71 Arizona nonprofits receive grants totaling $123M, trustees announce

PHOENIX — In surprise individual presentations, 71 Arizona nonprofits were told they will receive one-time grants totaling $123 million, officials announced Monday.

The grant initiative “Now is the Moment Grants Commemoration”, funded by trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, is the largest single-day grant in Arizona history, officials announced in a press release.

The human services sector is set to receive almost half of the grant money, totaling $54,950,000. Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., Phoenix Rescue Mission, and Valley of the Sun YMCA were three of the 29 grantees.

There were also 22 grants given to arts and culture nonprofits such as Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. That sector is to receive over $34.7 million.

The trustees also set aside $21.5 million for education and academic enhancements, which went to 12 schools, including Notre Dame Preparatory Academy, Xavier College Preparatory and Seton Catholic High School.

There was also over $8 million set aside for the healthcare sector and $5.6 million for four religious organizations.

“Maricopa County, along with the rest of the country, has suffered dramatically in so many different and unexpected ways,” trustee Sharon Harper said. “We are still in a desperate situation…those who serve the underserved have really suffered.

“The arts and culture sector also had experienced significant setbacks due to the pandemic. We must ensure its fortification for the long-term vitality of the community and state.”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey attended the presentation of the awards and thanked the trust for supplying more resources.

Thanks to @PiperTrust’s generosity, more organizations will have the resources needed to support Arizonans and help our communities continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Thank you, @MJRPiperTrust and Piper Trustees, for your dedication to helping those in need! https://t.co/FKIWeRXfPE pic.twitter.com/GuZg785TOj

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) September 13, 2021

The Trust’s endowment in the stock market in the 15 months following the start of the pandemic grew by $123 million, earnings the trustees said they “felt compelled to share with the community.”

Grant selections were based off of each organizations mission and impact in the community, with grants ranging in size based on a variety of factors, such as budget size and amount of people served, officials said.

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