Southwest Foundation for Education
Southwest Foundation for Education is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado. In 2024, it made 14 grants totaling $277,489, all to recipients in Arizona. The grants supported organizations with purposes including education, conservation, historic preservation, performance, community activities, science, and heritage and culture.
Southwest Foundation for Education at a glance
In short: Southwest Foundation for Education gave $277K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in Arizona. 71% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $277,489
- -13.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -48.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,821
- +67.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,500
- Total assets
- $7,745,576
- +4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 71% first-time grantees (10 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Southwest Foundation for Education
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9878 W Belleview Ave 5159, Denver, CO 80123
Phone: (303) 330-5796
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Southwest Foundation for Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The University of Arizona Tucson AZ ($57K). Together the top 10 received $246K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 120 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Southwest Foundation for Education open to new grantees?
71%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 14 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 14% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $277K (2024) to $370K (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $277K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Arizona Tucson AZ Tucson, AZ | Education General Support | $56,689 |
| Patronato San Xavier Tucson, AZ | Conservation General Support | $50,000 |
| Tucson Botanical Gardens Tucson AZ Tucson, AZ | Historic Preservation Exhibit | $24,000 |
| Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation Tucson, AZ | Performance General Support | $20,000 |
| George Phar Legler Society Inc Tucson, AZ | Community General Support | $20,000 |
| Naco Heritage Alliance Naco, AZ | Heritage General Support | $20,000 |
| Tucson Amateur Astronomy Tucson, AZ | Science General Support | $16,000 |
| Museum of Northern Arizona Flagstaff, AZ | Heritage Festival Arts/Culture | $15,000 |
| Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Scottsdale, AZ | Community Access Program | $13,000 |
| Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Tucson, AZ | Heritage/Culture | $11,800 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,745,576 | $693,825 | $371,450 | $277,489 | 14 | $292,059 | $208,281 | $344,698 |
| 2023 | $7,423,201 | $278,482 | $407,525 | $320,075 | 27 | $325,525 | $231,306 | $333,275 |
| 2022 | $7,374,847 | $35,837 | $353,466 | $315,653 | 31 | $319,888 | $17,223 | $383,623 |
| 2021 | $7,379,951 | $270,619 | $448,143 | $370,496 | 23 | $382,379 | $214,430 | $375,105 |
| 2020 | $5,925,671 | $140,491 | $389,776 | $302,367 | 25 | — | $87,323 | $354,322 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Southwest Foundation for Education reported a distributable amount of $345K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included education, conservation, historic preservation, performance, community, science, and heritage-related purposes.
Among its grantees, Patronato San Xavier says it funds and directs conservation, conducts scientific research, and interprets the significance of Mission San Xavier del Bac. The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation says it fosters community growth and connection through live arts experiences. The Museum of Northern Arizona says it works to inspire responsibility for the Colorado Plateau’s natural and cultural heritage. Tucson Youth Music Center says it supports quality music and music education for underserved children in Tucson.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $277,489 through 14 grants. Grants ranged from $3,500 to $56,689, with a median of $15,500. Its largest grants included $56,689 to The University of Arizona for education general support; $50,000 to Patronato San Xavier for conservation general support; and $24,000 to Tucson Botanical Gardens for a historic preservation exhibit. Other grants included $20,000 each to Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, George Phar Legler Society, and Naco Heritage Alliance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Augustus Gardner is listed as trustee.
Southwest Foundation for Education is led by Augustus F. Gardner, Trustee on every filing since 2023 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Augustus F. Gardner
Trustee
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Timothy N. Gardner (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Southwest Foundation for Education
How much does Southwest Foundation for Education give each year?
Southwest Foundation for Education gave $277K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $320K across 27 grants.
What is Southwest Foundation for Education's typical grant size?
Southwest Foundation for Education's median grant in 2024 was $15,500, and its average grant was $19,821, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Southwest Foundation for Education that year got $19K on average.
Where does Southwest Foundation for Education give grants?
Southwest Foundation for Education gives mostly in Arizona: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (11 grants).
Does Southwest Foundation for Education give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Southwest Foundation for Education's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Southwest Foundation for Education's largest grantees?
Southwest Foundation for Education's largest 2024 grantees include The University of Arizona Tucson AZ ($56,689), Patronato San Xavier ($50,000) and Tucson Botanical Gardens Tucson AZ ($24,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Southwest Foundation for Education?
Southwest Foundation for Education reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $292K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $345K (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 Southwest Foundation for Education fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included education, conservation, historic preservation, performance, community, science, and heritage-related purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Southwest Foundation for Education?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Southwest Foundation for Education's EIN?
Southwest Foundation for Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0701832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Southwest Foundation for Education 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Southwest Foundation for Education funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/southwest-foundation-for-education-morg_2cdd2320c48a4c85a206ca250844df0d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860701832_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Southwest Foundation for Education funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/southwest-foundation-for-education-morg_2cdd2320c48a4c85a206ca250844df0d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Southwest Foundation for Education'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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