← Back to US Funders Directory

Moreno Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.2M
Grant Range
$10K - $2.0M

Moreno Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 86-0918198
  • Annual Giving: $9.2 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $143 million
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $2,000,000
  • Number of Awards: 81 grants (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Arizona (Phoenix metro), California (Southern California), New York
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 4455 East Camelback Road, Suite C-140, Phoenix, AZ 85018-2821

Phone: (602) 667-9500

Website: None

Note: The foundation does not have a website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

Established in 1998 by billionaire entrepreneur Arturo "Arte" Moreno and his wife Carole, the Moreno Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Arte Moreno, who sold his billboard advertising company Outdoor Systems for $8.7 billion in 1999 and became the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team when he purchased the Los Angeles Angels in 2003, directs the family's philanthropic efforts through this foundation. With assets of approximately $143 million and annual giving of over $9 million, the foundation focuses on improving youth well-being, educational outcomes, healthcare access, arts and culture, and community development. The foundation primarily supports preselected organizations with which the family has established relationships, concentrating its grantmaking in Arizona's Valley of the Sun and Southern California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Amounts:

  • Typical Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Major Grants: Up to $2,000,000 for select grantees
  • 81 grants awarded in 2024
  • 85 grants awarded in 2023

Priority Areas

Education & Youth Development:

  • Youth organizations improving educational outcomes
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and Scottsdale
  • University scholarships (University of Arizona Hispanic Scholarship, Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation)
  • Schools and universities with family connections
  • Junior Achievement of Arizona
  • Valley Christian Schools
  • Creighton Education Foundation

Health & Human Services:

  • Healthcare access and quality of care organizations
  • Phoenix Children's Hospital
  • Barrow Neurological Foundation (over $1 million in support)
  • Translational Genomics Research Institute
  • Valleywise Health Foundation
  • Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center
  • Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation
  • American Heart Association (Carole Moreno actively fundraises)

Community Development:

  • Chicanos Por La Causa (serving Latino and Indigenous communities)
  • Organizations addressing housing, hunger, and basic needs
  • Friends of Crisis Nursery
  • Teen Lifeline
  • Kids in Focus

Arts & Culture:

  • Phoenix Art Museum
  • Phoenix Symphony
  • Ballet Arizona
  • Arizona Opera Company
  • Arizona Science Center
  • Heard Museum
  • Queen Creek Performing Arts Center
  • Phoenix Theatre Company

Geographic Preferences:

  • Primary: Arizona (especially Phoenix metropolitan area)
  • Secondary: Southern California (related to Angels ownership)
  • Tertiary: New York

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's approach indicates they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited requests from organizations without prior relationship
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
  • Political organizations or campaigns
  • Religious organizations for sectarian purposes
  • Individual scholarships (except through university programs)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

  • Arturo "Arte" Moreno - Founder and Chairman. University of Arizona alumnus (marketing degree, 1973), Vietnam War veteran, former CEO of Outdoor Systems, owner of Los Angeles Angels baseball team. In 2005, Time Magazine named him one of the "25 Most Influential Hispanics in America."

  • Carole Moreno - Co-Founder. Active fundraiser for the American Heart Association and engaged in Phoenix-area philanthropy alongside her husband.

  • Ricardo Moreno - Board Member (joined 2017). Son of Arte and Carole Moreno, maintains a low public profile.

  • Nicole York - Board Member (joined 2017). Daughter of Arte and Carole Moreno, maintains a low public profile.

The foundation operates as a family philanthropy with giving that "has generally tracked with organizations with which the family has a personal connection, particularly around education and youth, the arts, and health and human services."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS Form 990 filings, the Moreno Family Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited applications for funds."

The foundation does not have a website, application portal, or guidelines for grantseekers. All funding decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors based on the family's personal connections and philanthropic interests.

Organizations interested in support may contact the foundation office at (602) 667-9500, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited inquiries will receive funding consideration.

Getting on Their Radar

Personal and Professional Connections: The foundation's giving patterns show strong support for organizations where family members have direct involvement or longstanding relationships. Arte Moreno's connection to the University of Arizona as an alumnus has led to consistent scholarship support, and Carole Moreno's active involvement with the American Heart Association has resulted in ongoing funding.

Geographic Presence: Organizations based in Phoenix and the broader Valley of the Sun have the strongest track record of receiving support. The family's ties to Southern California through Angels ownership also create opportunities for organizations in that region.

Steady, Multi-Year Partnerships: The foundation "prefers to maintain funding for a limited number of select grantees year after year" rather than cycling through new organizations. This suggests that once an organization enters the foundation's giving portfolio, consistent support may follow.

Focus on Latino and Youth-Serving Communities: As the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team, Arte Moreno has shown particular interest in organizations serving Latino communities (e.g., Chicanos Por La Causa) and youth development programs (Boys & Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement).

Major Cultural Institutions: The Morenos are "steady arts and museum patrons" supporting major Phoenix institutions. Organizations of significant cultural importance to the Phoenix metropolitan area appear more likely to receive consideration.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Approach

The Moreno Family Foundation operates as a relationship-based, invitation-only funder. Success in securing funding is not about crafting the perfect application—it's about being the type of organization the family naturally encounters and connects with through their business, civic, and personal activities.

What Matters to This Funder

Established Track Record: The foundation supports well-established organizations with proven impact rather than startups or experimental programs. Past grantees include major institutions like Phoenix Children's Hospital, University of Arizona, and Phoenix Symphony.

Alignment with Family Values: According to Inside Philanthropy, "Giving has generally tracked with organizations with which the family has a personal connection." Organizations focused on:

  • Improving opportunities for Latino and Mexican-American communities
  • Youth development and education
  • Healthcare access and research
  • Arts and culture in Phoenix
  • Veterans (Arte Moreno is a Vietnam War veteran)

Sustainable Impact: With grants ranging from $10,000 to $2 million, the foundation appears to make strategic investments in organizations that can demonstrate long-term sustainability and measurable outcomes.

Phoenix/Arizona Roots: The foundation shows clear preference for Arizona-based organizations, particularly those serving the Phoenix metropolitan area where the family has deep roots and ongoing business interests.

Common Characteristics of Funded Organizations

Based on the list of past grantees:

  • Major healthcare systems and research institutions (Phoenix Children's Hospital, Barrow Neurological Foundation, Translational Genomics Research Institute)
  • Flagship cultural institutions (Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera)
  • Established youth-serving nonprofits (Boys & Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement)
  • Community development organizations with strong Latino community ties (Chicanos Por La Causa)
  • Universities with family connections (University of Arizona)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT a traditional grantmaker: The Moreno Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and has explicitly stated it only funds preselected organizations. Traditional grant application strategies will not work.

  • Relationship-based giving: The foundation operates through personal connections, board relationships, and longstanding partnerships. Focus on building authentic relationships with Phoenix's philanthropic community rather than sending cold proposals.

  • Consistent, focused portfolio: With 81 grants in 2024 and 85 in 2023, the foundation maintains relatively steady support to a select group of organizations year over year. New organizations rarely enter the portfolio.

  • Significant capacity: With $143 million in assets and $9+ million in annual giving, this foundation has substantial resources. Major grants can reach $2 million, indicating willingness to make transformational gifts to the right organizations.

  • Geographic concentration: Arizona (especially Phoenix metro) and Southern California are the primary focus areas. Organizations outside these regions should not pursue this funder.

  • Values alignment is critical: Arte Moreno's biography as a Mexican-American entrepreneur, Vietnam veteran, and University of Arizona alumnus provides insight into causes that may resonate with the family—Latino community support, veterans' causes, youth education, and his alma mater.

  • Long-term view: The foundation "prefers to maintain funding for a limited number of select grantees year after year," suggesting that securing an initial grant could lead to ongoing support if the relationship is cultivated properly.

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory