How Albuquerque’s Foundation for Building is changing the landscape for sustainable construction

The Foundation for Building in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stands as a beacon of innovation and leadership in sustainable construction and community development across New Mexico. For over two decades, the organization has been at the forefront of promoting green building practices, affordable housing solutions and skilled labor development.

The FFB began as a response to a need that president Jim Folkman saw in the industry and has grown into a transformative force for sustainable building and community improvement. Led by Folkman, the organization’s journey is a story of adaptability, resilience and a relentless focus on making a difference.

How it all began

In the late 1990s, the construction industry in Albuquerque faced a dire skilled labor shortage. Builders struggled to complete projects due to a lack of trained workers. “It was a real crisis for us,” Folkman recalls. “Our builders couldn’t get homes built because there wasn’t enough skilled labor.”

This challenge spurred the creation of the Foundation for Building. What began as a simple activity to address the labor shortage quickly evolved into a full-fledged 501(c)(3) organization, thanks to an initial $130,000 grant from Fannie Mae. The funding launched a skilled labor training program, but due to the complexities of residential construction and a lack of sustained demand, the initiative was short-lived.

Pivots and progress

Over the years, the FFB explored various projects to address community needs, consistently adapting to changing circumstances. In 2006, Folkman helped lead the charge for sustainable building practices, even when the idea faced political resistance. “I knew it was the right thing to do,” he says. With the guidance of Steve Hale, Build Green’s program director, the foundation launched the Build Green New Mexico program, establishing rigorous green building standards and securing legislation for the Sustainable Building Tax Credit. The program earned statewide and national recognition, including accolades from the National Association of Home Builders for leadership in green building programs. This dedication was further affirmed when the organization was recognized by Gov. Bill Richardson as a leader in sustainable building practices within New Mexico. Through its BuildGreenNM initiative, the Foundation has certified over 10,000 homes.

In 2022, the FFB partnered with Tree New Mexico, another nonprofit focused on planting trees statewide. This collaboration inspired the creation of Tree Green New Mexico, an initiative supporting urban forestation and environmental sustainability through tree-planting efforts.

Over the years, the Foundation has also demonstrated its philanthropic commitment by providing over half a million dollars in financial support to more than 20 community and non-profit organizations across the state.

Coming full circle

Despite its many successes, the Foundation for Building now finds itself addressing a familiar issue: a skilled labor shortage. “It's a little ironic that we've gone through those gyrations and those iterations, if you will, only to come back where we started, which is skilled labor training,” Folkman says. “So we're starting a new initiative to help with that.”

This time, the Foundation is tackling the labor shortage through collaborations with other New Mexico nonprofits. By pooling resources and leveraging partnerships, the FFB aims to reignite interest in skilled trades and provide the training necessary to build the homes of tomorrow.

Looking ahead

Operating with a lean structure, the FFB relies heavily on independent contractors and connections. “We’re big about collaborations,” Folkman explains. “We’ve worked hard to find people we can partner with in ways that benefit everyone, especially the citizens of New Mexico.”

As the Foundation for Building charts its path forward, its focus remains clear: addressing New Mexico’s housing challenges through innovative solutions, sustainable practices and collaborative partnerships. “I don’t expect to change our organizational model, specifically that we will continue to have very modest overhead with no additional employees and work nearly exclusively through collaborations and partnerships with other organizations that do have staffs and other resources,” Folkman explains, “that way we are able to leverage and deploy our monetary assets to their maximum benefit. I believe we are somewhat unusual in that sense, but it works for us and benefits the laudable work of others.”

From its roots in crisis response to its current initiatives in sustainability and skilled labor training, the Foundation for Building exemplifies how adaptability and vision can create lasting impact. With its sights set on the future, the foundation continues to build not just homes but a stronger, more sustainable community for all New Mexicans. “In the next year or so, we will begin to more fully develop our sustainable skilled labor training initiative and help get as many trees planted as possible,” Folkman says.

For more information on the Foundation for Building, visit https://thefoundationforbuilding.org.