New Mexico Tech Foundation

In the 1970's, the New Mexico Tech Research Foundation was created to support New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) and its students, faculty, and research. Initially the primary focus of the Research Foundation was to handle Intellectual Property (IP) developed by the university's professors and researchers.

New Mexico Tech's most notable invention, so far, is the Nicotine Patch, patented in 1986 by NMT Psychology professor Dr. Frank Etscorn. The profits that the Research Foundation received from this transformative invention have been placed in an endowment, the proceeds of which fund over $700,000 in scholarships for Tech students every year.

In January 2018, under the auspices of NMT President Stephen G. Wells, the Research Foundation Trustees voted to turn over IP responsibilities to the New Mexico Tech Research Corporation and direct the Foundation's attentions exclusively to fundraising. The new mission of the New Mexico Tech Foundation is to raise money to support faculty, students, and research at New Mexico Tech.

The Foundation is a separate 501(c)3 with its own Board of Trustees and three to four board meetings annually.

The mission of the New Mexico Tech Foundation is to serve as the philanthropic branch of the University. Its efforts are focused on raising monies for the students, faculty, and research of New Mexico Tech.  Alumni and other friends of the University are critical to the growth and advancement of our esteemed and nationally recognized institution.

The Foundation's mission is also to enhance the Tech community and utilize our relationships with our highly accomplished alumni and friends to leverage more donations to continue the excellence of New Mexico Tech.