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Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$23.0M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.0M

Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23 million (2023 record year)
  • Endowment: $429 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000 (majority under $250,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Marion County, IN and Maricopa County, AZ (environmental grants statewide)
  • Application Method: Invitation-only
  • Decision Timeline: Two grant cycles annually (January and June deadlines)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.ninapulliamtrust.org
Email: info@ninapulliamtrust.org
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Pre-Application Support: Contact a Trust program officer at least two months before application deadlines to discuss potential funding requests.

Overview

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established in 1997 following the death of Nina Mason Pulliam, a journalist, business leader, and humanitarian who co-founded Central Newspapers, Inc. With a $429 million endowment, the Trust has distributed over $380 million to 1,023 nonprofit organizations since inception. In 2023, the Trust made a record $23 million in grants to 192 organizations. The Trust operates with a 50-year mandate to support Nina Mason Pulliam's causes in Arizona and Indiana, focusing on helping people in need (especially women, children, and families), protecting animals and nature, and enriching community life. The organization is governed by a three-person board of trustees and emphasizes long-term partnerships with established nonprofits that demonstrate broad community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates three main funding streams:

Helping People in Need: Supports self-sufficiency through adult education, small business development, and micro-lending; foster care transition programs for young adults aged 18-25; K-12 education with focus on mentoring, tutoring, out-of-school learning, and college readiness for underserved students.

Protecting Animals and Nature: Animal welfare initiatives aimed at reducing euthanasia rates through spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines, and wellness access; environmental conservation with emphasis on water quality, wildlife habitat protection, and river conservation (notably $19.5 million dedicated to Verde and White rivers).

Enriching Community Life: Programs that enhance quality of life in Arizona and Indiana communities, including cultural institutions, journalism support (e.g., $3 million to Free Press Indiana initiative), and community development.

Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program: Established in 2001 for adult college students at Arizona State University, Indiana University–Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College, and Maricopa Community Colleges. Over 396 graduates have completed the program with $30+ million in scholarships distributed.

Priority Areas

  • Vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, and families
  • Foster care youth transitioning to adulthood
  • Educational equity and college access
  • Animal welfare and reducing pet euthanasia (88% decrease in Maricopa County, 84% in Marion County over 10 years)
  • Environmental conservation, especially water resources
  • Community partnerships addressing homelessness ($4.5 million committed to Arizona homelessness crisis)
  • Well-established nonprofits with broad community impact
  • First-time grantees addressing community issues in new ways (10% increase in 2023)

What They Don't Fund

  • International activities
  • Academic research
  • Sectarian purposes or programs promoting religious doctrine
  • Political campaigns
  • Health programs (except those related to the visually impaired)
  • Organizations outside Marion County, IN and Maricopa County, AZ (except environmental requests, which are considered statewide in Arizona and Indiana)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Carol Peden Schilling (Chair): Nina Mason Pulliam's niece and founding trustee (1998). Resides in Phoenix metropolitan area.

Kent E. Agness (Trustee): Appointed December 2011. Served as legal counsel to Central Newspapers, Inc. for over 20 years and assisted in creating the legal structure of the Trust. Resides in Indianapolis.

Lisa Shover Kackley (Trustee): Appointed December 2011. Co-founder and vice president of K Group with over 35 years' experience as a marketing executive and community leader. Resides in Phoenix metropolitan area.

The three-person board sets overall Trust policy, approves all grants, and determines the annual budget.

Leadership

Gene D'Adamo (President/CEO): Leads Trust operations and strategic direction.

Key Quote: Carol Peden Schilling and Gene D'Adamo emphasized that the Trust remains committed to "honoring Mrs. Pulliam's legacy by evolving to meet the needs of our communities in ways that she would heartily approve."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust does not have a public application process. All grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis.

Steps to be considered:

  1. Verify Eligibility: Ensure your organization is a nonprofit located in and serving Marion County, IN or Maricopa County, AZ (environmental organizations may apply from anywhere in Indiana or Arizona).

  2. Contact a Program Officer: Reach out to a Trust program officer or email info@ninapulliamtrust.org at least two months before application deadlines. Trust staff welcome conversations about potential funding requests.

  3. Initial Discussion: Program officers will learn about your organization or program to determine if it might be a good fit with Trust priorities.

  4. Submit Additional Information: If the program officer believes your project aligns with Trust priorities, you'll be asked to provide additional information via email.

  5. Formal Invitation: After reviewing your information, the program officer may invite you to submit a grant application through the Trust's online grants management system. Instructions are provided upon invitation.

Decision Timeline

The Trust runs two grant cycles annually with application deadlines in January and June. Organizations should contact program officers at least two months prior to these deadlines to allow adequate time for preliminary discussions and invitation processes.

Specific timeframes from application submission to final decision were not publicly disclosed, but the three-person board of trustees makes final funding decisions based on staff recommendations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have previously received grants must have their post-grant evaluation report submitted and reviewed before becoming eligible to apply for a new grant. Applicants should consult a Trust program officer for specific guidance on their situation.

For organizations that were not invited to apply or whose applications were declined, no specific waiting period was documented. Contact a program officer to discuss future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Trust-Specific Priorities

Early Engagement: "Trust staff members look forward to the opportunity to discuss your potential funding request." Conversations with program officers at least two months before deadlines improve your ability to generate a proposal that is a strong fit with current priorities.

Established Organizations with Broad Impact: The Trust tends to fund "well-established nonprofits that have a broad impact on the communities they serve." Demonstrating organizational stability and community-wide reach is important.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Recent grantmaking shows emphasis on:

  • Addressing underserved populations (10% more first-time grantees in 2023)
  • Collaborative funding partnerships on major community issues
  • Measurable outcomes (e.g., 88% reduction in animal euthanasia rates)
  • Long-term community engagement

Recent Funded Projects Demonstrate Priority Areas:

  • Arizona Humane Society: $3 million for Papago Campus with Nina Mason Pulliam P.E.T. Center
  • Indianapolis Zoo: $1.5 million for Global Center Grand Concourse
  • Keys to Change: $2.25 million three-year commitment for homelessness prevention
  • Conservation Law Center: $484,000 for Clean Water Indiana
  • Foster Success of Indiana: helping young adults transition from foster care
  • 100 Black Men of Indianapolis: career planning initiative
  • Chrysalis Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence (Arizona)

Grant Size Considerations: "The majority of the Trust's grants are less than $250,000," with recent grants ranging from $25,000 to $1 million and an average of about $50,000. The Trust will consider awarding partial funding if resources are limited.

Multiyear Funding: "Most of the Trust's grants are one-year grants, but the Trust does award multiyear grants, depending upon the amount of funding and the purpose." Large initiatives may secure longer commitments.

Collaborative Applications: Only one organization should submit an application; collaboration letters from partners must be included.

What Doesn't Help: Naming opportunities do not improve funding chances.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process requires relationship building: Contact program officers early (minimum two months before deadlines) to discuss alignment with Trust priorities before any application is possible.

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Organizations must be located in and serve Marion County, IN or Maricopa County, AZ (environmental requests have statewide Indiana/Arizona flexibility).

  • Demonstrate broad community impact: The Trust favors well-established nonprofits with measurable outcomes and wide-reaching effects on vulnerable populations.

  • Align with one of three giving areas: Clearly position your work within Helping People in Need, Protecting Animals and Nature, or Enriching Community Life—these are non-negotiable focus areas.

  • Emphasize collaboration and partnerships: Recent grantmaking shows strong preference for organizations working across sectors and partnering with other funders on major issues.

  • Focus on vulnerable populations: Women, children, families, foster youth, underserved students, and animals are central to the Trust's mission—demonstrate direct impact on these groups.

  • Expect grants under $250,000: While larger grants ($1M+) are possible for major initiatives, most grants fall below $250,000, with an average around $50,000.

References

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