The 2023 CORE Grants are now closed.
Since 2017, CFSA has granted over $3.5 million to nonprofits in Southern Arizona through its CORE Grants program.
CORE Grants provide nonprofits with the flexible working capital necessary to maximize their impact and improve the quality of life in Southern Arizona.
In 2022, CFSA awarded a historic $1,119,500 in unrestricted CORE Grants to 55 local nonprofit organizations in Southern Arizona – the largest single grant round in CFSA’s 42-year history. Grounded in mutual trust and respect, CORE Grants provide flexible funding for organizations to use as they see fit to address emerging issues, boost salaries and benefits, invest in technology, or implement new communication and fundraising strategies, all leading to a healthier, innovative, and robust organization.
CFSA’s 2022 CORE Grants were made possible with support from CFSA’s Field of Interest and Unrestricted Funds, our generous CORE Donor Collaborators, and the Connie Hillman Family Foundation. CFSA is committed to seeing this grant program continue to grow, evolve, and reach even more deserving organizations for years to come.
CORE Grants 2023
To Apply
All applications must be submitted through an online process with Common Grant Application. We strongly encourage you to review the tutorial video which contains important information on how to register/login and submit an application. To view the video: click here.
- First-time users of Common Grant Application, click here to register for an account.
- If you have already applied for a grant using Common Grant Application, you should have an account. Returning users click here.
An information session for all things CORE was held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Click on the link below to watch the webinar, and to review the presentation!
Click here to review the CORE Grants 2023 Webinar
View the CORE 101 Application Guide
CORE Grants are scored according to a rubric representative of the following CORE characteristics.
- Community: Nonprofits play an integral role in their local community, have a keen awareness of its needs, and are continuously evolving and growing to meet those needs.
- Organizational Sustainability: Nonprofits have a business model that provides ongoing financial support for their organization. They have boards and staff that are skilled, diverse, and knowledgeable and have shown longevity and a desire to move the organization forward to achieve the best results.
- Results: Nonprofits utilize different methods of evaluation and information-gathering to inform decision-making and organizational improvement as well as develop appropriate services to the community OR expand organizational knowledge of advocacy issues (if relevant.)
- Effective Programs: Nonprofits can clearly speak to the importance of their missions and programs and strategically align their programmatic or advocacy work with the larger good of the communities that they serve.
Important Dates
- October 12, 2022 | 4:30 PM MST: CORE Grant 2023 Information Session
- November 7, 2022 | 12:00 AM MST : Application Opens
- December 2, 2022 | 5:00 PM MST: Application Due
- December 2022 – March 2023: Application Review & Applicant Interviews
- April 7, 2023 | 5:00 PM MST: Award Notifications
- May 4, 2023 | 9:30 AM MST: CORE Grantee Award Celebration
Grant Guidelines
- CORE grant requests must range between $10,000 and $30,000.
- We welcome applicants from Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal (south of the Gila River only), Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties (statewide organizations should have a headquarter/location/charter conducting charitable work in one of the aforementioned counties).
- CORE grant periods are for one year in duration.
- Organizations may receive (be awarded) a CORE grant for up to 3 consecutive years. Any organization that receives 3 consecutive grants must wait for at least 1 year before reapplying and must meet all other eligibility requirements at the time of reapplication.
- Awards made by the foundation’s various grant panels support organizations that do not discriminate in their employment practices, volunteer opportunities or delivery of programs and services on the basis of Race, Religion, Gender or Gender Identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), Gender Expression, Sexual orientation, Age, Ancestry, Citizenship, Ethnicity, Familial Status, Socioeconomic Status (economic circumstances), Color, Creed, Sex (including pregnancy), Phases of Parenthood, National Origin, Marital Status, Veteran Status (past, current or prospective service in the armed forces), Genetic Information, Physical Characteristics or Appearance, Mental or Physical Disability, Any other status prohibited by applicable law.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be a 501(c)3 in good standing and have been operating for at least 2 years
- The applicant must be current in all reporting to CFSA
- Organization must have an annual operating budget between $100K and $2M
- Grants are generally not made to individuals, for profit organizations, government entities, capital fund drives, agency endowments, debt reduction, individual schools, religious organizations for sectarian purposes, pure sports teams.
- Please note schools with 501c3 status and individual colleges within universities using their foundation as the agent may apply.
- Organizations may apply utilizing a fiscal agent but must be able to provide required documents relevant to applicant organization.
- Must be able to demonstrate and clearly articulate CORE values.
- Have a clear commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access and encourage board and staff to reflect the communities they serve.
Documents Required
- Balance Sheet (Must Show Assets and Liabilities) for most recently completed fiscal year (Example: ending December 2021 OR June 2022)
- Profit and Loss Statement (Showing Income and Expense) for most recently completed fiscal year (Example: ending December 2021 OR June 2022)
- Current year-to-date profit and loss statement compared to approved operating budget (current fiscal year)
Questions? Contact our Community Investments Team at community@cfsaz.org or by phone at 520-770-0800.