Canyon Institute
Canyon Institute is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its stated mission is to spread the gospel and extend the Kingdom of God by supporting education, evangelism, and charity through Christian influence and auspices.
Canyon Institute at a glance
In short: Canyon Institute gave $1.6M across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,565,205
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,133
- +5.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $41,605,896
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Canyon Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The institute’s website says it does not accept unsolicited proposals for organizational grantmaking; organizations are brought forward by board members. The 2024 filing separately describes an online application for the Arizona Resident Scholarship Program. It states that applicants must be Arizona residents seeking Christian higher education in the Western United States, attend an approved Christian college or university, be enrolled full-time in at least 12 semester hours and take classes on campus, and maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The approved schools listed in that filing were Azusa Pacific University, California Baptist University, Concordia University–Irvine, Pepperdine University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Seattle Pacific University, Westmont College, and Whitworth University.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists May 31 and directs applicants to the website for specific information. That deadline is from a past filing cycle; consult the institute’s website for current scholarship information.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists May 31 and directs applicants to the website for specific information.
- Contact
Application contact: Apply Online At Httpscanyoninstitut
Mailing address: 3101 N Central Ave Ste 1490, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 277-5751
Website: https://canyoninstitutearizona.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Canyon Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Grand Canyon University ($348K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 22 individual scholarships ($66,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
318 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 245 grants of 318 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The institute says it partners with organizations worldwide. In filing year 2025, Arizona recipients received 66% of grant dollars, Texas 17%, and New York, California, and Virginia 4% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Canyon Institute gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2024) to $1.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ | Canyon rising scholarship program and gcu endowed scholarship grant | $347,885 |
| Guidestone Financial Resources Dallas, TX | Mission:dignity ministry - support for retired pastors and widows | $200,000 |
| Christian Challenge AZ Flagstaff, AZ | Campus Ministry Needs | $118,000 |
| Northrise University Initiative Scottsdale, AZ | One Student Scholarships | $100,000 |
| Orchard Africa Gilbert, AZ | Impact Centers - Ministry and Care Support | $80,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Phoenix, AZ | Summer Camp & GCU Ministries | $80,000 |
| Episcopal Relief & Development New York, NY | Honduras Micro-Finance | $70,000 |
| 25 Project Inc McKinney, TX | Facility Improvements and Global Leadership Summit | $69,400 |
| International Mission Board of the SBC Richmond, VA | Thailand Bangkla Ministry | $62,600 |
| Missions of Hope International Phoenix, AZ | Computer Labs for Schools, Kenya | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Canyon Institute?
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 | $41,605,896 | $1,345,583 | $2,191,357 | $1,565,205 | 39 | $1,831,055 | $3,977,470 | $1,925,389 |
| 2024 | $39,509,960 | $782,547 | $1,971,005 | $1,450,400 | 38 | $1,738,907 | $1,691,200 | $1,857,131 |
| 2023 | $37,581,049 | $1,163,672 | $1,932,292 | $1,516,616 | 35 | $1,762,929 | $54,122 | $1,783,513 |
| 2022 | $36,608,270 | $1,158,701 | $1,999,242 | $1,529,876 | 42 | $1,831,562 | $2,502,012 | $1,907,911 |
| 2021 | $39,989,725 | $765,177 | $2,229,148 | $1,625,537 | 164 | — | $3,567,771 | $1,722,819 |
| 2020 | $32,693,942 | $485,486 | $1,895,451 | $1,510,405 | 169 | — | $997,648 | $1,651,661 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Canyon Institute reported a distributable amount of $1.9M 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
Canyon Institute’s stated mission is to spread the gospel and extend the Kingdom of God by encouraging, supporting, and promoting education, evangelism, and charity through Christian influence and auspices. Its core values are education under Christian influence, Christian evangelism and missions, and charity for people in need.
The institute reports supporting Christian charities and scholarship programs. Examples among its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported: Orchard Africa says it equips local churches to care for vulnerable people; Filter of Hope says it brings clean drinking water and the gospel to families in need; and Disciple Nations Alliance says it equips followers of Jesus with a biblical worldview. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Canyon Institute reported 39 grants totaling $1,565,205. Grants ranged from $1,320 to $347,885, with a median of $3,000. Its largest reported grants included $347,885 to Grand Canyon University for the Canyon Rising Scholarship Program and a GCU endowed scholarship grant; $200,000 to Guidestone Financial Resources for support for retired pastors and widows; and $118,000 to Christian Challenge AZ for campus ministry needs. Other grants included $100,000 to Northrise University Initiative for student scholarships and $80,000 each to Orchard Africa and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The institute’s website reports more than $20 million awarded through grants and scholarships. It says its Christian Vision Grants have supported 66 Christian charities through 247 grants since 2011, and that it has awarded more than 2,200 GCU endowed scholarships since 2004. It also reports more than 155 Arizona resident scholarships awarded since 2017.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Rochelle as trustee and chair through May 17, 2025, and Jeff Pettett as trustee and chair as of that date. Other listed trustees and officers are Steve Hayes, trustee/vice chair; Eric Cook, trustee/secretary/treasurer; William Brotherton, JD, trustee; Kimberly Tobey, trustee; Brian Middleton, trustee; Lori Horn Bustamante, trustee; Chris Stull, trustee; and Mitchell C. Laird, CEO/CFO.
Canyon Institute is led by Mitchell C. Laird, CEO & CFO on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mitchell C. Laird
CEO & CFO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Pettett
Trustee & Chair
Trustee & Chair → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Rochelle
Trustee & Chair
Trustee, Chair & President → Trustee, 2022
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Middleton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Cook
Trustee, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Tobey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Horn Bustamante
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Hayes
Trustee & Vice Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Brotherton JD
Trustee
Trustee & Vice Chair → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Stull
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Althouse
COO
On filings since 2020
13 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jerry Sowell (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 Canyon Institute
How much does Canyon Institute give each year?
Canyon Institute gave $1.6M across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 38 grants.
What is Canyon Institute's typical grant size?
Canyon Institute's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $40,133, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Canyon Institute give grants?
Canyon Institute gives mostly in Arizona: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (6 grants) and Scottsdale, AZ (2 grants).
Does Canyon Institute give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Canyon Institute's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 39) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Arizona Resident Scholarship" (22 grants).
Who are Canyon Institute's largest grantees?
Canyon Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Grand Canyon University ($347,885), Guidestone Financial Resources ($200,000) and Christian Challenge AZ ($118,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 22 individual scholarships ($66,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Canyon Institute?
Canyon Institute reported $41.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Canyon Institute fund?
Canyon Institute’s stated mission is to spread the gospel and extend the Kingdom of God by encouraging, supporting, and promoting education, evangelism, and charity through Christian influence and auspices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Canyon Institute?
The institute’s website says it does not accept unsolicited proposals for organizational grantmaking; organizations are brought forward by board members. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Canyon Institute's EIN?
Canyon Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0977269. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Canyon Institute accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 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 May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Canyon Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Canyon Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/canyon-institute-morg_4cae2ce0369549c38f16cc03096f7469
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860977269_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Canyon Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/canyon-institute-morg_4cae2ce0369549c38f16cc03096f7469},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Canyon Institute'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.
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