The Piper Fellows Program, administered by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, is designed to support the professional development of nonprofit leaders in Maricopa County, Arizona. Recognizing the ongoing challenges and demands faced by nonprofit leadership, the program offers a unique opportunity for selected fellows to engage in self-designed growth experiences. This initiative underscores the Trust’s commitment to strengthening the leadership capabilities within the nonprofit sector, especially in human services, health, education, arts and culture, and religious organizations.
Fellows are awarded up to $30,000 to execute a personally curated professional development plan that can include educational programs, site visits to exemplary organizations, and meetings with national thought leaders. These plans may be implemented in one continuous period or spread out over time to best serve the fellow’s organization. Additionally, each fellow’s organization receives a $10,000 grant for staff and board development. Upon completion of the fellowship, organizations may also apply for an additional Organizational Enhancement Award of up to $50,000.
To be eligible, applicants must be full-time employees of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that has provided services in Maricopa County for at least 10 years in designated service areas. Candidates must also have a minimum of seven years of full-time experience in the nonprofit sector, reside in Arizona, and hold significant managerial responsibilities. Organizations must fully support the fellowship application and guarantee the candidate's employment status, salary, and benefits throughout the fellowship period.
Applications are accepted through an online portal and must be submitted by August 1. The review and selection process, conducted by a committee of local nonprofit leaders, occurs between September and October, with final selections made in November and announcements in early December. Fellows are expected to begin their development plans in January of the following year and submit a reflection report within three months of completion. Participation in ongoing fellowship-related activities is also expected.
The application includes providing organizational and candidate details and outlining the proposed development plan. Questions can be directed to Karen Leland at kleland@pipertrust.org. This opportunity is not open to employees of grantmaking foundations, chambers of commerce, association organizations, P-20 classroom educators, or anyone affiliated with the Piper Trust or their families.
