The Virginia M Ullman Foundation
The Virginia M Ullman Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Phoenix, Arizona. The foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization with a focus on supporting philanthropic initiatives within Arizona.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.9M
+9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$575K
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
9
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+29.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Virginia M Ullman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $529K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation is actively accepting applications and maintains an open application policy. Recent grantmaking activity shows:
Grant Range
**: $25,000 to $150,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation restricts its grantmaking to Arizona, with a specific focus on the Phoenix metropolitan area, including the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5.4 million to $5.9 million
- Annual Revenue: $532,489
- Annual Expenses: $575,043
- Expense Ratio: 108.0% of total revenue spent on programs
Asset growth has been modest, with a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,873,742 | $5,387,775 | $5,430,329 |
| Revenue | $1,100,689 | $532,489 | $176,566 |
| Expenses | $614,722 | $575,043 | $575,667 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $577,600 | $547,500 | $542,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,071,839 | $504,946 | $149,284 |
| Distributable Amount | $528,855 | $497,868 | $500,295 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Phoenix Art Museum ($150,000), Asu Foundation ($75,000), Desert Botanical Garden ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASU FOUNDATION TEMPE, AZ | PHASE 3 OF RESTORED COURTYARD | $75,000 |
| BALLET ARIZONA PHOENIX, AZ | SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC | $25,000 |
| DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN PHOENIX, AZ | HAZEL HARE CENTER FOR PLANT SCIENCE | $75,000 |
| HEARD MUSEUM PHOENIX, AZ | BOB HAOZOUS EXHIBITION | $75,000 |
| PHOENIX ZOO PHOENIX, AZ | BIG CATS OF ARIZONA EXHIBIT | $75,000 |
| SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR INSTITUTE PHOENIX, AZ | YOUTH PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| PHOENIX ART MUSEUM PHOENIX, AZ | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS | $150,000 |
| PHOENIX SYMPHONY PHOENIX, AZ | MIND OVER MUSIC PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| THERAPEUTIC HARP FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | LEGACY PLAN PROGRAM | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's key personnel, all serving on a voluntary basis without compensation, include:
- Harry Papp (Vice President/Treasurer)
- Louis Comus Jr (Secretary/Director)
- Kim Sterling-Heflin (Other Office)
- Susan Levine (Director)
- Gay Firestone Wray (Other Office)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARRY PAPP | VICE PRES/TR | 1 | — |
| LOUIS COMUS JR | SECRETARY/DI | 1 | — |
| KIM STERLING-HEFLIN | OTHER OFFICE | 1 | — |
| SUSAN LEVINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GAY FIRESTONE WRAY | OTHER OFFICE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2201 E Camelback Rd Ste 227b, Phoenix, AZ 85016-9028
Telephone: 602-956-0980
Tax ID: 86-0550097
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia M Ullman Foundation?
The foundation is actively accepting applications and maintains an open application policy. Recent grantmaking activity shows: • **Annual Giving**: Approximately $545,000 to $575,000 per year • **Grant Range**: $25,000 to $150,000 • **Median Grant Size**: $45,000 to $75,000 • **Number of Grants**: Between 9 and 11 grants awarded annually • **Giving Rate**: Approximately 9.8% of assets The foundation awarded 11 grants in 2024 with a total of $545,000 in distributions, and 9 grants in 2024 totali…
Where does The Virginia M Ullman Foundation make grants?
The foundation restricts its grantmaking to Arizona, with a specific focus on the Phoenix metropolitan area, including the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe.
What size grants does The Virginia M Ullman Foundation award?
In 2024, The Virginia M Ullman Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $575K — an average of about $64K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Virginia M Ullman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Virginia M Ullman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $529K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Virginia M Ullman Foundation's EIN?
The Virginia M Ullman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0550097. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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