← Back to US Funders Directory

Flinn Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.7M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.5M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
13%

Flinn Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.7 million (approximately 85-90 grants annually)
  • Success Rate: 12-14% (Seed Grants Program)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Arizona statewide
  • Total Assets: $254 million

Contact Details

Website: https://www.flinn.org/

Address: 1802 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1506

Phone: (602) 744-6800

Email:

Overview

Established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn, the Flinn Foundation is a Phoenix-based privately endowed philanthropic grantmaking organization with a mission to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations. With assets of $254 million and annual giving of approximately $6.7 million, the Foundation operates four primary program areas: biosciences, the Flinn Scholars program, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. The Foundation's primary focus is advancing Arizona's bioscience sector, with a long-term strategic goal to establish the state as a national leader in precision medicine, cancer research, neurosciences, bioengineering, diagnostics, and agricultural biotechnology. Since 2002, the Foundation has served as steward of Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap, guiding the growth and development of the state's bioscience sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Bioscience Programs (Primary Focus):

  • Translational Seed Grants Program: $100,000 over 18 months to approximately 10 Arizona research teams annually, with potential for an additional $100,000 in the following year for the most successful projects. Since 2013, has awarded 83 seed grants totaling $9.5 million. Application process is competitive and open annually.

  • Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program: Up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding to two early-stage Arizona bioscience companies annually, plus professional support, connections, and networking opportunities. Eight additional companies selected for network access and advisory support. Since 2014, has supported 66 companies with over $2.1 million total. Next application cycle opens in 2026.

Arts and Culture:

  • $100,000 - $300,000 over three years to large organizations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff areas with annual operating budgets of at least $2.5 million. Nearly $4 million committed through 2027 to 18 major arts organizations.

  • $150,000 grant to Arizona Commission on the Arts to support Creative Communities program for smaller groups in rural or underserved areas.

Flinn Scholars Program:

  • Grants awarded to Arizona's public universities (not to individual students) to support 20 top Arizona high school graduates annually with full undergraduate educational packages valued at more than $135,000 each, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, and study abroad.

Arizona Center for Civic Leadership:

  • Does not currently involve grantmaking.

Priority Areas

What They Actively Fund:

  • Bioscience research with translational potential addressing significant clinical needs in diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, precision medicine, and health-care delivery
  • Multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts involving research teams at Arizona's public universities and nonprofit research institutions
  • Early-stage bioscience entrepreneurship and commercialization
  • Major Arizona arts and culture organizations for financial and creative health
  • Undergraduate scholarships through university partnerships
  • Projects that promote institutional collaborations and funding partnerships
  • Initiatives that benefit Arizona and its future generations

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited grant requests (rarely funded; prefers invited proposals)
  • Grants to individuals
  • Capital campaigns or building construction/refurbishment
  • Endowments
  • Fundraising events or sponsorships
  • Media projects (publications, videos)
  • Operating deficits
  • Advocacy work promoting specific political or policy positions
  • Organizations outside Arizona or not benefiting Arizona
  • Private foundations
  • Arts/culture organizations with annual budgets under $2.5 million (exceptions may apply through Arizona Commission on the Arts partnership)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Chair: Eric Reiman, M.D. - Psychiatrist, brain-imaging researcher, CEO of Banner Alzheimer's Institutes, and Director of the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium

Executive Leadership:

  • President and CEO: Tammy McLeod, Ph.D. - Broadly accomplished executive and community leader

Key Quotes from Leadership:

Dr. Eric Reiman on Arizona's bioscience potential: "With the right vision, strategies, determination, and courage — and with its rapidly growing resources, existing and potential strengths, and remarkable collaborative spirit — Arizona has a chance to make transformational contributions to bioscientific research and clinical care, with a profound impact on people here in Arizona and around the world. The Flinn Foundation is excited to help in that endeavor."

Tammy McLeod on the Bioscience Roadmap: "The Roadmap was shaped by the people of Arizona and belongs to the people of Arizona. This plan is more than just a well-researched document; it serves as a living guide and inspiration for our leading researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators as well as the students who can see a future for themselves in the biosciences here in Arizona."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Most Programs: The Foundation rarely funds unsolicited grant requests, preferring to invite proposals that contribute to the Foundation's strategic objectives and show evidence of promoting institutional collaborations and funding partnerships.

For Open Application Programs:

  1. Translational Seed Grants Program:

    • Annual competitive application process
    • Applications submitted through online portal
    • Reviewed by 28 experts in scientific knowledge, clinical expertise, and technology transfer
    • Must be directed by investigators from Arizona nonprofit academic or medical research institutions or health systems
    • Projects must address significant clinical needs

  2. Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program:

    • Application cycle opens in 2026
    • For Arizona early-stage bioscience companies
    • Contact: Joanna Yang Yowler, Ph.D., Program Manager, or bioscience team at (602) 744-6831

  3. Flinn Scholars Program (for Arizona high school seniors):

    • Application opens late August
    • Deadline in late October
    • Over 1,100 applications for 20 scholarships (approximately 2% acceptance rate)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be Arizona-based institutions or operate programs for Arizona's benefit
  • 501(c)(3) qualified nonprofits (not private foundations)
  • Indirect costs capped at maximum 10% of total direct costs
  • Arts/culture organizations must have annual operating budgets of at least $2.5 million

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary by program. For Seed Grants Program, applications are typically due in late September with awards announced in January (approximately 4 months).

Success Rates

Translational Seed Grants Program:

  • 2025 cohort: 82 proposals, 10 awards = 12% success rate
  • 2024 cohort: 73 proposals, 10 awards = 14% success rate
  • Highly competitive program

Flinn Scholars Program:

  • Approximately 2% acceptance rate (20 scholars from 1,100+ applications)

Reapplication Policy

No specific information found regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

For Bioscience Seed Grants:

  • Translational focus: Projects must demonstrate clear pathway from research to clinical application
  • Addressing clinical needs: Focus on significant, well-defined clinical needs in priority areas (diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, precision medicine, health-care delivery)
  • Institutional collaboration: Multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts involving teams across Arizona institutions are preferred
  • Arizona-based leadership: Principal investigators must be from Arizona nonprofit academic or medical research institutions or health systems
  • Expert review: Applications are reviewed by 28 specialists, so scientific rigor and clarity are essential

For Entrepreneurship Program:

  • Early-stage readiness: Targets companies at early stages of development
  • Bioscience focus: Must be in bioscience sector with innovation potential
  • Arizona connection: Must be Arizona-based company
  • Ecosystem engagement: Demonstrates commitment to participating in Arizona's bioscience community

For All Programs:

  • Strategic alignment: As noted in guidelines, the Foundation prefers proposals that "contribute to the Foundation's objectives" - deep understanding of their strategic priorities is critical
  • Institutional partnerships: Evidence of promoting institutional collaborations and funding partnerships strengthens applications
  • Arizona impact: Clear demonstration of benefit to Arizona and its future generations
  • Invitation preferred: Given that "the Foundation rarely funds unsolicited grant requests," building relationships and earning an invitation significantly improves success odds

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-based model: Most funding goes through invited proposals rather than open calls; invest in relationship-building with Foundation staff and board members before seeking funding
  • Bioscience dominance: The Foundation's primary mission is advancing Arizona's bioscience sector - this is where the majority of funding flows and where open applications exist
  • High competition: Success rates of 12-14% for open programs indicate need for exceptional applications with clear translational potential
  • Collaboration matters: Multidisciplinary, multi-institutional partnerships are explicitly preferred over single-institution projects
  • Arizona-centric: All funding must benefit Arizona; strong Arizona connections and commitment to the state's future are essential
  • Budget thresholds: For arts/culture funding, must meet $2.5 million annual budget minimum unless accessing funding through Arizona Commission on the Arts partnership
  • Strategic patience: For organizations outside the open bioscience programs, success requires long-term relationship development and alignment with the Foundation's evolving strategic priorities

References

← Back to US Funders Directory