The Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund of the Lutheran Church of the Foothills Grants
The Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund of Lutheran Church of the Foothills awards grants to nonprofit organizations with programs that address areas of focus selected each year by the Fund’s Board. The Hellene Henrikson Fund is a donor advised fund founded and administered by Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson through a gift from Hellene Henrikson at her death in 2018.
Hellene Henrikson was a longtime member at Lutheran Church of the Foothills. Throughout her life, Hellene generously supported her church as well as many other non-profit organizations in the Tucson area, helping them to live out Matthew 25:31-40. She wished that her generosity would continue after her death and now it does so through the work of this Fund.
The Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund of Lutheran Church of the Foothills will be closing after 7 years of providing over $1.3 Million dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations in our community.
Fall 2026 Grant Round
The Fall 2026 grant round will support programs and organizations addressing the needs and opportunities experienced by immigrant individuals, families, and communities in Southern Arizona. Eligible efforts may include, but are not limited to, increasing access to food, housing, and clothing; mental and physical healthcare; support navigating cultural, social, and systemic barriers; and programs that advance economic stability through meaningful employment and fair wages. Organizations are eligible to apply regardless of the race, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status of their leadership, staff, or broader constituency. Funding decisions will be based on the proposed work, its alignment with the purpose of the grant round, and the organization’s ability to effectively serve the community.
The Hellene Henrikson Legacy Fund of the Lutheran Church of the Foothills is inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for up to $15,000 total for the Fall 2026 grant solicitation. The request should be for the amount required for the proposed program, and requests for more than this amount may be considered. A total of $60,000 will be granted, with the objective of funding up to 4 applications.
Application Confirmation
Upon submission, you will receive an email confirmation from our team confirming that your application has been successfully submitted. If you are unsure, please email a member of our team at the contact provided above.
Funding Period and Timeline:
- The grant period is one year, from November 1, 2026 - October 31, 2027
- Application opens on September 8, 2026
- Deadline for submitting applications is October 11, 2026, by 5:00pm Arizona time
Basic Eligibility Requirements:
- The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) in good standing, based in and doing charitable work in Southern Arizona, specifically Pima County, Santa Cruz County, and Cochise County.
- The organization must have local leadership in the form of a board of directors or advisory committee, local financial support, and local program management and accountability. In the case of nationally sponsored organizations, no portion of the grant can be used to support the national, state, or regional entity.
- The proposed program must directly benefit communities in one of the above defined local areas.
- Grants are not made to individuals, for-profit organizations, government entities, capital fund drives, agency endowments, individual schools, or for sectarian purposes.
Priority will be given to organizations that:
- Have involved staff, volunteers, and current/potential participants in the planning and implementation of the proposed program.
- Can clearly articulate the outcomes the program/participants will achieve and be able to collect the data to demonstrate measurable progress toward the accomplishment of those outcomes.
- Can provide a clear description of plans to sustain the organization and/or program beyond the grant period.
How to Apply
All applicants must create an account in our grant portal before applying. Here is the link to or grant portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfsaz
To view a tutorial video on how to submit an application using this platform please click here.
Questions?
Please contact the Community Impact Team at CFSA at 520-770-0800 or via email at community@cfsaz.org for questions regarding this process.