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Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$23.4M
Grant Range
$50K - $2.0M
Decision Time
1mo

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20-22 million (typical); $23.4 million (FY2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Monthly board meetings (decisions made at time of presentation)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $2,000,000 (select grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Maricopa County, Arizona (exclusively)

Contact Details

Address: 1202 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85014

Phone: (480) 948-5853 | Toll-free: 1-855-948-5853

Website: https://pipertrust.org

Pre-Application Support: Staff strongly encourage attending "Piper 101" information sessions for new applicants and offer consultation throughout the application process

Overview

Founded in 1995 through the estate of Virginia Galliher Piper and beginning grantmaking in 2000, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has invested over $764 million in Maricopa County nonprofits, marking its 10,000th grant in 2025 during its 25th anniversary year. With net assets of approximately $426 million as of March 2024, the Trust operates as one of Arizona's largest private charitable foundations. The organization's mission honors its founder's commitment by "supporting organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona." The Trust emphasizes relationship-based grantmaking, with staff working closely with potential grantees throughout the process. Recent years saw elevated giving ($72 million over FY2023-2024) in response to pandemic impacts, with plans to return to a normalized annual budget of $20-22 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Responsive Grantmaking (Rolling applications accepted year-round)

  • Grant range: $50,000 - $2,000,000 (select grants may reach multi-million dollars)
  • Focus areas: Arts & Culture, Children, Education, Healthcare & Medical Research, Older Adults, Religious Organizations
  • Application method: Letter of inquiry followed by full proposal upon invitation
  • Decision: Monthly board meetings with immediate notification

Trust-Initiated Grantmaking (Invitation only)

  • Large-scale strategic initiatives addressing unique community needs
  • Multi-year commitments (e.g., Read On Arizona five-year literacy initiative)
  • Sector-wide capacity building partnerships
  • Recent examples include collaborative funding and emergency assistance programs

Piper Fellows Program (Annual application cycle, August 1 deadline)

  • Up to $90,000 total per Fellow's organization:
    • $30,000 for Fellow's professional development and sabbatical
    • $10,000 for staff and board development
    • Up to $50,000 Organizational Enhancement Award
  • Limited to senior nonprofit executives in Maricopa County
  • Applications open in spring for following year

Grant Types Accepted:

  • Programmatic Grants: Service delivery improvements, program expansion, pilot initiatives (full cost coverage including indirect expenses)
  • Capital Project Grants: Smaller-scale, short-term construction, renovations, capital purchases
  • Capital Campaign Grants: Multi-year, multi-million dollar efforts for land acquisition and major construction

Priority Areas

The Trust funds initiatives across six core program areas:

  1. Arts & Culture: Cultural enrichment programs and institutions
  2. Children: Youth development, child welfare, and family services
  3. Education: Educational improvement initiatives (excluding classroom-based programs during regular school days)
  4. Healthcare & Medical Research: Health services and medical advancement
  5. Older Adults: Senior services and aging-related programs
  6. Religious Organizations: Faith-based community services

Key Strategic Approaches: The Trust values impact through improved service delivery, program expansion, collaboration, pilot testing, and prevention-focused work.

What They Don't Fund

  • Efforts expanding beyond an organization's stated mission
  • Programs previously funded solely through public funds
  • Event or program sponsorships
  • Scholarships
  • Classroom-based programs as part of regular school days
  • Organizations outside Maricopa County (except by special invitation)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Trust operates with a rotating chair structure and includes:

  • Ed Zuercher
  • James Bruner
  • José Cárdenas
  • Judy Mohraz
  • Lori Higuera
  • Paul Critchfield
  • Paul Mulligan
  • Sharon Harper

Executive Leadership

Steve Zabilski, President and CEO

Speaking about the Trust's 10,000th grant milestone, Zabilski noted: "This 10,000th grant occurring in the Trust's 25th Anniversary year is so symbolic of Virginia Piper's approach to philanthropy."

Governance Practices

The Trust demonstrates strong governance through formal board orientation with written agreements, annual CEO assessments, annual conflict-of-interest policy reviews, and an inclusive board recruitment process emphasizing diversity of thought.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Attend Piper 101 Information Session (Strongly Recommended)

  • Monthly sessions for new and prospective applicants
  • Learn about mission, grant opportunities, and proposal development

Step 2: Letter of Inquiry (Accepted year-round)

  • Consult with program staff before submission
  • Submit online interest form and two-page letter of inquiry
  • Include project summary, budget, and timeline
  • Limit: One request per organization per year

Step 3: Full Proposal (By invitation only)

  • Detailed project narrative
  • Comprehensive budget
  • Three years of audited financial statements
  • Year-to-date financial statements
  • Board-approved organizational budget
  • Organizational chart
  • Board and donor information

Step 4: Board Review and Decision

  • Program staff present recommendations at monthly Trustee meetings
  • "Trustees generally make a final decision at the time of the presentation"
  • Applicants receive immediate notification following board meeting

Decision Timeline

  • Review Cycle: Monthly board meetings
  • Notification: Immediate following board decision
  • Overall Timeline: Variable depending on when letter of inquiry is submitted and invited to full proposal; monthly board cycle means decisions occur at regular intervals

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The Trust has awarded 10,000 grants since 2000 (averaging 400 grants per year), though this includes both responsive and trust-initiated grants.

Reapplication Policy

According to Inside Philanthropy research, unsuccessful applicants must wait one year before reapplying. Organizations are limited to one request per year regardless of outcome. The Trust's staff "are eager to engage with potential grantees to provide insight into the Trust's funding priorities," suggesting feedback may be available upon request.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values (From Grant Process Guidance)

Impact: The Trust seeks proposals addressing community needs through:

  • Improved service delivery
  • Program expansion
  • Collaborative approaches
  • Pilot testing of new models
  • Prevention-focused work

Effectiveness: Demonstrate value through:

  • Evidence-based approaches
  • Measurable outcomes
  • Clear evaluation plans

Feasibility: Show strong execution capacity via:

  • Appropriate methodology
  • Manageable project scope
  • Strong organizational leadership
  • Proven track record

Sustainability: Ensure long-term viability through:

  • Proportionate funding requests (not asking for entire project budget)
  • Diverse funding sources
  • Realistic plans for continuation beyond grant period

Organizational Best Practices (Strongly Recommended)

The Trust explicitly recommends these governance practices:

  • Full board review of Form 990 tax returns
  • Independent audits for organizations with $5M+ revenue
  • Formal conflict-of-interest policies with annual reviews
  • Written executive performance review procedures
  • Independent board composition (minimum one-third non-affiliated)
  • Whistleblower protection policies

Application Process Insights

From previous grantees and industry observers: "The application process appears to be very demanding," requiring "very clear, concrete, and detailed descriptions" of project needs upfront. The Trust describes itself as "a transparent grantmaker" with a comprehensive, searchable grants database dating back to 2000, allowing applicants to research past awards and identify funding patterns.

Staff Collaboration

The Trust emphasizes relationship-based grantmaking: "The Trust's grantmaking process is grounded in relationships, and staff works closely with potential grantees to develop and strengthen their proposals." Direct engagement with program staff before and during the application process is highly encouraged.

Recent Grant Examples

  • Stardust (10,000th grant, 2025): $250,000 to expand Gifts in Kind program distributing donated materials to nonprofits
  • Valleywise Health Foundation: $3.2 million grant (multi-year support)
  • ASU Initiatives (2021): $7.1 million in surprise grants
  • Maricopa County Higher Education (2025): $6 million allocation across institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic exclusivity is absolute: Only Maricopa County-serving organizations are eligible (exceptions by invitation only—do not apply if outside this area)
  • Relationship-building is essential: Attend Piper 101 sessions and consult with program staff before applying; the Trust values collaborative proposal development
  • Demonstrate all four evaluation criteria: Every proposal must clearly address Impact, Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Sustainability—these are non-negotiable evaluation dimensions
  • Full cost funding is available: The Trust covers indirect expenses and doesn't shy away from multi-year, multi-million dollar commitments for the right projects
  • Research past grants thoroughly: Use their searchable grants database (2000-present) to identify funding patterns, grant sizes, and successful project types in your sector
  • One shot per year: With only one application allowed annually and a one-year waiting period after rejection, make your submission count—invest time in preparation and staff consultation
  • Strong governance matters: While not mandatory, demonstrating organizational best practices (independent audits, conflict policies, board independence) signals readiness for significant funding

References

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