Meeting the Moment: The Three Cs of CFSA’s Competitive Grantmaking
Around the time of Arizona’s statehood in 1912, and as was taught in schools throughout most of the 20th century, our economy relied on what was called “The Five C’s”, consisting of copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate. Today, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) is building on that legacy with our own three Cs of Grantmaking: CORE, Comunidad, and Corazón.
Across Southern Arizona, we’ve heard from nonprofits navigating rising demand for services, funding uncertainty, and difficult decisions about staffing and programming. In response to these challenges, CFSA is evolving our grantmaking to support nonprofits at different stages of growth and help meet our community’s changing needs.
This year, CFSA is introducing Corazón Grants, a brand-new competitive grant opportunity providing $50,000 grants, conditionally renewable for a second year. It is designed for organizations with annual expenses of $2 million or more that serve as significant, long-standing anchors in Southern Arizona. Applications will open on November 2, 2026.
CORE Grants will continue their existing annual cycle with applications opening November 2, 2026. CORE supports established nonprofits with annual expenses between $100,000 and $2 million.
Comunidad Grants will continue to support small and emerging organizations, now providing funding through a two-year cycle. This change provides more predictable funding and allows organizations to focus on their work and community impact with added stability. All 2026 grant recipients will receive renewal funding this year, with the next application opening in Fall 2027.
All three grant opportunities provide flexible funding that organizations can direct where it is needed most. Whether responding to emerging needs, strengthening salaries and benefits, investing in technology and infrastructure, or building communications and fundraising capacity, nonprofits can use these resources to strengthen their organizations and better serve our community. Rooted in mutual trust, this approach recognizes that organizations understand their own needs and are best positioned to determine how funding can make the greatest difference.
These grant opportunities are not a hierarchy. Organizations of all sizes play essential roles in our community, and each pathway reflects CFSA’s commitment to supporting the vital nonprofits that help Southern Arizona thrive. We invite donors and nonprofits looking to apply, to explore the updated grant pages for Comunidad, CORE, and Corazón. Each page outlines the grant opportunity, eligibility requirements, and application details to help you find the best fit.
Of course, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Community Impact team at community@cfsaz.org.
Thank you for staying connected with CFSA and for the important role you play in helping Southern Arizona thrive!
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