PHOENIX—The Arizona Community Foundation and its donors are pleased to announce grant and scholarship distributions for the third quarter of its fiscal year. Between October 1 and December 31, 2021, a total of $62,361,379 was awarded from funds of the Arizona Community Foundation and its six statewide affiliates in Cochise, Flagstaff, the Gila Valley, Sedona, Yavapai County, and Yuma.
The $62.4 million in both discretionary and advised grants and scholarships were awarded in five strategic priority areas: Health Innovations, Community Improvement & Development, Environment & Sustainability, Arts & Culture, and Quality Education.
Over $12.4 million of that total was dedicated to supporting 621 small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants were funded through ACF’s ongoing partnerships with Maricopa County and several municipalities to deliver COVID-19 relief.
Health Innovations: A total of $15.9 million was awarded to 926 organizations and programs in the areas of health, health care, medical research, and a variety of human services. Among the distributions for the quarter were: $66,000 from the Reese Family Foundation to Native American Connections, for the Patina Wellness Center which provides culturally relevant health and community development services; $43,300 from Christie’s Charitable Fund to Alice’s Place, dedicated to providing services to victims of domestic violence; and, $30,000 from the Virginia O. Kieckhefer Memorial Fund to the Prescott Salvation Army to provide food and necessities to people in need.
Community Improvement & Development: A total of $2.6 million was awarded to 225 programs in this category, which includes housing, community and neighborhood development, financial literacy training, legal assistance, and crime prevention programs. Among the grants awarded this quarter were: $25,000 from the Northern Arizona Housing Fund to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, Inc. which builds opportunities for sustainable, affordable housing in northern Arizona; $8,000 from Real Engagement Through Active Philanthropy (REAP) to Local First Arizona for the We Rise Business Accelerator; and, $5,000 from the African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle to the Black Mother’s Forum, which hopes to end the school to prison pipeline.
DONOR HIGHLIGHT:
The Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy collaborative fund is ACF’s Black men’s giving circle focused on the needs of Black men in the areas of educational enrichment, career exploration, and social justice. This quarter, REAP crossed a milestone, having granted $100,000 since inception to local organizations. The giving circle will continue to cultivate the next generation of youth, create generational community development opportunities, and foster economic growth. REAP’s $8,000 grant to the Local First Arizona We Rise Accelerator will mean Arizona’s Black entrepreneurs can further access comprehensive skill-development programming to successfully launch and implement their business plans. REAP’s efforts to elevate and celebrate the Black community in Arizona is reflective of the Black leadership in the state and their commitment to impact their communities.
Environment & Sustainability: A total of $2.2 million was awarded to 195 organizations and programs in the areas of environmental education, renewable resources, conservation, and animal welfare. Among the distributions for the quarter were: $50,000 to Lowell Observatory from the Nicola and Mark Johnston Fund to support the Technical Building; $20,000 from the Art & Betsy Grandlich Foundation for Animals to Audubon Southwest to support the relocation of the burrowing owl in the Phoenix Valley; and, $20,000 to the Tuba City Humane Society from the Lynne P. Power Fund to rescue and rehabilitate homeless and unwanted animals.
DONOR HIGHLIGHT:
The Lynne P. Power Fund was established in 2009 and has since granted over $660,000 to animal welfare organizations that operate no-kill shelters. The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a slate of insecurity for humans and their mascots alike. As families were forced to surrender their pets due to economic insecurity, shelters across the state were inundated with requests for care. The Tuba City Humane society is no stranger to the challenges of decreased volunteer forces, limited foster homes, and higher animal intake than ever before. The $20,000 grant will help the Tuba City Humane Society, an all-volunteer run shelter, continue on their mission to help the western Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe end animal homelessness, suffering, and overpopulation by providing resources toward that goal.
Arts & Culture: A total of $2.3 million was awarded to 132 artistic and cultural organizations across Arizona. Among the grants were: $25,000 to the Heard Museum from the Newton and Betty Rosenzweig Fund for the Arts to sponsor the He’e Nalu exhibit on the art of surfing; $5,000 from the Silverman Family Foundation to Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, which specializes in helping children who have experienced trauma build resilience through the arts and trauma-informed care; and, $30,000 from the Wellik Foundation to the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts for their Made in Wickenburg artist residency program, which supports and launches local artists and companies in an environment free from everyday pressures.
Quality Education: During this quarter, a total of $16.9 million was awarded in scholarships and education-related grants. Among the grants were: $25,000 from the John & Delys Ellis Fund to Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates supporting their career and college readiness program; and, $25,000 from the Todd Thomas Foundation to the Be Kind Project Foundation, which works to deliver youth-relevant learning opportunities that inspire humanity and academic achievement.
College scholarships accounted for $255,700 of the quarter’s total and were awarded for the benefit of 73 students pursuing higher education, averaging $3,500 per student scholarship. College scholarships are awarded to Arizona students to attend a wide range of colleges, universities, and technical schools in Arizona and across the United States.
In addition to these grants, 22 nonprofit organizations with agency endowments managed by the Arizona Community Foundation received their annual distributions during the third quarter of ACF’s fiscal year, accounting for $9,977,587 distributed during the quarter.
The $62.4 million awarded across all categories represents 2,490 grants and scholarships. Some grants are awarded at the discretion of the Arizona Community Foundation with input from board committees and diverse community panels, while others are awarded through donor advice. All grants are approved or ratified by ACF’s Philanthropic Services Committee whose members include ACF board representatives and other community leaders.
Established in 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide family of charitable funds supported by thousands of Arizonans. With five regional offices serving communities across Arizona, ACF is among the top 25 community foundations in the nation with more than $1.1 billion in trust and endowment assets, and is certified under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Since inception, ACF and its affiliates have awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants, scholarships and loans to nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. More information is available at azfoundation.org.
