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Community Foundation For Southern Arizona

Annual Giving
$11.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
5mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,929,499 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $204,637,115 (2024)
  • Decision Time: 5-6 months (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $75,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Southern Arizona (counties south of Gila River)

Contact Details

Website: www.cfsaz.org

Phone: 520-770-0800

Email: giving@cfsaz.org (Philanthropy Team)

Address: 5049 E Broadway Blvd Ste 201, Tucson, AZ 85711

Grant Portal: Applications managed through Common Grant Application portal at cfsaz.fcsuite.com

Overview

Founded in 1980 as the Greater Tucson Area Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) has distributed over $275 million in grants and scholarships to Southern Arizona nonprofits and educational institutions. With total assets of $204.6 million, CFSA serves as the region's philanthropic hub, managing over 13 distinct grant programs that support work across animal welfare, arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, and human services. The foundation has embraced trust-based philanthropy practices organization-wide, prioritizing unrestricted funding, flexible support, and centering equity in all grantmaking. In 2024, CFSA awarded $11.9 million across 324 grants, with flagship programs including CORE Grants ($1.3 million to 61 nonprofits), Comunidad Grants ($132,000 to 24 grassroots organizations), and the Local News Initiative ($225,000 to six news organizations).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CORE Grants: $10,000 - $30,000 in unrestricted operating support (annual application, October deadline)

  • Organizations with budgets between $100,000 and $2 million
  • Can receive up to 3 consecutive years of funding
  • Since 2017: $7.3 million awarded to 150+ nonprofits

Comunidad Grants: Up to $10,000 in unrestricted operating support (annual application)

  • Organizations with budgets under $100,000
  • Prioritizes rural communities and marginalized groups

African American Legacy Fund: Up to $10,000 in multi-year unrestricted support (rolling basis)

  • Addresses educational and economic disparities
  • $90,000+ invested in 2023

Hellene Henrikson Fund: Up to $15,000 per year for up to 3 years (total $75,000 maximum) (annual application)

  • Supports immigrants, refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers
  • Focus areas rotate annually (Fall 2024 focused on behavioral health)

Shaaron Kent End-of-Life Care and Planning Grants: Up to $25,000 per year for up to 3 years (total $75,000 maximum)

  • Direct end-of-life services for low-income community members and people of color

LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund: Up to $10,000 (annual application)

  • Since 1999: $1.2+ million awarded to 76 organizations
  • Supports LGBTQ+ programs and initiatives

Local News Initiative: $15,000 - $75,000 (annual application, March deadline)

  • Nonprofit news organizations receive operating support
  • For-profit news entities receive project-based support
  • Must demonstrate charitable benefit to community

Santa Cruz Community Foundation Grants: Up to $5,000

  • Serves Santa Cruz County residents

Geographic Affiliate Grants: Stone Canyon Community Foundation, Howard V. Moore Foundation, Oro Valley Community Foundation

  • Amounts and priorities vary by affiliate

Priority Areas

  • Organizations serving rural communities and marginalized populations
  • Programs addressing systemic inequalities and social justice
  • Initiatives with strong community needs assessment (MAP Dashboard data encouraged)
  • Projects demonstrating awareness of and response to community needs
  • Nonprofit organizational capacity building
  • Environmental sustainability and solar energy projects
  • Arts and culture, particularly small/medium organizations in rural areas

What They Don't Fund

CFSA requires that awarded organizations do not discriminate in employment practices, volunteer opportunities, or delivery of programs and services across protected characteristics.

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO

Jenny Flynn (joined 2021) - Champions trust-based philanthropy and innovative community partnerships. "When we work together, the impossible becomes possible. In Southern Arizona, we BLOOM together."

Flynn emphasizes: "Nonprofits are the bedrock of our community, providing a critical safety net for our most vulnerable residents."

Board of Trustees

Board Chair: Taunya Villicana - Founder & CEO of Aspirational Wealth Management, Investment Committee Chair

Board Vice Chair: Richard Koo - Community volunteer, previously served on Catholic Community Services board

Board Treasurer: Billy Hayes - Co-founder of accounting firm, financial analyst

Board Secretary: Bonnie Kampa - Former CEO of Interfaith Community Services (13 years)

Additional Trustees:

  • Shawn Best, M.S., CFP® - Investment Committee Vice Chair
  • Nicollette Daly, CPA - Nonprofit finance expert
  • David Baker, Ed.D. - Former Flowing Wells School District superintendent
  • Colette Barajas - Real estate broker, LGBTQ rights advocate
  • Nancy Johnson, Ph.D. - Former CEO of El Rio Community Health Center
  • Clyde Kunz - Former Tucson Symphony Orchestra executive director
  • Sean P. Murray - Commercial loan officer
  • Ana Nygren - President of John and Helen Murphey Foundation
  • Eric Schindler, Ph.D. - President of Child and Family Resources, clinical psychologist
  • Marian LaLonde (Ex-Officio) - Environmental and natural resources attorney

Strategic Plan: BLOOM

Three strategic priorities guide CFSA's work:

  1. Vital Nonprofit Sector - Invest in and empower Southern Arizona nonprofits
  2. Impactful Community Philanthropy - Position CFSA as preferred partner for community-minded donors
  3. Bold Aspirations - Lead community efforts to achieve transformative goals

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CFSA accepts applications through the Common Grant Application platform. All applicants must create an account on the new grant portal (cfsaz.fcsuite.com). Accounts can be created anytime, but applications open on specific dates for each program.

General Eligibility:

  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing OR use of fiscal sponsor (fiscal sponsor must also be 501(c)(3) in good standing and located in Southern Arizona)
  • Based in Southern Arizona (counties south of Gila River: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma, and parts of Pinal County)
  • Established board of directors
  • Current in all reporting to CFSA

Program-Specific Timelines:

CORE Grants (FY2026):

  • October 1, 2025: Applications open
  • November 14, 2025: Deadline (5:00 PM MST)
  • April 2026: Award notifications
  • June 2026: Grants funded
  • Organizations must have operated for at least 2 years and have budgets $100K-$2M

Local News Initiative (2025):

  • February 17, 2025: Information session (11:00 AM Arizona Time)
  • March 17, 2025: Application deadline (5:00 PM Arizona Time)

Support: Contact program officers listed on individual grant pages, or call 520-770-0800 / email giving@cfsaz.org for portal assistance

Decision Timeline

Varies by program. CORE Grants example: 5-month review process from November application deadline to April notifications.

Success Rates

2024 CORE Grants data indicates competitive process with high-quality applicants. In 2024, 61 nonprofits received CORE Grants from a larger applicant pool (exact numbers not publicly disclosed).

Reapplication Policy

CORE Grants: Organizations may receive up to 3 consecutive years of funding. After receiving 3 consecutive grants, organizations must wait at least 1 year before reapplying.

LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund: Organizations may receive up to 2 years of funding, with second-year funding contingent on satisfactory progress, receipt of required reports, and fund availability.

Shaaron Kent and Hellene Henrikson Funds: Multi-year grants (up to 3 years) considered in single application.

Application Success Factors

Trust-Based Philanthropy Principles

CFSA is committed to trust-based philanthropy, which emphasizes:

  • Power Balance: Applications are "rooted in mutual trust that organizations understand their own needs best"
  • Unrestricted Funding: Most grants provide general operating support with flexibility to use funds as needed
  • Listening to Nonprofit Leaders: The foundation values nonprofit expertise over prescriptive requirements

CORE Characteristics Framework

CORE Grant applications are evaluated on four key areas:

  1. Community: Demonstrated understanding of local community needs
  2. Organizational Sustainability: Strong business model and skilled leadership
  3. Results: Use of evaluation methods for data-driven decision-making
  4. Effective Programs: Strategic alignment with community needs

What CFSA Values

Data-Driven Approaches: CFSA encourages applicants to use the MAP Dashboard (mapazdashboard.arizona.edu) for community demographics, needs assessment, and outcome indicators. The foundation's community spotlight highlights: "The Community Foundation encourages nonprofits to use relevant data from the MAP Dashboard in their grant applications and presentations."

Equity and Social Justice: CFSA aims to "invest in social justice philanthropy, grantmaking, and activities that address systemic inequalities." Comunidad Grants specifically prioritize organizations serving rural communities or marginalized groups.

Community Awareness and Response: Comunidad Grants evaluate organizations based on their "awareness of community needs" and "response to community needs."

Flexibility in Fund Use: From grantee Debbie Chandler (Administration of Resources and Choices): "Unrestricted funds such as this CORE Grant mean the world to us because it brings with it the freedom to use the funds where needed."

Recommended Approach

Connect with Program Officers: The foundation notes "the best way to approach this funder is to reach out to one of its program officers, whose contact information is posted at the bottom of each initiative page." This is especially helpful given the diverse portfolio of funds with different priorities.

Attend Information Sessions: CFSA regularly hosts grant information sessions and MAP Dashboard training to support applicants.

Demonstrate Flexibility Needs: Applications should articulate how unrestricted funding will enable the organization to address emerging issues, boost capacity (salaries, benefits, technology, infrastructure), and strengthen operations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Unrestricted funding is the norm: CFSA strongly favors general operating support over project-specific grants. Emphasize organizational capacity needs and how flexible funding enables impact.

  • Use MAP Dashboard data: Incorporate relevant Southern Arizona community data from mapazdashboard.arizona.edu to demonstrate awareness of regional needs and trends.

  • Align with trust-based values: Show how your organization uses evaluation for learning (not just compliance), values staff through competitive compensation, and responds adaptively to community needs.

  • Geographic focus matters: Ensure your work clearly benefits Southern Arizona counties (Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma, parts of Pinal). Rural community focus is particularly valued.

  • Multi-year funding available: Several programs offer 2-3 years of consecutive support. Consider how multi-year funding would strengthen your organization's sustainability.

  • Contact program officers early: CFSA explicitly recommends reaching out to program staff before applying. Use this opportunity to ensure good program fit and clarify questions.

  • Equity and inclusion are central: Clearly articulate how your work addresses systemic inequalities or serves marginalized communities, particularly for funds like Comunidad, African American Legacy Fund, and LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund.

References

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