Think New Mexico
Think New Mexico
1227 PASEO DE PERALTA
Santa Fe NM 87501-2758
Santa Fe NM | IRS ruling year: 1998 | EIN: 31-1611995
Organization Mission
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
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1227 PASEO DE PERALTA
Santa Fe NM 87501-2758
Santa Fe NM | IRS ruling year: 1998 | EIN: 31-1611995
Organization Mission
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
Great
This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Think New Mexico is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Think New Mexico has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
Learn more
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
---|---|
$1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
$500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
---|---|
Less than 50% | Full Credit |
50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
---|---|
70% or higher | Full Credit |
60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
No Data Available
Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Think New Mexico) or EIN (311611995) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
Think New Mexico cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Think New Mexico reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
IN 2020, THINK NEW MEXICO LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO END PREDATORY LENDING AND STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL LITERACY IN NEW MEXICO. THINK NEW MEXICO RESEARCHED, WROTE, AND PUBLISHED A POLICY REPORT ... (More)
IN 2020, THINK NEW MEXICO LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO END PREDATORY LENDING AND STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL LITERACY IN NEW MEXICO. THINK NEW MEXICO RESEARCHED, WROTE, AND PUBLISHED A POLICY REPORT TITLED, "HOW PREDATORY LENDING SWALLOWED NEW MEXICO AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT," WHICH RECOMMENDED CUTTING THE STATE'S MAXIMUM ANNUAL INTEREST RATE ON SMALL LOANS FROM 175% TO 36% AND MAKING A ONE-SEMESTER COURSE IN FINANCIAL LITERACY A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. COPIES OF THE REPORT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MORE THAN 12,000 NEW MEXICANS AS PART OF OUR EXTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS AROUND THIS ISSUE. THINK NEW MEXICO ALSO DEVELOPED LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT OUR PROPOSED REFORMS AND ORGANIZED A DIVERSE COALITION OF SUPPORTERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DURING THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THINK NEW MEXICO DRAFTED AND SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED THE ENACTMENT OF THE NEW MEXICO WORK AND SAVE ACT, WHICH WILL CREATE A SYSTEM OF VOLUNTARY STATE-SPONSORED INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS SO THAT SELF-EMPLOYED NEW MEXICANS AND THOSE WORKING IN JOBS THAT DO NOT OFFER RETIREMENT BENEFITS CAN EASILY SAVE FOR RETIREMENT USING AUTOMATIC PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. IN ADDITION, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, LANGUAGE WAS INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET BASED ON THINK NEW MEXICO'S LEGISLATION REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO MAXIMIZE THE PROPORTION OF THEIR BUDGETS THAT THEY SPEND IN THE CLASSROOM, RATHER THAN ON CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION. THINK NEW MEXICO ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR APPROPRIATIONS OF 900,000 TO CREATE AN ALL-PAYER CLAIMS DATABASE, WHICH WILL BE USED TO EXPAND THE HEALTH CARE TRANSPARENCY WEBSITE CREATED AS A RESULT OF THINK NEW MEXICO'S 2015 POLICY INITIATIVE; AND 750,535 IN FUNDING FOR THE STRATEGIC WATER RESERVE, THE INNOVATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT TOOL THAT THINK NEW MEXICO DEVELOPED IN 2005 TO KEEP MORE WATER IN NEW MEXICO'S RIVERS. FINALLY, IN 2020 THINK NEW MEXICO CONTINUED ITS LEADERSHIP INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH AIMS TO RETAIN A NEW GENERATION OF POTENTIAL LEADERS IN NEW MEXICO BY TEACHING THEM HOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HOME STATE. IN 2020, THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SERVED EIGHT STUDENTS FROM ACROSS NEW MEXICO, TRAINING THEM HOW TO DEVELOP AND ENACT SOUND PUBLIC POLICY AND INTRODUCING THEM TO KEY POLICYMAKERS AND OPINION LEADERS. (Less)
Think New Mexico has earned a 86% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Think New Mexico is New Mexico’s think tank and we serve the entire state by developing and advocating for policy reforms that benefit all New Mexicans, particularly those who lack a strong voice in the political process. While wealthy special interests are well-represented in the policymaking process, everyday New Mexicans cannot afford to hire high-powered lobbyists to represent them and articulate their needs and concerns to lawmakers. Moreover, the legislative process tends to be opaque, and legislative hearings are often held at times and locations that make it challenging for working New Mexicans to participate. We try to even the playing field by serving as a researcher and lobbyist for policies that are in the best interest of the public, especially its most vulnerable members.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Suggestion box/email
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
Think New Mexico engages directly with New Mexicans in every corner of the state through our email listserv, which reaches approximately 70,000 New Mexicans. We use this tool to gather input and feedback on our work, as well as to connect New Mexicans with their policymakers. During each legislative session, New Mexicans send between 2,500 to 8,500 emails to lawmakers about the issues we work on. Many of these emails tell personal stories about how issues like the food tax, the lottery college scholarship, or predatory lending have affected their lives. As a tiny nonprofit, our power in the policymaking process comes from our strong network of grassroots supporters engaging with their legislators and recruiting their family, friends, and neighbors to participate as well.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
In deciding which policy issues Think New Mexico will work on, our board and staff are guided by the expressed desires of the communities we serve. For example, with our recent project on improving retirement security in New Mexico, we heard from many New Mexico seniors that one reform that would significantly improve their lives would be repealing the state’s income tax on Social Security benefits. New Mexico is one of only 13 states that taxes Social Security benefits, and our tax is the second heaviest. It is particularly burdensome for the 55,0000 seniors who are serving as the primary caretakers for their grandchildren. So based on the feedback from the people we serve, we are advocating for the repeal of this tax.
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 80 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 3 Equity Practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Equity Practices (1/7) | |
---|---|
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Equity Policies and Procedures (2/7) | |
---|---|
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. |
Think New Mexico has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Think New Mexico is a results-oriented think tank whose mission is to improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process. We fulfill this mission by educating the public, the media, and policymakers about some of the most serious challenges facing New Mexico and by developing and advocating for enduring, effective, evidence-based solutions. Our approach is to perform and publish sound, nonpartisan, independent research. Unlike many think tanks, Think New Mexico does not subscribe to any particular ideology. Instead, because New Mexico is at or near the bottom of so many national rankings, our focus is on promoting workable solutions that will lift all New Mexicans up.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Think New Mexico was founded with the idea that a nonpartisan, results-oriented think tank could help to advance New Mexico in some of the national rankings where we currently place at or near the bottom. Our vision is that every New Mexican will have the opportunity to thrive, and we use public policy reform to advance that vision.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Research, develop, and advocate for public policy reforms that improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Two: Develop New Mexico’s future leaders with our paid Leadership Internship program, which trains students in how to develop and enact sound public policy and networks them with New Mexico leaders.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Three: Help New Mexico students and families engage with the policymaking process in order to improve the quality of public education, lifting up student proficiency and long-term student outcomes.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Think New Mexico actively invests in the leadership of its staff by mentoring them and providing opportunities for staff members to engage in public speaking, presentations to policymakers, public communications, policy research and analysis, and other relevant areas. Staff members beyond the Executive Director serve as the face of the organization in media interviews and public presentations. Think New Mexico also provides time and funding for staff members to complete professional development trainings. For example, Think New Mexico funded both our Associate Director and Field Director to participate in the Emerging Social Sector Leaders Program, organized by the Santa Fe Community Foundation. This intensive program focuses on networking with peers in other nonprofits and developing future nonprofit Executive Directors.
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
As the only organization of its kind in the state, Think New Mexico fills a critical need by developing and advocating for essential policy reforms that lack an effective champion, such as repealing the state’s regressive food tax. With each of our initiatives, Think New Mexico’s staff and board begin by developing innovative solutions based on our own thorough, independent, nonpartisan research. Next, we educate the public, media and policymakers about these solutions. We write, publish, and distribute policy reports describing our solutions to opinion leaders and members of the public across the state, and we leverage earned media to spread our ideas as far as possible. In conjunction with this public education effort, we build a broad-based coalition of supporters who join with us in advocating for our proposed reforms. We also draft legislation to implement our proposals, recruit bipartisan sponsors, and work with policymakers to turn our vision into a reality.
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
When the pandemic hit, Think New Mexico was fortunate that much of our work could be conducted remotely. From March 2020 through April 2021, Think New Mexico’s staff worked primarily from their homes, coordinating our efforts via zoom, email, phone, and text. This included hiring and supervising six Leadership Interns, who also had to work remotely during 2020. The constraints of the pandemic required our staff to be creative and put in extra effort. For example, we organized zoom sessions for our interns to meet and talk with state leaders including legislators, a former state secretary of Education, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Lt. Governor Howie Morales. Similarly, we organized many zoom sessions to build coalitions in support of our 2020-2021 policy proposals. The most challenging part of the past year was that the 2021 New Mexico legislative session was conducted entirely virtually, which made it significantly harder to coordinate testimony from coalition members and other allies, advocate with legislators, and engage in our usual grassroots outreach and education. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Think New Mexico’s staff, we were able to overcome those obstacles and win passage of several policy reforms, including making the state’s infrastructure funding process transparent and ending the taxation of delivered groceries.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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