Connie Hillman Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 45-3758612
• Annual Giving: $2.7-3.3 million
• Total Assets: $12.86 million (2025)
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $975,000
• Median Grant: $143,315
• Total Grants Since 2011: Over $14 million
• Geographic Focus: Greater Tucson, Arizona (almost exclusively), with some support in Phoenix and Louisville, KY
• Signature Approach: Challenge/matching grants to leverage additional fundraising

Contact Details

Primary Contact: Larry R. Adamson, Director, President & Treasurer

Address: 3430 E Sunrise Dr, Suite 200, Tucson, AZ 85718

Phone: (520) 792-1181

Email: [email protected]

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website. Communication is handled directly through Larry Adamson.

Overview

The Connie J. Hillman Family Foundation was established in 2011 following the passing of Connie Lynn Hillman (1952-2011), who lived in Tucson for fewer than 10 years but established a lasting philanthropic legacy through her estate planning. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded more than $14 million to local nonprofit organizations in the Tucson area and beyond. The foundation is led by Larry R. Adamson (Director, President & Treasurer) and Robby Adamson (Director, Vice President & Secretary), both of whom serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

The foundation operates as a private independent foundation and has become known for its innovative matching-grant approach, which has supported more than 100 charities annually in recent years. In 2020, the foundation was named the Outstanding Foundation Philanthropist in recognition of its significant community impact. While primarily focused on women's issues, the foundation also supports arts, workforce development, STEM education, healthcare, housing, and other community causes.

The foundation's commitment to challenge grants has made it a catalyst for fundraising success among Tucson nonprofits, encouraging organizations to expand their donor bases while providing matching funds to amplify their impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Connie Hillman Family Foundation is best known for its Challenge Grant/Matching Grant model, which requires organizations to raise funds from new donors or increased gifts from existing donors to qualify for foundation matching. This approach typically involves the foundation matching $1 for every $2 raised by the organization.

Recent Major Challenge Grants:

• Pima Community College Foundation: Up to $5 million match ($1 for every $2 raised, up to $10 million total) - The foundation's largest commitment in Tucson, focused on workforce development and high-tech job preparation
• Ballet Tucson: $1.5 million matching grant (completed September 2024) - Supported expanded programming, performances, and community engagement
• Social Venture Partners Tucson: $2 million matching grant (through 2024) - Supporting the 2Gen Collaboration program addressing family economic mobility
• SARSEF (Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation): $200,000 match ($1 for every $2 raised) - Supporting STEM education for Pre-K-12 students
• Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona: $50,000 Challenge Grant for Angel Charity Place for Girls
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra: $400,000 to endow principal trumpet chair

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports:

Women's Issues (Primary Focus):

• Recovery housing for mothers with substance use disorders
• Family services and support
• Women's health initiatives

Education:

• Workforce development programs
• STEM education (SARSEF programs)
• Community college support (Pima Community College)
• Educational foundations (Amphi Foundation)

Arts & Culture:

• Performing arts organizations (Ballet Tucson, Tucson Symphony Orchestra)
• Museums (Tucson Museum of Art)
• Live theatre (Live Theatre Workshop)

Healthcare:

• Community wellness clinics
• Health foundations (Banner Health Foundation, El Rio Health Center Foundation)
• Substance abuse treatment and recovery

Housing Development:

• Transitional housing
• Residential care facilities

Community Services:

• Social services organizations
• Capacity building for nonprofits

Recent Grant Recipients (2024 Tax Year)

• Pima JTED: $975,000 for Community Wellness & Medical Clinic
• Various Tucson organizations: $143,315 (median grant)
• Small event sponsorships: As low as $2,500

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, their grant history shows:

• Almost exclusive focus on Greater Tucson area organizations (with rare exceptions in Phoenix and Louisville, KY)
• Must be 501(c)(3) organizations
• Limited to organizations where challenge/matching grant structure can drive fundraising growth

Governance and Leadership

Directors and Officers:

• Larry R. Adamson - Director, President & Treasurer (Voluntary, uncompensated)
• Robby Adamson - Director, Vice President & Secretary (Voluntary, uncompensated)

Both leaders serve in multiple capacities and maintain direct oversight of the foundation's grantmaking activities. The foundation is managed from Larry Adamson's law office at Duffield Law in Tucson.

About the Founder:

Connie Lynn Hillman (1952-2011) was born in Edmond, Oklahoma and lived in Virginia, California, Colorado, and Arizona before settling in Tucson. Though she lived in Tucson for fewer than 10 years and wasn't personally involved in charitable work during her lifetime, she was receptive to creating a foundation benefiting Tucson-area charities when doing her estate planning. Her legacy has now touched hundreds of organizations and countless people they serve.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit a Letter of Intent

The foundation requires a letter of intent as the first step in the grantmaking process. This should be sent to:

Contact: Larry R. Adamson
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (520) 792-1181

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a 501(c)(3) organization
• Geographic preference for Greater Tucson area
• Ability to participate in challenge/matching grant structure (typical approach)

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific application deadlines or board meeting schedules. As a small family foundation with two directors, decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Based on grant activity patterns:

• 10-12 grants awarded annually
• Major grants announced throughout the year
• Challenge grant campaigns typically run for 2-3 years

Success Rates

Competition Level: Moderate to High

• The foundation made 10 grants in 2024, 12 grants in 2023, and 6 grants in 2022
• With total giving around $3 million annually, competition for grants is significant
• The foundation's preference for challenge/matching grants means organizations must demonstrate fundraising capacity

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. However, the foundation's grant history shows:

• Some organizations receive multiple grants over the years (e.g., Pima Foundation, Ballet Tucson)
• Multi-year challenge grant commitments demonstrate willingness to sustain relationships
• Organizations that successfully complete challenge grants appear well-positioned for future consideration

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns and documented priorities, successful applicants typically demonstrate:

1. Strong Fundraising Capacity The foundation's signature challenge/matching grant model requires organizations to raise substantial funds from new or increased donors. Successful applicants like Ballet Tucson ($1.5M), Pima Foundation ($5M), and SVP Tucson ($2M) all had strong fundraising infrastructure and donor bases to activate.

2. Tucson Area Focus The foundation explicitly states it provides grants "ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREATER TUCSON ARIZONA GEOGRAPHIC AREA." Organizations outside this area face very limited opportunities unless they have exceptional alignment with foundation priorities.

3. Alignment with Priority Areas Projects aligned with the foundation's core interests receive priority:

• Women's issues (particularly recovery and family services)
• Workforce development and STEM education
• Arts and cultural organizations
• Healthcare and community wellness
• Capacity building for nonprofits

4. Measurable Community Impact According to SARSEF CEO Julie Euber's quote about their grant: "SARSEF has seen significant growth in response to students' critical need for access to quality science education." The foundation values organizations addressing documented community needs with measurable outcomes.

5. Leverage and Sustainability The foundation's matching grant approach is designed to build long-term sustainability. As noted in their Pima Foundation grant description, the foundation supports organizations that can use matching funds to "strengthen" and "empower" their programs while engaging broader community support.

6. Established Organizations Grant recipients include well-established Tucson institutions (Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Tucson, Pima Community College, Banner Health Foundation), suggesting the foundation prefers organizations with proven track records rather than startup projects.

7. Project-Specific Funding Many grants support specific initiatives (Community Wellness Clinic, recovery housing renovations, endowed orchestra chair) rather than general operations, though the matching grant model does support overall organizational capacity.

8. Workforce Development Focus The foundation's largest grant ($5 million to Pima Foundation) emphasizes preparing students for "high-tech jobs of today and tomorrow" and addresses "critical industry needs," indicating strong interest in workforce readiness.

Notable Signature Project

Connie Hillman Family Foundation House: The foundation funded a $600,000 renovation of a transitional housing facility for mothers with substance use disorders, creating 15 fully furnished units housing approximately 19 women and children. The facility, operated through partnership with Tucson Medical Center and CODAC Health, provides medical, educational, and behavioral health services. This signature project exemplifies the foundation's commitment to women's issues and sustainable community impact. Contact: (520) 307-9677 or [email protected]

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Challenge Grant Model is Central: Nearly all significant foundation grants involve matching requirements. Applications should demonstrate strong fundraising capacity and willingness to use foundation support as leverage to engage new/increased donors.

• Tucson Focus is Non-Negotiable: With grants distributed "almost exclusively" to Greater Tucson organizations, applicants outside this area should not apply unless they have extraordinary circumstances.

• Women's Issues Open Doors: The foundation's primary focus on women's issues, particularly recovery, family services, and women's health, receives priority consideration.

• Letter of Intent Required: Direct communication with Larry Adamson via letter of intent is the essential first step. The foundation operates informally without extensive public guidelines.

• Multi-Year Commitments Possible: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make substantial multi-year commitments (Pima Foundation's 3-year, $5M pledge), suggesting strong partnerships can lead to sustained support.

• Build Relationships Through Success: Organizations that successfully complete challenge grants (like Ballet Tucson) demonstrate the value of meeting fundraising goals and stewarding foundation relationships.

• Outstanding Philanthropic Recognition: The foundation's 2020 Outstanding Foundation Philanthropist award recognizes its significant community impact and innovative approach - positioning it as a prestigious Tucson funder worth pursuing.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Connie Hillman Family Foundation (EIN 45-3758612). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453758612 (Accessed January 2026)

2. Grantmakers.io Profile - Connie Hillman Family Foundation. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/453758612-connie-hillman-family-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

3. Pima Foundation. "A Transformative Commitment: The Hillman Challenge Grant and the Future of Giving at Pima Community College." https://pimafoundation.org/the-largest-private-gift-ever-received-by-pima-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

4. BizTUCSON. "Ballet Tucson Gets $1.5 Million Matching Grant from Connie Hillman Family Foundation." https://biztucson.com/ballet-tucson-gets-1-5-million-matching-grant-from-connie-hillman-family-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

5. Arizona Daily Star. "New transitional housing program in Tucson will help moms fighting addiction." https://tucson.com/news/new-transitional-housing-program-in-tucson-will-help-moms-fighting-addiction/article_20e2139a-519a-5f62-94ef-4b01d325f825.html (Accessed January 2026)

6. SARSEF. "$200K challenge gift awarded to SARSEF." https://sarsef.org/200k-challenge-gift-awarded-to-sarsef/ (Accessed January 2026)

7. Fletcher Group. "Arizona Resources - Connie Hillman Family Foundation." https://www.fletchergroup.org/arizona-resources/ (Accessed January 2026)

8. Arizona Daily Star. "Connie Lynn Hillman Obituary." https://tucson.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/connie-lynn-hillman-8-8-1952-11-4-2011/article_52a70931-c9aa-5108-9c3e-c8d74cda463b.html (Accessed January 2026)

9. Cause IQ - Connie Hillman Family Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/connie-hillman-family-foundation,453758612/ (Accessed January 2026)

10. Instrumentl - Connie Hillman Family Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/connie-hillman-family-foundation-co-larry-r-adamson (Accessed January 2026)