The mission of the Carlsbad Community Foundation is to improve the lives of people in Carlsbad and South Eddy County, New Mexico. They support programs and projects that enhance community capacity and quality of life across various areas, including civic involvement, health, diversity, arts and culture, and education, while excluding support for event sponsorships, marketing activities, sports, travel, or political activities.
The Chevron Catalyst Fund, established by Chevron Products Company in partnership with the Carlsbad Community Foundation, is designed to support charitable organizations in Carlsbad and South Eddy County through a competitive grant process. The fund focuses on building community capacity and improving the quality of life by addressing a wide range of community needs. Grants typically range from $500 to $5,000 and prioritize projects with the greatest overall community impact. The foundation encourages challenge gifts, where funds are provided contingent on matching contributions from other donors, and actively seeks out needs and worthy causes in addition to responding to requests. Grant proposals require a letter with objectives, significance, and a budget outline, including proof of tax-exempt status.