Rio Grande Foundation

The Rio Grande Foundation (RGF) describes itself as a "New Mexico based free market research and educational organization dedicated to the study of public policy." It is a state think tank member of the State Policy Network.

Funding
In its 2006 annual report the Cato Institute stated that it provided a grant of $50,000 to the Rio Grande Foundation.

Ties to the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
The Rio Grande Foundation founded New Mexico Watchdog.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council
The Rio Grande Foundation has ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council through its founder, Hal Stratton. Stratton, now a private lawyer, was once a member of the New Mexico legislature and later served as New Mexico Attorney General and Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission under George Bush. He received the ALEC Legislator of the Year award in 1981.

RGF also hosted director of the ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force, Christie Herrera, at an event in Albuquerque in 2009. .

Please see SPN Ties to ALEC for more.

Board of Directors

 * Paul Gessing, President
 * Ben Alaimo-Monson, Secretary
 * Victor S. Bruno, Treasurer
 * Peter Howley
 * Elisabeth Keen
 * Tom Mullins
 * Jack Swickard
 * Doug Turner
 * Deane Waldman

Staff

 * Paul Gessing, President

Core Financials
 2011  :  2010  :  2009  :
 * Total Revenue: $363,912
 * Total Expenses: $342,854
 * Net Assets: $66,509
 * Total Revenue: $450,785
 * Total Expenses: $421,834
 * Net Assets: $45,451
 * Total Revenue: $262,253
 * Total Expenses: $442,884
 * Net Assets: $16,500

Contact Details
P.O. Box 40336 Albuquerque, NM 87196 Phone: 505-264-6090 Website: http://www.riograndefoundation.org/