ENMU Foundation History and Purpose

The ENMU Foundation was established in July 1978 by ENMU President Warren Armstrong. Armstrong charged the director with the "responsibility of building acceptance of the University among various publics we serve and promoting loyalty to, interest in and support for the institution."

At the same time that President Armstrong established the ENMU Foundation, plans were being made to create a private, nonprofit, charitable foundation to provide support for Eastern New Mexico University. Armstrong established the ENMU Foundation Committee and organized it with a Board of Directors in the fall of 1976. The committee coordinated fundraising efforts with the Portales Foundation that had been in existence for eight years.

The Portales Foundation was incorporated on Jan. 7, 1970. As early as Feb. 1978, discussions began regarding the merger of the ENMU Foundation and the Portales Foundation into one corporation to provide private support for the University. At a meeting on Aug. 2, 1978, the Friends of Eastern Committee and the Portales Foundation officially merged to form the ENMU Foundation. The Article of Incorporation and Bylaws were approved as amended on that date. The executive director of the foundation is traditionally the same person as the director of development.

The ENMU Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization associated with Eastern New Mexico University. The mission of the foundation is to provide private funding for those programs and scholarships, which are not covered by state appropriations, and to build acceptance of and support for the University among various publics ENMU serves.

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