Simone Charitable Foundation Inc.

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5.1 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $30,000 - $858,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Arizona, with some grants to New York, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia

Contact Details

The foundation does not provide public contact information for grant applications. They only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Address: Scottsdale, AZ

Overview

The Simone Charitable Foundation Inc. was established as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) private foundation in August 2018, honoring the legacy of Pat Michael Simone, an Arizona real estate investor and philanthropist who passed away in 2017 after a long battle with kidney disease. The foundation holds assets of approximately $115 million and distributes around $5.1 million annually through approximately 12 grants. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on healthcare (particularly kidney disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer research), human services, youth development, and early childhood programs. Their funding is concentrated primarily in Arizona, with select grants to organizations in New York, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia. The foundation operates with a strategic, relationship-based approach to philanthropy, selecting beneficiaries through trustee discretion rather than open application processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs with specific application cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership to preselected organizations.

Recent Grant Amounts (2024):

• $30,000 - $858,000 (typical range)
• Median grant: $368,000
• Total annual distribution: $5.1 million through 12 grants

Priority Areas

Healthcare & Medical Research:

• Kidney disease support and research (National Kidney Foundation of Arizona - $858,000 in 2024)
• Parkinson's disease research and patient services (Parkinson's Foundation - $800,000 grant for Barrow Neurological Institute research)
• Alzheimer's disease awareness and programs (Alzheimer's Association - $605,000)
• Cancer research and patient support (American Cancer Society - $330,000)
• Neurological conditions (Barrow Neurological Foundation - ongoing support)

Youth Development & Education:

• Boys & Girls Clubs programs including STEM education, academic success, and character development
• Early childhood development programs
• Youth wish fulfillment (Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona - $500,000)

Human Services:

• Early childhood intervention and family support (Southwest Human Development - $750,000)
• Direct aid programs for patients and families

What They Don't Fund

The foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited grant applications
• Does not have a public application process
• Only funds preselected organizations identified by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Mark Grayson, President (Full-time, $359,414) President Grayson leads the foundation's strategic direction and grantmaking decisions. Regarding the foundation's commitment to Parkinson's research, he stated: "We know that genetic testing is a critical tool for understanding the puzzle of Parkinson's disease."

Curt Christensen, Treasurer (Full-time, $190,941) Christensen oversees the foundation's financial operations and manages the foundation's $115 million in assets.

James Geaves, Director (Part-time, uncompensated) Geaves serves on the foundation's board in an advisory capacity.

Kimberly Riley, Administrative Assistant ($66,676) Riley provides administrative support to the foundation's operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, meaning the foundation's leadership identifies and selects grant recipients based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships within the philanthropic community.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grantmaking patterns, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Arizona-based organizations with proven track records - The vast majority of grants go to established Arizona nonprofits, particularly those serving the Phoenix/Scottsdale metropolitan area and Tucson.

Focus on health conditions with personal significance - Given Pat Simone's death from kidney disease and the foundation's focus on neurological conditions, organizations addressing kidney disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and cancer appear to align with the foundation's memorial mission.

Major regional institutions - Recipients include prominent Arizona organizations such as the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona, and Barrow Neurological Institute (part of Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center).

Board connections and relationships - As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, relationships with the foundation's board members and leadership are the primary pathway to consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by foundation leadership.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations receive funding through trustee selection only.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, the following insights are based on their documented grantmaking patterns:

Geographic focus on Arizona - Of the 12 grants awarded in 2024, the majority went to Arizona-based organizations. Organizations outside Arizona that received funding typically had specific programs serving Arizona residents or clear connections to the foundation's priorities.

Health conditions aligned with Pat Simone's legacy - The foundation shows particular commitment to kidney disease (Pat Simone's cause of death) and neurological conditions, especially Parkinson's disease. Organizations addressing these conditions receive some of the largest grants.

Established organizations with measurable impact - Grant recipients are typically well-established nonprofits with proven programs, professional operations, and clear metrics for success. Recipients include nationally recognized organizations like the American Cancer Society and major regional institutions.

Specific, defined programs - Grants are often designated for specific programs rather than general operating support. For example: National Kidney Foundation of Arizona received funding specifically to "fund the direct aid of kidney patients in Arizona," and Southwest Human Development received funding for their "Birth to Five Center of Excellence, Smooth Way Home" program.

Multi-year relationships - The foundation appears to develop ongoing relationships with grantees. Organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Barrow Neurological Foundation, and others have received multiple grants over different years.

Large grant sizes - With a median grant of $368,000 and grants ranging up to $858,000, the foundation makes substantial investments in fewer organizations rather than numerous small grants. This suggests they prefer deep partnerships with selected organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept applications - Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation explicitly states they only fund preselected organizations.

• Arizona focus is paramount - Nearly all funding goes to Arizona-based organizations or programs serving Arizona residents, particularly in the Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson areas.

• Health priorities reflect founder's legacy - Kidney disease and neurological conditions (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's) receive substantial support, reflecting Pat Simone's personal health challenges.

• Median grant of $368,000 indicates significant investments - This is not a foundation making small grants to many organizations, but rather substantial investments in select partners.

• Relationship-based grantmaking - With only 12 grants made annually from a $115 million foundation, grant decisions are highly selective and relationship-driven.

• Established organizations preferred - Recipients are typically well-known, professionally managed nonprofits with proven programs and clear impact metrics.

• Program-specific funding - Grants tend to support specific initiatives rather than general operating expenses, suggesting the foundation wants to see clearly defined outcomes for their investments.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Simone Charitable Foundation Inc. (EIN 82-3971316). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823971316 (Accessed January 2026)

• Grantmakers.io - Simone Charitable Foundation Inc. Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/823971316-simone-charitable-foundation-inc/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Parkinson's Foundation. "Parkinson's Foundation Receives Grant to Fund Critical Research, Genetic Testing and Counseling." March 2023. https://www.parkinson.org/about-us/news/pat-simone-grant (Accessed January 2026)

• Instrumentl 990 Report - Simone Charitable Foundation Inc. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/simone-charitable-foundation-inc (Accessed January 2026)

• Cause IQ - Simone Charitable Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/simone-charitable-foundation,823971316/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Obituare.com. "Obituary of Pat Michael Simone." 2017. https://www.obituare.com/pat-michael-simone-obituary-23508/ (Accessed January 2026)