Arizona Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $97,952,708 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Varies by grant programme and fund
• Grant Range: $3,500 - $200,000+ (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: Arizona statewide with six regional offices
• Total Assets: $1.44 billion (as of March 2024)

Contact Details

Main Office: 2201 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 405B Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Phone: 602.381.1400 Fax: 602.381.1575

Email:

• General enquiries: info@azfoundation.org
• Grant questions: grants@azfoundation.org
• Scholarship questions: scholarship@azfoundation.org

Website: https://www.azfoundation.org/

Overview

Founded in 1978 by Evo and Ora DeConcini, Newton and Betty Rosenzweig, and Bert Getz with $300,000 in initial assets, the Arizona Community Foundation has grown to become one of the largest community foundations in the United States. With $1.44 billion in total assets as of March 2024, ACF manages over 1,600 funds and has distributed $597 million in total grants since its founding. Under the leadership of President & CEO Anna María Chávez, who joined in 2023, ACF distributed $97,952,708 in grants in 2023 (per 990 filing). The foundation's mission is to "lead, serve, and collaborate to mobilise enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona," focusing on five key impact areas: Health Innovations, Quality Education, Community Improvement & Development, Environment & Sustainability, and Arts & Culture. ACF serves all 15 Arizona counties through its central office and six regional affiliates.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

ACF operates multiple grant streams with varying award amounts and application methods:

• Competitive Grant Opportunities (Rolling and fixed deadlines): $20,000 - $200,000

  • Awarded from Field of Interest Funds and Funds for the Common Good
  • Applications evaluated by board members, regional boards of advisers, community leaders, and subject-matter experts

• Regional Grant Programmes (Fixed deadlines): Varies by region

  • ACF of Yavapai County
  • ACF of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona
  • ACF of Cochise and Eastern Santa Cruz County
  • ACF of Graham and Greenlee Counties
  • ACF of Sedona and the Verde Valley
  • ACF of Yuma and San Luis

• Discretionary and Invitation-Only Grants: Varies

  • The majority of ACF's grantmaking is discretionary or by invitation only
  • Eligibility requirements and grant sizes vary depending on source of funding

• Summer Youth Programme Fund: Grants for summer programming for Maricopa County youth

  • Application window typically November-January

• Food Security Grants: $3,500 - $25,000

  • Examples include recent GivingTuesday awards to rural food banks

Priority Areas

Health Innovations

• Healthcare access and delivery
• Substance abuse prevention
• Community wellness initiatives

Quality Education

• College scholarships
• Life-long learning and literacy
• P-12 educational resources
• Music education

Community Improvement & Development

• Affordable housing
• Financial literacy training
• Crime prevention
• Community development initiatives

Arts & Culture

• Arts education and programming
• Cultural preservation
• Creative arts support

Environment & Sustainability

• Environmental conservation
• Climate resilience
• Sustainability initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Based on eligibility requirements and non-discrimination policies:

• Organisations without 501(c)(3) status, schools, faith-based designation, tribal entity status, or government agency designation
• Organisations that discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law
• National organisations receive less priority than local grassroots Arizona nonprofits
• Organisations outside Arizona (geographic eligibility may be further restricted for specific funds)
• Organisations with incomplete final reports from previous ACF grants

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Anna María Chávez (joined 2023)

• Previously the first Latina CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA
• Named one of Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona's "90 Women of Honour"
• Focus on rural communities and bringing resources to uplift local leadership
• Philosophy: "The customer is the donor and the customer is that nonprofit who has an endowment here that we're helping them to grow so that nonprofits can continue to serve generations of Arizonans"

Board Chair: Charley Freericks (term beginning April 1, 2025)

Previous President & CEO: Steve Seleznow (retired after 13 years)

• Under his leadership, ACF built its first endowment for the arts, invested $28.2 million in recyclable capital through impact loan programmes, and created the New Arizona Prize

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees comprised of business and civic leaders who provide governance oversight and guide philanthropic efforts across Arizona. The foundation has received a 100% score and Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

ACF uses an online grant management portal where organisations can apply for grants, manage applications, and submit eligibility quizzes. All organisations seeking funding must have an active account with ACF and apply through the website at azfoundation.org.

Application Methods:

• Rolling basis: Some competitive grant opportunities accept applications year-round
• Fixed deadlines: Regional and specific programme grants have annual or semi-annual deadlines that vary by fund
• Invitation only: Many grants are awarded at trustee discretion or by invitation

Pre-Application Requirements:

• Organisations must be eligible: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, school, faith-based organisation, tribal entity, or government agency
• Must comply with ACF's non-discrimination policy
• Must have completed final reports for any previous ACF grants

Application Components:

• Clear and concise project description
• Detailed budget
• Plan for evaluation and sustainability
• Evidence of organisational capacity and expertise
• Demonstration of understanding of community needs being addressed

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by grant programme and funding source. Award and decline notifications are sent out after each grant cycle concludes. For competitive grant cycles, review is conducted by ACF board members, regional boards of advisers, community leaders, staff, and subject-matter experts.

Grant award workshops and information sessions are sometimes offered before application cycles open.

Success Rates

In fiscal year 2024, ACF made 1,174 grant awards. In 2023, there were 1,132 awards, and in 2022, there were 1,044 awards. Specific success rate percentages (applications received vs. awards made) are not publicly disclosed, as the majority of grantmaking is discretionary or invitation-only.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Organisations are advised to contact grants@azfoundation.org or call 602.381.1400 for information about reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Key Factors Based on ACF's Stated Priorities:

1. Local Grassroots Focus: Arizona-based local nonprofits receive priority over national organisations with Arizona branches. Demonstrate deep community roots and local impact.

2. Alignment with Five Impact Areas: Strong proposals clearly align with one or more of ACF's five philanthropic impact areas (Health Innovations, Quality Education, Community Improvement & Development, Environment & Sustainability, Arts & Culture).

3. Clear Community Needs Assessment: Applications must "demonstrate a clear understanding of the community needs being addressed" with evidence-based justification for the proposed project.

4. Organisational Capacity: Applicants should provide "evidence of their organisation's capacity and expertise" to successfully implement the proposed project.

5. Evaluation and Sustainability Planning: Include a "detailed budget and plan for evaluation and sustainability" showing how the project will be measured and sustained beyond the grant period.

6. Rural Community Impact: Under President & CEO Anna María Chávez's leadership, rural communities are a strategic focus, with emphasis on "bringing resources to rural communities to uplift local leadership."

7. Concise and Well-Written Proposals: ACF specifically advises applicants to "submit a well-written and concise proposal" and "carefully review the application guidelines and deadlines."

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

• Cooled water fountain installations in Phoenix communities experiencing extreme heat
• Rural food bank support ($3,500 - $25,000 grants)
• College scholarships
• Summer youth programming in Maricopa County
• Healthcare access initiatives
• Environmental sustainability programmes

Advice for Scholarship Applicants (may inform grant application best practices):

• Apply early to qualify for most opportunities
• Develop a strong personal narrative
• Provide clear, specific information about needs and goals
• Notify references in advance
• Attend workshops when available

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Priority Matters: Local Arizona grassroots organisations are prioritised over national organisations. Emphasise your local roots, community connections, and Arizona-specific impact.

• Multiple Pathways to Funding: While competitive grants exist, the majority of ACF's grantmaking is discretionary or invitation-only. Building relationships with ACF staff, board members, and regional advisers may open doors beyond the formal application process.

• Rural Focus is Strategic: With President & CEO Anna María Chávez's emphasis on rural communities, organisations serving underserved rural areas of Arizona should highlight this alignment.

• Clear Alignment is Essential: Your proposal must demonstrably align with one or more of ACF's five impact areas. Use their language and framework when describing your work.

• Capacity and Sustainability Win: ACF wants to see evidence you can deliver on promises and sustain impact beyond the grant period. Include detailed implementation plans, evaluation metrics, and sustainability strategies.

• Multiple Funds Mean Multiple Opportunities: With over 1,600 funds managed by ACF, there may be multiple relevant funding sources. Explore regional funds, field of interest funds, and donor-advised opportunities.

• Timing Varies Widely: Application windows can be brief and deadlines vary significantly. Register for ACF's updates, monitor their grant opportunities page regularly, and maintain an active account in their grant portal.

References

1. Arizona Community Foundation - Grant Opportunities. https://www.azfoundation.org/nonprofits/grant-opportunities/ (Accessed December 2025)

2. Arizona Community Foundation - GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/86-0348306 (Accessed December 2025)

3. Charity Navigator - Rating for Arizona Community Foundation. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/860348306 (Accessed December 2025)

4. Signals AZ - Arizona Community Foundation Grants Record $136 Million. https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/arizona-community-foundation-grants-record-136-million/ (Accessed December 2025)

5. Signals AZ - Arizona Community Foundation Distributes $37M in Grants. https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/arizona-community-foundation-distributes-37m-in-grants/ (Accessed December 2025)

6. Inside Philanthropy - Arizona Community Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/arizona-grants/arizona-community-foundation (Accessed December 2025)

7. Arizona Community Foundation - How to Apply. https://www.azfoundation.org/scholarship-seekers/how-to-apply/ (Accessed December 2025)

8. Arizona Community Foundation - Manage Your Grant Application. https://www.azfoundation.org/manage-your-grant-application/ (Accessed December 2025)

9. Arizona Community Foundation - Team. https://www.azfoundation.org/about/staff/ (Accessed December 2025)

10. Arizona Community Foundation - Board. https://www.azfoundation.org/about/board/ (Accessed December 2025)

11. ABC15 - Meet Anna María Chávez: A life of service and breaking glass ceilings. https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/a-life-of-service-and-breaking-glass-ceilings-meet-anna-maria-chavez (Accessed December 2025)

12. Arizona PBS - Meet the new CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation. https://azpbs.org/horizonte/2023/12/meet-the-new-ceo-of-arizona-community-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)

13. Arizona Community Foundation - The Arizona Community Foundation's history of impact. https://www.azfoundation.org/about/history/ (Accessed December 2025)

14. Arizona Community Foundation - Get in Touch. https://www.azfoundation.org/get-in-touch/ (Accessed December 2025)

15. Arizona Community Foundation - Rural Food Banks Receive Surprise Grants. https://www.azfoundation.org/news-events/news/rural-food-banks-receive-surprise-grants-from-arizona-community-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)

16. Arizona Community Foundation - $109.8 million distributed to communities in fiscal '24. https://www.azfoundation.org/news-events/news/109-8-million-distributed-to-communities-in-fiscal-24/ (Accessed December 2025)

17. Foundation Directory - Arizona Community Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=ARIZ001 (Accessed December 2025)