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Valley of the Sun United Way

Annual Giving
$105.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.2M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
29%

Valley of the Sun United Way

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $105,471,884 (2024)
  • Typical Grant Range: $10,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Maricopa County, Arizona (excluding City of Mesa)
  • Number of Grants: 126 awards (2024)
  • Decision Timeline: Applications reviewed February; decisions announced by June
  • Charity Navigator Score: 100% (Four-Star Rating)

Contact Details

Overview

Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) was founded in 1925 as the Community Welfare Council and Community Chest of Phoenix, making it one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in Arizona. Today, it is one of the largest members of the global United Way system and the largest nonprofit investor of health and human service programs in Maricopa County.

The organization raises more than $85 million annually and employs approximately 118 staff. In 2024, VSUW distributed over $105 million in grants to 126 nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Maricopa County. VSUW received the MacKenzie Scott $25 million donation, which helped catalyze their five-year MC2026 (Mighty Change by 2026) strategic plan.

VSUW has earned a 100% score and Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar, and is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau. Over 90 cents of every dollar goes directly toward community impact, with less than 10% allocated to administrative costs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Competitive Grants Program: $10,000 - $200,000 per grant

  • Primary funding mechanism supporting 67+ community organizations annually
  • $5.8 million awarded through competitive process in recent cycle
  • 12-month grant cycle (July - June)

Grassroots Funding Initiative: For nonprofits with annual budgets under $250,000

  • Designed specifically for smaller, emerging organizations
  • Part of overall $9.3 million community investment strategy

Multi-Year and Transformational Grants: Long-term programmatic support

  • Supports programs like Mighty Families and Pathways to Economic Opportunity
  • Designed for systemic, sustained community change

Fair Chance Grants: Focused funding stream

  • $120,000 distributed to seven organizations in recent cycle
  • Supports programs for justice-impacted individuals
  • Catalyzed by JPMorganChase Foundation support

Priority Areas (MC2026 Strategic Plan)

  1. Education: Third-grade reading proficiency; closing opportunity gaps for educational success
  2. Workforce Development: Connecting young adults aged 16-24 to education and employment; pathways for adults in low-paying jobs
  3. Health: Access to healthcare and food; creating healthier environments
  4. Housing & Homelessness: Bold goal to reduce homelessness in Maricopa County by 50% by 2026

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Maricopa County
  • Organizations not classified as 501(c)(3) or schools
  • Programs not aligned with MC2026 priority areas (Education, Workforce Development, Health, Housing & Homelessness)
  • Organizations that do not meet compliance requirements (governance, financial management, anti-terrorism certifications)
  • City of Mesa-based programs (Mesa United Way serves that area separately)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Carla Vargas Jasa - President & CEO

  • First woman and first Latina to hold the position since 1925
  • Joined in 2019; spearheaded COVID-19 response raising over $3 million in weeks
  • Named PHOENIX Magazine's "Great 48" Class of 2024
  • Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce "Woman of the Year" (2023)
  • Phoenix Business Journal "Most Admired Leaders" (2021)

Key Quote on Grant Funding:

"We're proud to support and partner with so many incredible nonprofits and schools that are doing amazing and impactful work throughout our community. These partners are a fundamental and critical component aligned to reach the bold goals of our community-driven, five-year plan for Mighty Change by 2026... Forty-three organizations either received increased or new funding through our competitive grant process and more than 95,000 people throughout Maricopa County will benefit from these funded programs and services."

Key Quote on Transformational Investment:

"We are going to be making transformative investments in each one of our four areas to help scale community programs."

Other Executive Team Members

  • Tamera Skrovan - Chief of Staff and Executive Communications
  • Emma Garcia - Chief Community Development and Engagement Officer
  • Laura Kaiser - Chief Corporate Relations and Brand Officer
  • Shelley Griffin - SVP, Information Technology and Analytics (2024 Arizona CIO Finalist)
  • Sam Leyvas - Vice President, Corporate Relations and Social Responsibility
  • Ryan Narramore, APR - Vice President, Brand & Marketing

Board Leadership

  • Chair: Latasha Causey (President, Phoenix Raceway)
  • Vice Chair: Matt Byrnes (SVP, PetSmart)
  • Treasurer: Dave Long
  • Secretary: Brad Smith (Retired Deloitte Partner)

The board comprises 40+ community leaders from major Phoenix-area corporations and institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Check Eligibility: Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or school serving Maricopa County residents
  2. Monitor Open Application Periods: Sign up for email updates at vsuw.org/apply
  3. Submit Proposal Electronically: Send to mlopez@vsuw.org before deadline (typically mid-February for June decisions)
  4. Technical Assistance: Contact ecimpact@vsuw.org for support during application period

Eligibility Requirements

  • IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or qualified school
  • Programs serving Maricopa County residents (excluding City of Mesa)
  • Active, rotating volunteer board representing diverse community elements
  • Sound financial management following GAAP principles
  • Compliance with equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination laws
  • USA Patriot Act certification (not on US/UN/EU terrorist-related lists)
  • Annual compliance documentation on file with VSUW

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: Mid-February (e.g., February 20, 2025 for FY26 cycle)
  • Review Period: February - May (36-member Grant Review Panel)
  • Funding Decisions: Announced by June
  • Grant Period: July - June (12-month cycle)
  • Reporting Required: Mid-July

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a Grant Review Panel comprising:

  • 36 community members
  • Subject-matter experts
  • VSUW board members
  • VSUW staff
  • Community leaders

Recommendations are presented to VSUW leadership and Board of Directors for final approval.

Application Success Factors

What VSUW Looks For

1. Clear Alignment to MC2026 Priorities Programs must demonstrate direct alignment to one of the four focus areas: Education, Workforce Development, Health, or Housing & Homelessness.

2. Demonstrated Impact Against Performance Metrics VSUW conducts a "rigorous, competitive review process" evaluating programs on demonstrated impact against specific performance metrics.

3. Innovative Solutions The application page specifically calls for "innovative solutions" - programs that offer new approaches to persistent problems.

4. Equity Focus From VSUW's MC2026 plan: "Systemic racial, social, economic and educational inequities exist in every issue, so equity must be part of every solution." Programs should address diversity, equity, access and inclusion.

5. Scalability CEO Vargas Jasa emphasized they seek programs that can "scale community programs" to achieve transformative change.

Recently Funded Organizations (Examples)

Workforce Development Partners: A New Leaf, Arizona Career Pathways, Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arouet Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, College Bound AZ, Fresh Start Women's Foundation, Helping Hands for Single Moms, Jewish Family & Children's Service, Jobs for Arizona's Graduates, Junior Achievement of Arizona, Per Scholas, Southwest Human Development, Televerde Foundation, UMOM New Day Centers, Year Up

Fair Chance Grant Recipients: A New Leaf, Arouet Foundation, Dress for Success Phoenix, Foundation for Blind Children, Fresh Start Women's Foundation, St. Mary's Food Bank, Televerde Foundation

Capacity Building Resources

VSUW offers free trainings to strengthen applications:

  • Grant Writing 101
  • Financial documentation requirements
  • Logic model development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Alignment is Critical: Programs must clearly align with one of four MC2026 priority areas (Education, Workforce Development, Health, Housing & Homelessness) - this is non-negotiable
  • Demonstrate Measurable Impact: VSUW emphasizes data-driven decision making; provide clear performance metrics and evidence of outcomes
  • Grassroots Organizations Welcome: Small nonprofits with budgets under $250,000 have a dedicated funding track - don't be deterred by organizational size
  • Equity Integration Required: All funded programs must address diversity, equity, access and inclusion as part of their approach
  • Geographic Scope Matters: Only organizations serving Maricopa County (excluding Mesa) are eligible
  • Take Advantage of Technical Assistance: Staff support is available during the application period at ecimpact@vsuw.org
  • Plan for Annual Reporting: Grant recipients must submit mid-July reports on program outcomes

References

Information compiled December 2025

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