Meet our members! AFN’s greatest asset is our members—a diverse network of national, regional, and community-based foundations, financial institutions, and grantmakers—investing in advancing economic opportunity and prosperity. Check back each month and meet your peers!
1: What’s your main interest/focus on asset building in 2021?
We are zeroing in on supporting small, BIPOC and women owned businesses that were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our goal is to apply our resources to help in recovery efforts.
2: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from a grantee or a colleague?
My friend Vanessa Roanhorse helped me to realize the extent to which our grantmaking (and grantmaking in general) leave out Native American communities in deep ways. Yes, we’ve made grants to Native-run and -serving organizations, but our grounding in Western ways of thinking are often incongruous with cultural perspectives and ways of knowing. I have endeavored to seek different kinds of advice when working with Native communities.
3: What was your first job?
I worked in my dad’s print shop.
About Henry Rael and the McCune Charitable Foundation of New Mexico
The McCune Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation that funds only in New Mexico, seeking to build resilience and prosperity in New Mexico communities. Henry’s responsibilities include reviewing programs, strategizing with grantees, and ensuring consistent communication from the Foundation.