Arizona Education Grants

The APS Fund, in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation, offers competitive grants to eligible nonprofits in Arizona. Since 2001, this partnership has provided funding to qualified agencies that support community growth and address needs in the West Valley. The grant program's mission aligns with the Arizona Community Foundation's broader goal of supporting community development, arts and culture, education, environment, and human services. This initiative reflects a strategic priority to empower local organizations that directly serve the evolving needs of Arizona's diverse population. The target beneficiaries are nonprofit organizations that have been in continuous operation for at least three years, government agencies, and tribal entities operating with fiscal accountability within a specific geographical area: North to Bell Road (extending west when Bell Road ends), West to 459th Avenue, South to Estrella/Gillespie Dam, and East to 19th Avenue. Religious organizations may also apply for non-sectarian programs. The program aims to support agencies that demonstrate a non-discrimination policy and are in good standing with the IRS, ensuring that funding reaches responsible and inclusive organizations that serve a wide array of ethnic, economic, or cultural backgrounds. The APS Fund prioritizes projects that introduce new or creative solutions to community problems, actively involve volunteers and in-kind gifts to demonstrate community engagement, and foster cooperative efforts between different organizations. This focus ensures that the funded projects are innovative, community-driven, and collaborative, maximizing their potential impact. The program encourages proposals that contribute to building stronger, more resilient communities through shared resources and collective action. Expected outcomes include enhanced community support, addressing critical needs in the West Valley, and fostering a collaborative environment among nonprofits. The measurable results for this grant cycle will be the successful implementation of projects that meet the outlined criteria, providing a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 in funding per qualified organization. The strategic theory of change is that by investing in local, innovative, and collaborative nonprofit initiatives, the APS Fund and the Arizona Community Foundation can drive positive, sustainable change and improve the quality of life for residents in the targeted areas of Arizona.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations, tribal entities, and local governments in Arizona to enhance child care services and support in-home child care providers for working families.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community development projects and services aimed at assisting low to moderate-income individuals and families in Mesa, Arizona, including housing, public facilities, and emergency solutions for homelessness.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that deliver essential human services to residents of Tempe, Arizona.

This grant provides funding for full-time graduate students in the Western U.S. to collaborate with their academic advisors and local producers on projects that promote sustainable agriculture through research and education.

The Wavemaker Arts Grants, provided by the City of Tempe, are designed to support arts non-profit organizations that offer inclusive arts and culture programming within Tempe. This program aligns with the City of Tempe's broader mission to advance Tempe as a vibrant and progressive community for cultural and artistic activity, as outlined in its Arts and Culture Plan. The grants specifically target non-profit organizations with 501c3 status, ensuring that funding is directed towards established entities dedicated to public benefit in the arts. The primary beneficiaries of this program are arts non-profit organizations and, by extension, the residents and communities of Tempe who participate in and experience the funded arts and culture programming. The impact goals are to increase community-initiated arts projects, support festivals that celebrate cultural diversity, and expand informal arts programming in community settings. The program also aims to foster a rich cultural environment that reflects the diverse population of Tempe. The program's priorities and focuses include supporting a variety of project structures such as performances, residencies/workshops, and festivals. Grant requests can cover expenses like artist services, professional services, stipends, supplies, production costs, space rentals, food, marketing, and printing. A key focus is on ensuring that projects take place within Tempe and serve its community, with a clear restriction against activities outside the city or entirely virtual programming. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in accessible arts and culture programming for Tempe residents, a rise in community engagement with diverse cultural events, and the continued enhancement of Tempe's reputation as a culturally vibrant city. While specific quantitative metrics are not detailed, the program implies success through the number and variety of funded projects, the reach of those projects within the community, and their alignment with the Arts and Culture Plan's recommendations. The funding amount of up to $10,000 per project supports these outcomes by enabling organizations to execute impactful, community-focused initiatives.

This grant provides $10,000 to nonprofit organizations in Southern Arizona for projects that enhance K-12 STEM education, promote conservation and sustainability, or address food and housing insecurity.

This grant provides financial support to eligible nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and tribal entities in Cochise County, Arizona, to enhance community services in areas such as education, health, and the arts.

This program provides financial support to young artists in Arizona, ages 12 to 17, to help them develop their artistic skills through lessons, workshops, or necessary supplies outside of school hours.

This program provides funding for community-led initiatives in Phoenix that focus on improving neighborhood safety and security through block watch projects.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and community entities in Arizona to create arts learning projects for adults and intergenerational groups, fostering creative expression and skill development in accessible community spaces.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Maricopa County, Arizona, to create impactful summer programs for youth, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission are offering the Neighborhood Sustainability Grants (NSG) Program. This program aims to provide funding for innovative projects that improve community sustainability and promote healthy lifestyles through collaborative community partnerships. While specific foundation mission alignment, strategic priorities, or theory of change are not explicitly stated as coming from a "foundation," the program's goals directly align with the broader mission of urban sustainability and community well-being as typically pursued by municipal sustainability offices and commissions. The NSG Program targets a broad range of beneficiaries including individuals, groups of individuals, community groups, educational groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, and locally owned businesses. These applicants must be undertaking projects within the Flagstaff city limits. The impact goals are to enhance community sustainability, promote healthy lifestyles, meaningfully involve underserved communities, diverse groups, or vulnerable populations, build community partnerships, and facilitate volunteer engagement or management. The program prioritizes projects that align with at least one of its three core goals: involving underserved communities, building partnerships, or facilitating volunteer engagement. Additionally, projects must fall into one of the following categories: Building Energy, Climate Action, Food, Public Health, Resilience, Transportation, or Waste. These categories represent the key focuses for achieving Flagstaff's sustainability objectives. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of creative community projects that address sustainability challenges. Measurable results would be evidenced by the number of projects funded, the reach of those projects within the community, the level of community engagement and partnerships fostered, and tangible improvements in the designated sustainability categories. The program anticipates awarding a total of $75,000 in 2024, with individual grants capped at $7,500, indicating a focus on supporting multiple, smaller-scale community-led initiatives rather than a few large projects.

This program provides operational funding to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Phoenix that engage the community through diverse programming and demonstrate strong governance and financial stability.

The Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff is currently accepting grant applications aimed at fostering a culture of community philanthropy and generating lasting financial capacity to support vital community programs. As part of its ongoing mission, the Foundation is committed to sustaining services that respond to the evolving needs of the Flagstaff community through strategic grantmaking. The Foundation places a central emphasis on the role of local nonprofits as key partners in service delivery and community development. The grant program provides funding opportunities for schools, nonprofit organizations, and community groups operating within the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization's coverage area. This includes areas from Bellemont to the west, Kachina Village and Mountainaire to the south, Winona to the east, and San Francisco Peaks to the north, encompassing the Flagstaff Unified School District as well. The Foundation supports both new initiatives and ongoing programs that enhance the quality of life for Flagstaff residents. Applicants can apply for support under several designated Fields of Interest. These include the Flagstaff Education Fund, Educational Resources Fund, Environmental Education and Conservation Fund, Healthcare Fund, Music Education Fund, Pickard Arts & Culture Fund, Social Services Fund, Victim Services Fund, Youth Fund, Animal Welfare Fund, and Substance Abuse Prevention Fund. These categories reflect the Foundation’s comprehensive approach to addressing various aspects of community well-being through targeted investment. Eligible uses of grant funds include building organizational capacity, supporting direct service delivery, and covering capital expenditures. Additionally, general operating support and administrative costs are allowable. The Foundation supports both one-year projects and renewable proposals, although renewal funding is not guaranteed. Grants are typically awarded in the range of $750 to $5,000, with a stated upper funding range of up to $10,000. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, municipalities, or tribal entities with verified fiscal accountability. Religious organizations may apply for funding of non-sectarian programs. All applicants must comply with the Foundation’s non-discrimination policy, confirming no unlawful discrimination in employment or service provision. The organization must have current tax-exempt status; applications from entities with a lapsed or revoked status will not be considered. The application deadline for this grant cycle is May 22, 2024. An eligibility quiz must be completed before accessing the full application. The Foundation’s website serves as the primary source of information and application submission. While specific dates for award announcements are not listed, the timeline for review and notification generally follows the closing of the application window. Additional questions and application guidance are available directly through the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff.

This grant provides funding to agricultural professionals and organizations in the Western U.S. to implement educational and demonstration projects that promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices based on previous research findings.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Arizona that are dedicated to improving literacy skills for children and youth from birth through 12th grade.

The Arts in Schools Grants program, offered by the City of Tempe, is designed to expand and enhance arts services for students in Tempe schools. This initiative aligns with the broader Community Arts Grants Program, which aims to support immersive arts and culture experiences for collective impact and sustained value within the community. The program's mission is to foster arts education by providing resources directly to visual and performing arts teachers, enabling them to introduce new equipment, supplies, or guest artists into their curricula and programs. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are visual and performing arts teachers and, by extension, the students within Tempe Union High School District, Tempe Elementary District, Kyrene School District, Tempe Preparatory Academy, and New School for Arts & Academics. The program targets schools and activities located within Tempe's city limits. The impact goals include enriching existing arts programs, offering students unique artistic opportunities, and contributing to a more vibrant and culturally engaged school environment. The program prioritizes several focus areas, offering teachers two main options: up to $750 for specialty equipment or supplies, or up to $2,000 for a residency. The residency option further breaks down into up to $1,500 for a guest artist, clinician, or arts organization, and up to $500 for supplies. For visual arts teachers, additional planning support is available if they select an artist from the Studio Artists Program. This structured approach ensures that resources are allocated to either enhance physical resources for arts education or bring in external expertise to enrich student learning. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the quality and variety of arts education available to students. For the "Specialty Equipment or Supplies" option, the outcome is the acquisition of new materials that enhance teaching and learning. For the "Residency" option, the outcome is the direct engagement of students with professional artists or organizations, providing unique immersive experiences. Measurable results will be tracked through final reports submitted by May 30, 2025, which will detail how the funds were utilized and the impact on the arts programs. The program's strategic priorities are centered on direct support for classroom arts initiatives, ensuring that funding directly benefits student experiences rather than administrative overhead or infrastructure. This grant does not fund activities outside of Tempe, administrative salaries, compensation for immediate relatives, permanent infrastructure enhancements, construction, debt reduction, fundraising, re-granting, scholarship programs, or projects already funded by a 2024-2025 Community Arts Grant.

This grant provides funding for organizations to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in managing cultural and natural resources at military installations in Hawaii, ensuring compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws.

The Master-Apprentice Artist Award, offered by the Southwest Folklife Alliance (SFA), provides direct financial support to master traditional artists in Arizona. Its core mission is to facilitate the intergenerational transmission of art, culture, and heritage practices from master artists to apprentice learners. This aligns with SFA's broader goal of strengthening community-based traditions throughout the Southwestern United States, emphasizing the vital role of mentorship and hands-on experience in cultural preservation. Target beneficiaries include master traditional artists and culture bearers residing in Arizona, as well as apprentices aged 16 and older (or younger if immediate family of the master artist). The program prioritizes masters and apprentices within the same cultural community and aims to support underrepresented traditional art forms with few remaining local practitioners. The impact goal is to ensure the continuity and vitality of diverse traditional art forms, fostering a new generation of skilled practitioners and preserving cultural heritage. The program focuses on a one-on-one teaching-learning relationship, where funds can cover artist fees, raw materials, and essential travel. Traditional master artists receive $5,000, and apprentices receive $500. SFA's strategic priority is to identify and support artists who demonstrate mastery of their art form, community recognition, and the ability to effectively share traditional knowledge. This approach reflects a theory of change that informal, community-rooted mentorship is the most effective way to transmit and sustain traditional arts. Expected outcomes include the successful transfer of traditional art skills and knowledge from master to apprentice, leading to a strengthened base of cultural practitioners. Measurable results would involve the number of successful apprenticeships, the continuation or revitalization of specific traditional art forms, and the increased recognition and practice of these traditions within their respective communities. The program ensures that applicants are full-time Arizona residents, further embedding the initiative within the local cultural landscape.