doors to a brighter future for countless individuals.
Your gift can enable faculty and staff to engage in valuable professional development opportunities, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to provide a world-class education.
Mark Your Calendar: February 12, 2025
From midnight to midnight on February 12, 2025, join the Lobo Nation for 24 hours of giving to make an immediate impact on programs that uplift Northern New Mexico, including those at UNM-Los Alamos and UNM-Taos.
Every Gift Counts
Your gift — no matter the size — has the power to uplift students, fuel groundbreaking research, and drive innovation in Santa Fe’s neighboring communities of Los Alamos and Taos.
Whether you support scholarships, emergency funds, groundbreaking research, or professional development, your contribution creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom.
Perks for Giving During Power Hours
Give during Power Hours (8 – 9 a.m., 12 – 1 p.m., and 7 – 8 p.m.), and your gift of $50 or more earns you a pair of exclusive UNM Big Give socks — a fun way to show your Lobo pride!
Why UNM-Los Alamos & UNM-Taos Matters to Santa Fe
UNM-Los Alamos offers programs benefiting Santa Fe residents by providing accessible higher education, workforce training, and community partnerships. From specialized STEM fields to cultural and sustainability initiatives, this campus drives innovation and opportunity in the region.
UNM-Taos fosters creativity and community growth by offering unique programs in the arts, cultural preservation, and sustainable practices. With its focus on hands-on learning and local engagement, this campus empowers individuals and enriches the distinctive spirit of Northern New Mexico.
UNM-Los Alamos & UNM-Taos Programs to Support
UNM Big Give contributions directly support transformative initiatives across UNM campuses. These efforts aim to increase enrollment, enhance student retention, and boost degree and certificate completion rates through innovative educational programs.
Your gift also provides critical resources for student scholarships and emergency funding, ensuring students have the support they need to thrive.
UNM-Los Alamos utilizes Big Give donations to expand its food pantry and student needs fund, supporting students facing crises. Increased scholarship capacity ensures that more students can access higher education.
Gifts to professional development opportunities for faculty and staff elevate the quality of instruction and student experiences.
At UNM-Taos, your contributions help fund the development and construction of the Space STEM Center, complementing the observatory by delivering both educational and economic benefits. The STEM Center will create a dynamic realm for hands-on learning, fostering a love for science and innovation among students and the community.
Explore the full list of funds to support the UNM programs, schools, colleges, or initiatives that matter most to you. Santa Fe residents can make a difference by supporting UNM-Los Alamos and UNM-Taos programs that create a ripple effect across the community:
STEM and Technology Programs
UNM-Los Alamos is a hub for STEM education, offering pathways in fields like computer science, engineering, and biotechnology — areas critical to Santa Fe’s growing tech industry.
Environmental Science and Sustainability
With a focus on the environment, UNM-Los Alamos prepares students to tackle climate challenges, a cause deeply valued by Santa Fe’s eco-conscious community.
Arts and Cultural Heritage
Celebrate and preserve Northern New Mexico’s remarkable history by supporting cultural studies and creative arts programs at UNM-Taos that connect directly with Santa Fe’s artistic spirit.
Health care and Nursing
Help expand health care education, equipping future nurses and health care professionals to serve communities across Northern New Mexico, including Santa Fe.
Give Big to the Student Success and Support Fund
College is a time of learning, exploration, and preparation for one’s future after graduation. Sometimes students face challenges and emergencies outside the classroom that impact their academic futures. Critical issues could force a student to make the difficult choice to leave learning behind — temporarily or even for good.
Your gift means that Lobos will continue to have the financial resources to overcome a life-altering event and stay in school. This fund provides the option for a student to make a different choice — one that makes walking across the stage at graduation possible.
Support the UNM-Los Alamos Student Success and Support Fund and the UNM-Taos Student Success and Support Fund.
Give Big to the Cielo Centro Observatory
One of the exciting initiatives supported by UNM Big Give is the development of the Cielo Centro Observatory at UNM-Taos. Thanks to contributions from generous UNM Big Give donors, UNM-Taos is bringing to life this transformative project, which includes the donation of a 36-inch diameter, 12.5-foot-tall Dobsonian telescope.
What the Observatory Will Offer
Unparalleled Stargazing Opportunities: The telescope will allow viewers to see celestial wonders, such as the Virgo Cluster 65 million light-years away, the Milky Way’s center, and its black hole.
Education and Engagement: The observatory will serve as a hub for STEM students, K–12 learners, and visitors, offering engaging, hands-on experiences in astronomy.
ADA-Accessible Design: The observatory will feature a retractable roof and an ADA-compliant outdoor amphitheater, making the largest public-use telescope in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.
Community Impact
The Cielo Centro aims to connect the community through educational programs, public meetings, and celestial viewing events. Visitors will be guided in identifying celestial objects using telescopes, fostering a deep appreciation for the night sky — a natural resource worth preserving.
Your UNM Big Give gift helps fund this ambitious project, supporting the completion of the observatory and its associated facilities, including a classroom, multi-use spaces, and pathways to connect the campus.
Join Santa Fe in Supporting UNM-Los Alamos & UNM-Taos
UNM Big Give is more than a fundraiser — it’s a chance for Santa Fe and surrounding communities to rally around programs that empower students, foster innovation, and strengthen New Mexico’s future.
Are you ready to make a BIG GIVE? Visit the University of New Mexico now to make your contribution today and show your support for programs that directly impact Santa Fe and its neighbors.
Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to participate. Every gift counts toward building a better UNM.
Together, we can make an extraordinary difference. Go Lobos!
This article was posted by Jess
