Since 1980, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) has supported Southern Arizona with more than $260 million in grants and scholarships, stewarding the legacy of our community’s generous donors and increasing the breadth and depth of resources available to our region’s nonprofit sector.
From trust-based funding through their initiatives and grant programs, to professional training through the Center for Healthy Nonprofits, to community convenings at the Community Foundation Campus, CFSA is committed to supporting the vital nonprofit organizations, impactful philanthropists, and dedicated community partners working together to create a thriving Southern Arizona for everyone.
CFSA Services
In CFSA’s role as convener, facilitator and collaborator, the organization works directly with nonprofits, individuals, families, local businesses and other partners in philanthropy to inspire and enact long-term solutions for our communities’ most pressing problems.
Individuals and Families: CFSA provides personalized service to individuals and families to help them identify and actualize their philanthropic goals. Their team of dedicated philanthropic advisors will learn about specific interests and offer strategies and support to help achieve those goals.
Nonprofit Organizations: Through unrestricted grantmaking, targeted education, peer roundtables, and opportunities to convene at the Community Foundation Campus, CFSA empowers Southern Arizona’s nonprofits to tackle today’s complex community challenges. CFSA continues to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of today’s nonprofit sector; last year alone they introduced two new grant programs and expanded in-person support for nonprofits throughout Southern Arizona.
Southern Arizona Businesses: CFSA offers expertise and administrative support to all types of businesses to efficiently Community Foundation for Southern Arizona contribute to a thriving Southern Arizona. Although individual business needs vary, CFSA’s corporate philanthropy services can help businesses maximize their impact support by recommending specific community
needs that align with their mission and goals and providing expert support throughout the entire grantmaking process.
Private Foundations: Established family and private foundations find that they can achieve the same lasting impact by opening a donor-advised fund with CFSA, while avoiding the burdensome reporting requirements and potential taxes. A donor-advised fund can be used to give now, give later, or both. In addition, a donor-advised fund succession plan can engage the next generation
of family members, creating a legacy of philanthropy.
Professional Advisors: Individuals rely on professional advisors — attorneys, financial planners, CPAs, trust officers, investment advisors and insurance agents — to guide them in the process of making decisions about their financial and estate plans. CFSA partners with professional advisors to help establish giving options that maximize their client’s tax benefits and ensure their philanthropic intent is honored.
CFSA Initiatives
The African American Legacy Fund works to address the educational and economic disparities faced by African Americans who call Southern Arizona home by supporting innovative and inspiring
educational programs, investing in the development of Black and African American leaders, and championing Black-led organizations.
The Center for Healthy Nonprofits strengthens the Southern Arizona nonprofit community by offering free and reduced cost capacity-building workshops and training for nonprofit professionals and volunteers. Work in the nonprofit sector presents unique challenges and the Center works to fill that resource gap and maximize the impact of every nonprofit in Southern Arizona.
The Community Foundation Campus opened in January 2019 as an accessible space to increase nonprofit networking, partnerships and shared learning. Today, the Campus is home to more than 25 different nonprofits of different sizes and missions, and hosts hundreds of visitors in its event and meeting spaces each week.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ+) Alliance Fund works to foster charitable giving in support of innovative programs and initiatives that benefit the LGBTQ+ community
in Southern Arizona. Since 1999, the Alliance Fund has awarded $1,312,957 to 80 local organizations.
The Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona was established in 2023 to increase access to local news and information. In its first round of funding, the initiative distributed $225,000 to support the delivery of nonpartisan, reliable civic news and information that is inclusive and available to all.
Launched in 2022, the Nonprofit Solar Project offers local nonprofits the opportunity to meet a significant portion of their energy needs through solar power. Last year, the Project directly connected four nonprofit organizations with solar technology that saves them dollars and reduces their environmental impact.
Pima Alliance for Animal Welfare (PAAW) was established in 2012 to ensure that all Pima County companion animals have a loving home and humane care. PAAW brings together animal-loving
representatives from nonprofits, county shelters, rescue groups, churches, businesses and more.
The Solutions-Focused Community Book Club was created in 2023 to bring together community members from all walks of life who are interested in connecting, learning from each other and building momentum toward positive change. To date, the book club has shared eight books, welcomed 576 participants, and heard from 12 local expert panelists.
Read the full edition of Tucson Lifestyle featuring the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona here.