Community Finance Corporation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $204,267 (2024)
Grant Range: Estimated $25,000 - $39,267 (based on documented grants)
Number of Awards: 11 grants awarded in 2024
Assets Under Management: $835.7 million
Geographic Focus: Primarily Tucson, Arizona and surrounding areas
Application Process: No public application process (board-directed giving)

Contact Details

Address: 5049 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite #156, Tucson, AZ 85711

Phone: (602) 666-7650

Website: www.communityfinancecorp.org

Email: Contact form available through website

Overview

Community Finance Corporation (CFC) was formed in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with dual purposes: developing public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects and charitable grant-making. While CFC's primary business has developed more than $1.5 billion in infrastructure projects throughout the Western and Southwestern United States, the organization has directed over $2.5 million in charitable donations back into the Tucson community since inception. The foundation manages $835.7 million in assets and currently distributes approximately $200,000 annually to local nonprofits. From the outset, CFC's Board of Directors committed to donating excess revenues to support disadvantaged youth and advance education in the Tucson area. The foundation operates as a private foundation and files IRS Form 990-PF annually.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

CFC Board members focus on two primary areas when selecting recipient organizations:

Disadvantaged Youth Programs: Supporting at-risk and low-income youth through educational enrichment, recreation, and skill-building activities
Educational Advancement: Funding K-12 educational programs, school improvements, STEM education, and initiatives that serve low-income student populations

Recent Grant Examples

Based on documented grants, CFC has funded:

UA School Garden Workshop ($39,267): Communications specialist position to expand K-12 hands-on gardening instruction across Tucson schools
John B. Wright Elementary School ($25,000): Library improvements including new bookshelves, furniture, rugs, and reading areas for a school serving 450 students with 99% free lunch rate
El Grupo's MANZO Bike Club ($25,000): Staff hiring and training to support nearly 40 youth riders in bike safety education and enrichment
Flowing Wells Education Foundation: SARSEF (Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair) support including subsidized field trips
Wright Elementary School: Annual partnership with Ephibian to provide LEGO sets to 200 low-income elementary students
Lead Guitar: Five-year music education partnership bringing music programs to underserved youth

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, CFC's documented giving suggests they do not fund:

Organizations outside the Tucson/Southern Arizona region
Programs not focused on youth or education
Capital campaigns unrelated to educational facilities
General operating support for large, well-established institutions
Programs that do not serve low-income or disadvantaged populations

Governance and Leadership

CFC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with deep roots in Tucson's business and civic community. All board members serve without compensation.

Michael Hammond – President

Founder of Cushman & Wakefield|PICOR, Tucson's largest independent commercial real estate brokerage
Active in commercial real estate since 1978
Current board chair of Arizona Capital Source
Serves on Tucson Airport Authority and Southern Arizona Leadership Council

Kathleen Perkins – Vice President

Former CEO of Breault Research Organization
Helped establish Tucson as "Optics Valley"
External advisor to the European Union on photonics
Advocates for low-income students at local schools

Kendall Bert – Secretary

Retired Senior Vice President of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO)
Previously served as Economic Development Director for the City of Tucson since 1984
Early participant in CFC projects

Michael Arnold – Treasurer

Retired Professor and Director of Engineering Management Programs at University of Arizona
Founded Modular Mining Systems in 1978
Has donated over $400,000 to support engineering students at University of Arizona

Kenneth Abrahams – Trustee

Chairman and CEO of NexMetro Communities
Real estate developer and private equity investor with 40+ years of business experience
Quoted on CFC's approach: "They've got the good DNA. They could also be the go-to experts on how to set them up and operate school gardens." (regarding UA School Garden Workshop grant)

Gary Molenda – CFC Designated Representative

President of Arizona Capital Source
35+ years experience in real estate and project management

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Finance Corporation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, with the Board of Directors identifying and selecting grant recipients based on their knowledge of community needs and organizational effectiveness.

Grants are awarded by invitation only based on:

Board members' direct knowledge of organizations and programs
Identification of needs in the Tucson educational community
Relationships with organizations serving disadvantaged youth
Standard due diligence appropriate to evaluation of projects

Getting on Their Radar

Information about CFC's specific process for identifying potential grantees is limited. However, based on their documented giving patterns:

Focus on established relationships: CFC appears to support organizations with proven track records in Tucson's educational community, such as long-running partnerships with Wright Elementary School and support for established programs like the UA School Garden Workshop
Board member connections: Given that board members include leaders in economic development, real estate, education, and technology sectors in Tucson, organizations working in these networks may have better visibility
Demonstrated impact with disadvantaged populations: All documented grants support programs serving low-income students or at-risk youth, suggesting the board prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact with these populations

Note: Without a formal application process, organizations should not send unsolicited proposals. Building relationships within Tucson's educational and youth-serving nonprofit community may be the most effective approach.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable – grants are board-initiated rather than application-driven.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable – no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since CFC does not accept applications, success in receiving funding depends on:

Alignment with Board Priorities:

Direct service to disadvantaged youth or low-income students
Educational programs with hands-on, experiential learning components
Projects serving Tucson's neediest school communities
Innovative approaches that can expand or replicate successful models

Organizational Characteristics of Past Recipients:

Strong track records of serving low-income populations (e.g., Wright Elementary with 99% free lunch rate)
Programs embedded in Tucson schools or community settings
Ability to demonstrate measurable impact
Partnerships with established institutions (e.g., University of Arizona)
Capacity to scale successful programs

Board Member Perspective:

Ken Abrahams emphasized the importance of organizational "DNA" and expertise when discussing the UA School Garden Workshop grant, suggesting the board values:

Organizations positioned to become leaders or experts in their field
Programs with potential for broader regional or state impact
Strong operational capacity and growth potential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No open application process: CFC operates exclusively through board-directed giving and does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications
Hyper-local focus: All documented grants support Tucson-area organizations, particularly those serving the city's lowest-income school communities
Youth and education only: 100% of documented grants focus on K-12 education or youth development for disadvantaged populations
Modest grant sizes: Recent grants range from $25,000-$39,267, suggesting CFC makes targeted investments rather than large-scale funding
Multi-year relationships: Evidence of ongoing partnerships (e.g., annual LEGO program, five-year Lead Guitar partnership) suggests the board values sustained engagement with effective organizations
Board expertise matters: All board members serve voluntarily and bring significant business and civic leadership experience, suggesting they conduct thorough due diligence and value organizational excellence
Infrastructure background informs approach: While CFC's charitable giving focuses on education, their core business involves large-scale infrastructure development, which may influence their preference for organizations with strong operational capacity and growth potential

References

Community Finance Corporation. "About CFC." https://www.communityfinancecorp.org/about-us (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Community Finance Corporation. "Community News." https://www.communityfinancecorp.org/news/category/Community (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Community Finance Corporation. "CFC Awards $39K Grant to UA School Garden Workshop." https://www.communityfinancecorp.org/news/cfc-awards-39k-grant-to-ua-school-garden-workshop (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Community Finance Corporation. "Leadership Team." https://www.communityfinancecorp.org/leadership-team (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Cause IQ. "Community Finance Corporation | Tucson, AZ." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/community-finance-corporation,860683138/ (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Instrumentl. "Community Finance Corporation | Tucson, AZ | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/community-finance-corporation (Accessed December 22, 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Community Finance Corporation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/860683138 (Accessed December 22, 2025)
GuideStar. "Community Finance Corporation Profile." https://www.guidestar.org/profile/86-0683138 (Accessed December 22, 2025)
Candid Foundation Directory. "Community Finance Corporation." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=COMM268 (Accessed December 22, 2025)