The Rio Grande Foundation is a free market economic policy think tank and taxpayer watchdog group based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

It was founded in 2000 by Hal Stratton, a former state representative and Attorney General of New Mexico, and Harry Messenheimer, an economist then at George Mason University.

[3] On January 29, The Wall Street Journal published a letter by Rio Grande Foundation president Paul Gessing, suggesting that government transparency would improve New Mexico's political situation.

[6] In 2024, Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing authored an opinion editorial that defended Representative Larry Scott's conservative record against attacks from his Republican primary opponent, Steven McCutcheon II.

"[7] In 2025, the Rio Grande Foundation opposed a paid family and medical leave bill by distributing mock-up mailers targeting Reps. Doreen Gallegos and Art De La Cruz.