Arizona Community Foundation’s Fiesta Bowl Charities Grant

The Fiesta Sports Foundation is a philanthropic initiative dedicated to enhancing communities through youth development, sports, and educational programming. The foundation encourages applications that directly serve Arizona residents and support projects within its three central pillars: Youth, Sports, and Education. Eligible programs should demonstrate fiscal responsibility, align with the foundation's mission, and engage in strategic partnerships or collaborative efforts. Acceptable expenditures for grant funding include direct project costs such as program management, marketing, consulting, supplies, technology, and more. Organizations are encouraged to leverage matching funds and demonstrate capacity-building elements in their proposals. The grant is open to Arizona-based 501(c)(3) organizations. Religious organizations may apply if the funding is used for non-sectarian purposes. Applicants without 501(c)(3) status must apply through a fiscal sponsor with a visible profile on the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) website. All funded projects must exclusively serve Arizona residents and reflect a non-discrimination policy covering various demographics. Organizations must be authorized by their boards and collaborators to apply. Each applicant may submit only one application, and the funding level selected must match the one indicated in the Letter of Interest. Applicants can choose from three funding levels: the $15,000 Kickoff Grant, the $25,000 Field Goal Grant, or the $50,000 Touchdown Grant. Proposals must clearly outline the project scope, goals, target population, sustainability plans, evaluation methods, and intended use of the funds. Final reports are due upon project completion but no later than February 2026. Awardees must recognize the Fiesta Sports Foundation in marketing materials and public-facing elements of the funded initiative. The application portal opens on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., and the final submission deadline is Friday, May 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Award decisions and notifications will be released in August 2025. The application process is hosted through the Arizona Community Foundation’s online grants platform, and applicants must maintain a current ACF profile. Technical assistance is available through ACF’s grants team via email or phone. Evaluation criteria include alignment with foundation pillars, organizational mission, clarity and completeness of the project description, sustainability plans, funding clarity, and measurable impact. Specific scoring metrics are outlined in a detailed rubric that assesses application quality and potential for community benefit. Applications must be thorough, follow formatting guidelines, and demonstrate a strong rationale for funding support.