CFSA is thrilled to announce $854,000 in CORE Grants was awarded to 42 nonprofits in Southern Arizona to provide the flexible working capital necessary to maximize their impact and improve the quality of life in Southern Arizona.
CFSA’s 2021 CORE Grants are made possible with support from CFSA’s Unrestricted Fund and Field of Interest Funds, our generous Donor Advised Fundholders, and the Connie Hillman Family Foundation. Areas funded include human services; arts and culture; environment and animals; legal services; education; health; youth and elderly services; immigrant services; and Native/Indigenous support.
CORE grants provide flexibility for organizations to use dollars as they see fit to address emerging issues, boost salaries and benefits, invest in technology and infrastructure, build communication and fundraising strategies, all leading to a healthier, innovative, and robust organization. Lastly and most importantly, CORE grants are rooted in mutual trust with the philosophy that organizations understand their unique needs and can demonstrate and achieve impact.
With over $2.3 million in CORE Grants distributed since 2017, CFSA and its collaborators are dedicated to supporting local nonprofits and promoting equity within Southern Arizona. Greater strides toward equity through CORE grantmaking were seen this year through a focus on rural organizations, organizations that serve marginalized populations, and new grantees.
Kelly Huber, Senior Director of Community Investments at CFSA, shared, “CFSA is proud to support our Southern Arizona nonprofit community with a fourth year of CORE Grants. CORE Grants are made in partnership with generous donors who understand the importance of general operating support and its ability to foster innovation, reduce power dynamics, and support flexibility and trust. This year’s grant recipients represent an expansion in our funding, with an 18 percent increase in the total amount funded compared to last year, along with our commitment to support equitable distribution of grant dollars.”
Grants were given to all Southern Arizona Counties, including Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties. Of the 42 total 2021 grantees, 83 percent serve marginalized populations, 20 percent of grantees are headquartered in rural areas, and 52 percent are first-time CORE grantees. Funds were further distributed equitably by organizational budgets; 14 percent have a budget below $200,000, 59 percent of the total funded organizations have a budget below $500,000, and 24 percent have budgets over $1,000,000.
Barbara McClure, Executive Director of Impact of Southern Arizona, stated, “We are very appreciative of your generous support and this exciting opportunity for funding of general operating expenses. It takes an innovative organization to back the concept of investing in infrastructure and preparation for sustainable capacity building. Thank you for all you do for the community and your amazing support of nonprofits throughout these many COVID months. Because of you, we will all continue to grow strong and provide services for many years to come.”
CORE Grant 2021 Recipients:
- 3rd Decade*
- Adult Literacy Plus of Southwest Arizona*
- Amerind Foundation, Inc.
- Arivaca Coordinating Council-Arivaca Human Resource Group Inc.*
- Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors*
- Arts Express
- BICAS*
- Borderlands Restoration Network*
- Boys & Girls Club of Sun Corridor*
- Boys To Men Tucson, Inc.*
- Campesinos sin Fronteras*
- Cochise Family Advocacy Center aka Lori’s Place*
- Construyendo Circulos de Paz/Constructing Circles of Peace
- Felicia’s Farm*
- Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church
- Greater Vail Community ReSources*
- Growth Partners Arizona*
- Imago Dei Middle School*
- IMPACT of Southern Arizona*
- KXCI*
- Live Theatre Workshop
- Living Streets Alliance
- Make Way for Books*
- Native American Advancement Foundation*
- Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry
- Parent Aid Child Abuse Prevention*
- Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center*
- Ronald McDonald House*
- Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center*
- SARSEF: Southern Arizona Research, Science, & Engineering Foundation*
- Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers of Green Valley District, Inc. (SAV)
- Sky Island Alliance*
- Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports*
- Southside Workers Center*
- Step Up to Justice*
- The Child and Language Center, Inc.*
- The Dunbar Coalition Inc.*
- The International Sonoran Desert Alliance*
- Tucson Girls Chorus*
- UA Community and School Garden Program*
- Volunteer Interfaith Caregiver Program
- Watershed Management Group*
* These grants were made possible thanks to our generous CORE collaborators:
- Anne Maley-Shaffner & Timothy Shaffner
- Bledsoe/Biedes Legacy Endowment
- Connie Hillman Family Foundation
- The David S. and Norma R. Lewis Foundation
- Gaydon Ketchum Charitable Fund
- Hellene Henrikson Fund of the Lutheran Church of the Foothills
- Nichols Family Foundation Fund
- Shaaron Kent Endowment Fund
- The Blessings Fund
- Topaz Fund
- Troller Fund
