Comunidad Grants

Comunidad Grants provide flexible funding to Southern Arizona’s small and emerging nonprofit organizations. Launched in 2024, Comunidad reflects CFSA’s commitment to ensuring that smaller organizations have a dedicated pathway to philanthropic investment and the flexibility to use resources where they are needed most.

Comunidad is rooted in trust and in the belief that nonprofit leaders understand their organizations and communities best. As the program continues to evolve, CFSA is working toward a model that provides greater continuity, reduces unnecessary application burden, and allows us to build longer relationships with the organizations we fund.

Comunidad in FY27

Comunidad will not open for competitive applications in FY27. This year is a transition year as CFSA prepares to move Comunidad toward a more sustained, trust-based funding model.

Rather than opening a new competitive round, CFSA will provide renewal grants to all 14 current Comunidad grantees, extending our support for these organizations without asking them to compete again this year.

This is a one-year transition, not an end to open Comunidad grantmaking. Comunidad will reopen for competitive applications in Fall 2027. 

Why is Comunidad changing?

After three years of Comunidad, CFSA has an opportunity to build on what we have learned and move the program further toward sustained, trust-based philanthropy.

When Comunidad reopens in Fall 2027, CFSA anticipates offering $5,000 grants with the opportunity for a conditional $5,000 renewal for a second year, creating the potential for $10,000 in support over two years. Grantees eligible for renewal will not need to participate in another full competitive application process for Year 2. 

This new model is designed to provide greater continuity for participating organizations, reduce repeated application burden, and create the opportunity for a longer relationship between CFSA and our Comunidad grantees. It is part of CFSA’s broader effort to provide sustained support where it makes sense and resources allow. 

What will Comunidad look like in Fall 2027?

When Comunidad reopens for competitive applications in Fall 2027, we anticipate:

• $5,000 grants for an initial one-year grant period, with the opportunity for a conditional $5,000 renewal for a second year; 
• Continued focus on small and emerging Southern Arizona nonprofits with annual expenses under $100,000; 
• Flexible funding that organizations can use where it is most needed; and 
• A streamlined renewal process for Year 2, reducing the burden of completing another full competitive application. 

Additional eligibility criteria, application dates, and grant guidelines for the Fall 2027 cycle will be shared as they are finalized.

How does Comunidad fit within CFSA’s competitive grantmaking?

Comunidad is one of the complementary pathways through which CFSA invests across Southern Arizona’s nonprofit community.

Comunidad provides a dedicated pathway for small and emerging organizations with annual expenses under $100,000. CORE provides flexible funding to established midsized nonprofits with annual expenses between $100,000 and $2 million. Corazón extends CFSA’s competitive grantmaking to established organizations with annual expenses above $2 million that demonstrate a significant and sustained role in Southern Arizona.

These programs are not levels in a hierarchy. Organizational size helps determine which competitive funding pathway is available; it does not determine an organization’s value or importance to the community. 

Questions?

Please contact CFSA’s Community Impact Team at 520-770-0800 or community@cfsaz.org with questions about Comunidad Grants.