Scottsdale Arts logo

Scottsdale Arts

Public charity · Grantmaker Scottsdale, AZ EIN: 86-0593786 Website

Scottsdale Arts is a public charity based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It presents and supports arts and cultural activity through programs that include performing arts, contemporary art, public art, and arts learning, and it administers a Community Arts Grant Program for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations serving Scottsdale and the Valley.

Key facts about Scottsdale Arts

In short: Scottsdale Arts gave $132K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Arizona. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
86-0593786
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$132,000
Grants made (2025)
16
Average grant
$8,250
Median grant
$7,750
New grantees (estimate)
50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025)
Total assets
$24,458,516
Primary geography
Arizona (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The program page provides an application and project budget form. Full details ↓
Deadline
July 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$24.5M

-4.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$132K

+74.8% YoY

Grant Count

16

+77.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-1.7% YoY

Is Scottsdale Arts open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $9K repeat.

  • 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Scottsdale Arts’ stated mission is “We enhance lives through the power of the Arts.” Its 2024 filing also describes a mission of creating arts experiences that engage the community through cultural initiatives and collaboration across government, business, education, and private sectors.

The Community Arts Grant Program offers project and general operating support. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts or cultural organizations whose missions include visual, literary, or performing arts, or cultural enhancement. The program is intended to support diverse community interests through programs and events.

Examples among 2025 grantees include Kids in Focus, which describes its mission as inspiring youth through mentorship-based photography and life-skills development; The Walter Hive, which says it uses arts, fabrication, and hands-on learning to promote wellness, confidence, and workforce readiness; and Childsplay, which says it creates original theatre and learning experiences for young people. These are grantees’ own descriptions, not Scottsdale Arts’ stated mission.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, Scottsdale Arts reported 16 grants totaling $132,000. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $10,000, with a median of $7,750. Listed grant purposes primarily refer to education and performances programming; one listed award was for general operations.

Review Cycle

July 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (past cycle).

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Scottsdale Arts

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Community Arts Grant Program serves Scottsdale-based and Valley arts and culture organizations. Project grants may be considered for organizations based in Scottsdale or conducting programs there; general operating applicants must have a primary business place within Scottsdale. All 2025 grant dollars listed in the filing went to Arizona recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.

States

Cities

ScottsdalePhoenixTempeCarefreeMesa

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M14 grants2019 14 grants2020 27 grants2021 14 grants2022 10 grants2023 9 grants2024 16 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $76K (2024) to $999K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $132K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Kids in Focus: $10KKids in Focus$10KScottsdale Artists' School Inc: $10KScottsdale Artists' School Inc$10KThe Walter Hive: $10KThe Walter Hive$10KGreasepaint Youth Theater: $10KGreasepaint Youth Theater$10KChildsplay Inc: $10KChildsplay Inc$10KArizona Musicfest: $10KArizona Musicfest$10KAct One Arizona: $9KAct One Arizona$9KCentral Arizona Flute Ensemble: $8KCentral Arizona Flute Ensemble$8KFrank Lloyd Wright Foundation: $8KFrank Lloyd Wright Foundation$8KB3 Theatre Inc: $8KB3 Theatre Inc$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was Kids in Focus ($10K). Together the top 10 received $92K.

Grant Size Distribution

76 grants across all recorded years

74<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 76 (97%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Kids in Focus Phoenix, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
Scottsdale Artists' School Inc Scottsdale, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
The Walter Hive Scottsdale, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
Greasepaint Youth Theater Scottsdale, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
Childsplay Inc Tempe, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
Arizona Musicfest Scottsdale, AZEducation and Performances Programming$10,000
Act One Arizona Phoenix, AZEducation and Performances Programming$8,500
Central Arizona Flute Ensemble Mesa, AZEducation and Performances Programming$8,000
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Scottsdale, AZEducation and Performances Programming$7,500
B3 Theatre Inc Phoenix, AZEducation and Performances Programming$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2025 $24,458,516 $13,038,696 $14,303,581 $132,000 (16)
2024 $25,687,316 $25,100,532 $14,684,107 $75,500 (9)
2023 $14,317,399 $14,654,019 $13,875,162 $102,104 (10)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$24,458,516$25,687,316$14,317,399
Revenue$13,038,696$25,100,532$14,654,019
Expenses$14,303,581$14,684,107$13,875,162
Net Investment Income$978,322$818,098$444,913

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  2. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 24, 2020)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Stephanie Lyon as chair; Mark Candelaria as vice chair/secretary; Cathy Long as treasurer; Dennis Robbins as past chair; and Alison Lewis, Priscilla Nelson-Johnson, JP Dahdah, Mary Fedewa, Bruce Beverly, and Linda Peterson as trustees.

Scottsdale Arts is led by Gerd Wuestermann, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 6 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Gerd Wuestermann

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $56K (2019) → $485K (2025)

  • Stephanie Lyon

    Chair

    Trustee → Secretary, 2021

    Secretary → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin Krivanek

    Director of Development

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $103K (2023) → $109K (2025)

  • Abbey Messmer

    Director of Programming

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $100K (2024) → $106K (2025)

  • Kathryn Ballares

    Director of Public Art

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $102K (2025)

  • Alison Lewis

    Trustee

    Trustee → Chair, 2020

    Chair → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bruce Beverly

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kathy Wills

    Trustee

    Trustee & Past Chair → Treasurer, 2023

    Treasurer → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Fedewa

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Merle Roskam

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rhonda Anderson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Biddle

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tim Baughman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dino Camunez

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jp Dahdah

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Keith Galbut

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Linda Peterson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Priscilla Nelson-Johnson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brianna Johnson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Kovach

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erik Peterson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie Bennet

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melanie Sutton

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mistie Weishaar

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christobal Martinez

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristen Brown

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Chippendale

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jackie Schenkein

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kris Harman

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paige Jones

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Martin

    CFO

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $86K (2022) → $121K (2025)

  • Andria Sheridan

    Chief Administrative Officer

    CAO → Chief Administrative Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $101K (2024) → $108K (2025)

  • Dennis Robbins

    Past Chair

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2023

    Chair → Past Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Candelaria

    Vice Chair & Secretary

    Trustee → Secretary, 2024

    Secretary → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cathy Long

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (37)
  • Former: Jaqueline Schenkein MD (2019–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Kristopher Harman (2020–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Peter Boyle (2020–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Paige Jones Cecil (2022–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Richard Coleman (2022–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Catherine Long (2023–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Pauline Scott (2023–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Jamie Prins (2024) — Director of Events
  • Former: Jeff Rakoczy (2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Kati Ballares (2024) — Director of Public Art
  • Former: Kirsten Brown (2021–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Pagie Cecil (2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Mike Miller (2019–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Alethia Lawry (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: John E. Voris (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Patrick Strieck (2020–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Allison Cahill (2021–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Kathy Duley (2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Liz Cohen (2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Christian Serena (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: David Itzkowitz (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Felice Appell (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Jeffrey Beyersdorfer (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Jp Millon (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Ryan G. Backlund (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Alison Colwell (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Suzanne D. Haniotis (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Victoria Agudelo-Martin (2020–2021) — Director of Finance
  • Former: Peggy Kapner (2019–2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Andrew Chippindall (2019) — Trustee & Past Chair
  • Former: Chris Irish (2019) — Trustee
  • Former: Christopher Harman (2019) — Trustee
  • Former: Neale Perl (2019) — President & CEO
  • Former: Scott McDaniel (2019) — Director of Finance & Administration
  • Former: Sue Hasenstein (2019) — Trustee
  • Former: Suzanne Diamond (2019) — Trustee
  • Former: Vicki Smith (2019) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Gerd Wuestermann — President & CEO: $485KGerd WuestermannPresident & CEO$485KMichael Martin — CFO: $121KMichael MartinCFO$121KErin Krivanek — Director of Development: $109KErin KrivanekDirector of Development$109KAndria Sheridan — Chief Administrative Officer: $108KAndria SheridanChief Administrative Officer$108KAbbey Messmer — Director of Programming: $106KAbbey MessmerDirector of Programming$106KKathryn Ballares — Director of Public Art: $102KKathryn BallaresDirector of Public Art$102K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $485K, to Gerd Wuestermann (President & CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 7380 East Second Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 874-4615
Website: https://scottsdalearts.org

Frequently asked questions about Scottsdale Arts

How much does Scottsdale Arts give each year?

Scottsdale Arts gave $132K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $76K across 9 grants.

What is Scottsdale Arts's typical grant size?

Scottsdale Arts's median grant in 2025 was $7,750, and its average grant was $8,250, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Scottsdale Arts that year got $8K on average.

Where does Scottsdale Arts give grants?

Scottsdale Arts gives mostly in Arizona: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Scottsdale, AZ (7 grants), Phoenix, AZ (6 grants) and Tempe, AZ (2 grants).

Does Scottsdale Arts give general operating support?

Occasionally: 6% of Scottsdale Arts's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Education and Performances Programming" (15 grants).

Who are Scottsdale Arts's largest grantees?

Scottsdale Arts's largest 2025 grantees include Kids in Focus ($10,000), Scottsdale Artists' School Inc ($10,000) and The Walter Hive ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Scottsdale Arts?

Scottsdale Arts reported $24.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.0M.

What does Scottsdale Arts fund?

Scottsdale Arts’ stated mission is “We enhance lives through the power of the Arts.” Its 2024 filing also describes a mission of creating arts experiences that engage the community through cultural initiatives and collaboration across government, business, education, and private sectors. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Scottsdale Arts?

The program page provides an application and project budget form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Scottsdale Arts's EIN?

Scottsdale Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0593786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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