APS Foundation Inc
APS Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its grant program supports projects that strengthen STEM education and academic achievement in Arizona, with an emphasis on professional development for STEM teachers.
APS Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: APS Foundation Inc gave $2.3M across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in Arizona. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,259,225
- -16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- -2.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,540
- -14.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $48,225,414
- +10.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (23 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to APS Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 53999 Ms 8657, Phoenix, AZ 85072-3999
Phone: (602) 250-2574
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from APS Foundation Inc
Who APS Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Society of St Vincent de Paul ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 162 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona. The remaining shares went to Colorado (4%), Ohio (4%), Massachusetts (2%), and California (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is APS Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 23 of 37 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $91K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 27% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $950K (2020) to $2.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Society of St Vincent de Paul Phoenix, AZ | Eviction-Prevention, Emergency & Transitional Housing Programs` | $300,000 |
| The Phoenix Theatre Company Phoenix, AZ | Centennial Capital Campaign Project | $250,000 |
| Arizona Educational Foundation Inc Phoenix, AZ | The Teacher Pipeline Project | $100,000 |
| American Indian College Fund Denver, CO | Arizona Public Service Foundation Navajo Scholars Program | $100,000 |
| Tempe Community Action Agency Inc Tempe, AZ | Building Resilience Program Expansion and Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| The Salvation Army Southwest Division Phoenix, AZ | Cooling and Hydration Stations | $100,000 |
| ASU Foundation for a New American University Tempe, AZ | Immersive Robotics for All (IR4All): Accessible Student and Teacher Training | $88,883 |
| Northern Arizona University Foundation Inc Flagstaff, AZ | PITAS (Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools) Program | $80,000 |
| ASU Foundation For A New American University Tempe, AZ | Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program (JBMSHP) at Arizona State University | $71,500 |
| Northern Arizona University Foundation Inc Flagstaff, AZ | Let's Talk Code | $70,000 |
Ready to take the next step with APS Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,225,414 | $637,511 | $2,293,243 | $2,259,225 | 43 | $2,259,225 | $610,553 | $2,238,207 |
| 2024 | $43,498,496 | $13,971,156 | $2,422,200 | $2,705,001 | 44 | $2,705,001 | $13,950,219 | $1,938,110 |
| 2023 | $41,615,135 | $854,975 | $2,183,307 | $1,876,324 | 30 | $1,876,324 | $830,142 | $1,907,817 |
| 2022 | $36,762,659 | $7,401,121 | $2,125,859 | $2,222,897 | 20 | $2,222,897 | $378,781 | $1,599,013 |
| 2021 | $37,863,447 | $1,565,886 | $2,007,111 | $2,069,164 | 25 | $2,069,164 | $1,548,082 | $1,782,882 |
| 2020 | $35,287,637 | $10,537,107 | $968,661 | $950,000 | 48 | — | $523,446 | $1,181,413 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, APS Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated funding focus is projects and programs that enhance STEM education and attainment in Arizona. It prioritizes initiatives that improve educational outcomes and access, particularly professional development for STEM teachers, and welcomes applications for initiatives supporting Arizona educators and students and enhancing STEM learning. The program description says it is funded by APS shareholders and is not included in customer rates.
The 2025 grants show support for varied education and community programs. For example, Arizona Educational Foundation describes its mission as celebrating excellence and cultivating equity in Arizona public education; American Indian College Fund says it invests in Native students and tribal college education; and Tempe Community Action Agency says it works to eliminate poverty and advance equitable communities through human services. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $2,259,225. Individual grants ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median of $40,000. It awarded 44 grants totaling $2,705,001 in 2024 and 30 grants totaling $1,876,324 in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 awards were $300,000 to Society of St Vincent de Paul for eviction-prevention, emergency and transitional housing programs; $250,000 to The Phoenix Theatre Company for its Centennial Capital Campaign Project; and $100,000 each to Arizona Educational Foundation for the Teacher Pipeline Project, American Indian College Fund for the Arizona Public Service Foundation Navajo Scholars Program, Tempe Community Action Agency for its Building Resilience Program Expansion and Capital Campaign, and The Salvation Army Southwest Division for cooling and hydration stations. Other awards included $88,883 to ASU Foundation for a New American University for Immersive Robotics for All and $80,000 to Northern Arizona University Foundation for the PITAS program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Theodore N Geisler as Chairman and President; Traci Stooks-Dermer as Secretary; Monica Whiting, Jacob Tetlow, and Michelle Ferrara as Board Members; Tina Marie Tentori as Executive Director; and Christopher R Bauer as Treasurer.
APS Foundation Inc is led by Theodore N Geisler, Chairman & President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Theodore N Geisler
Chairman & President
Treasurer → Chairman & President, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Marie Tentori
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica Whiting
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Tetlow
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Ferrara
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Traci Stooks-Dermer
Secretary
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher R Bauer
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jeffrey B Guldner (2020–2024) — Chairman & President
- Former: Donna M Easterly (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Daniel T Froetscher (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about APS Foundation Inc
How much does APS Foundation Inc give each year?
APS Foundation Inc gave $2.3M across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 44 grants.
What is APS Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
APS Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $52,540, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from APS Foundation Inc that year got $43K on average.
Where does APS Foundation Inc give grants?
APS Foundation Inc gives mostly in Arizona: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (12 grants), Tempe, AZ (7 grants), Tucson, AZ (5 grants) and Flagstaff, AZ (4 grants).
Does APS Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on APS Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are APS Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
APS Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Society of St Vincent de Paul ($300,000), The Phoenix Theatre Company ($250,000) and ASU Foundation For A New American University ($195,383 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is APS Foundation Inc?
APS Foundation Inc reported $48.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does APS Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated funding focus is projects and programs that enhance STEM education and attainment in Arizona. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from APS Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is APS Foundation Inc's EIN?
APS Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3735903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does APS Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in APS Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). APS Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/aps-foundation-inc-morg_2b68f78aeae1497c9eea6cb24afcc63a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_953735903_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{APS Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/aps-foundation-inc-morg_2b68f78aeae1497c9eea6cb24afcc63a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from APS Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
APS Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?