CORE Grants
CORE Grants support Southern Arizona nonprofits with flexible operating funds for staffing, infrastructure, and other organizational needs to strengthen their impact and improve local quality of life.
Funder: Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
Due Dates: November 2, 2026 (Applications open) | November 29, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$30,000 for one year (2024 guidelines)
Summary: CORE Grants provide unrestricted operating support to strengthen nonprofits and improve quality of life in Southern Arizona.
Key Information: The 2024 guidelines require an annual operating budget of $100,000–$2 million; updated application criteria are coming soon.
Description
CORE Grants, administered by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA), provide nonprofits with flexible working capital to maximize their impact and improve quality of life in Southern Arizona. Rather than funding a specific project, the program supports organizational needs such as salaries and benefits, technology and infrastructure, and communication and fundraising strategies. Recipients can also use the funding to respond to emerging community issues.
Established in 2017, CORE is grounded in mutual trust and the belief that nonprofits understand their own needs and can achieve and demonstrate their impact. The program aims to build healthier, more innovative, and more robust organizations. Support comes from CORE Donor Collaborators, CFSA’s Field of Interest and Unrestricted Funds, and matching contributions from donors including the Connie Hillman Family Foundation.
