Twiford Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Phoenix, AZ EIN: 86-0938381

Twiford Foundation is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including education, music, dance, libraries, arts, and conservation.

Twiford Foundation at a glance

In short: Twiford Foundation gave $788K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$788,200
+242.7% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
31
+287.5% vs 2024
Average grant
$25,426
-11.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$12,056,616
-5.0% vs 2024
Primary geography
Arizona (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

How to apply to Twiford Foundation

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: 3219 E Camelback Rd 575, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (480) 329-8672

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Twiford Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Phoenix Zoo: $61KThe Phoenix Zoo$61KChildren First Foundation: $60KChildren First Foundation$60KManhattan School of Music: $50KManhattan School of Music$50KThe UCLA Foundation: $50KThe UCLA Foundation$50KJewish Free Loan: $50KJewish Free Loan$50KMusical Instrument Museum: $50KMusical Instrument Museum$50KRosie's House: $35KRosie's House$35KDesert Botanical Garden: $25KDesert Botanical Garden$25KBallet Arizona: $25KBallet Arizona$25KPhoenix Public Library Foundation: $25KPhoenix Public LibraryFoundation$25K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Phoenix Zoo ($61K). Together the top 10 received $431K.

Grant Size Distribution

55 grants across all recorded years

45<$50K10$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 55 (82%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona. The remaining reported shares went to New York (13%), California (6%), New Mexico (6%), and New Jersey (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.

Cities

PhoenixNew YorkLos AngelesMadisonChandlerGallupPort OrangeSante FeScottsdaleTempe

How Twiford Foundation gives

  • 26% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 495% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 142% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K4 grants2020 5 grants2021 5 grants2022 6 grants2023 8 grants2024 31 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2020) to $788K (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $788K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Phoenix Zoo Phoenix, AZSecretary bird habitat/ secretary bird balance - curassow feed$61,000
Children First Foundation Phoenix, AZArt Teacher for Title 1 / Art Supplies$60,000
Manhattan School of Music New York, NYScholarship Endowment Fund$50,000
The UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CAScholarship Fund$50,000
Jewish Free Loan Scottsdale, AZJFL Education Program$50,000
Musical Instrument Museum Phoenix, AZField Trips/Memory Care$50,000
Rosie's House Phoenix, AZMind over matter campaign/ mariachi and school field trips$35,000
Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix, AZEroica Ballet$25,000
Ballet Arizona Chandler, AZEroica Ballet$25,000
Phoenix Public Library Foundation Phoenix, AZEmerging Readers Project$25,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Twiford Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$12,056,616$661,046$1,246,430$788,20031$1,104,884$497,462$778,111
2024$12,691,146$-640,729$614,735$230,0008$492,688$391,734$750,843
2023$13,742,687$816,128$523,591$196,3006$407,869$673,695$678,003
2022$13,401,660$969,094$482,388$132,5005$353,878$800,875$700,129
2021$12,877,542$427,331$393,319$90,0005$295,802$302,484$681,510
2020$12,834,897$221,273$341,174$53,0004—$283,215$591,558

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Twiford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $778K 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 own stated mission is not available here. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes education and cultural programming. Children First Foundation describes its mission as engaging students as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and active citizens. Manhattan School of Music says it is committed to education, performance, creative activity, and cultural enrichment. The Musical Instrument Museum describes its work as collecting, preserving, and making musical instruments and performance videos accessible.

Other 2025 recipients describe work in dance, desert-plant education and conservation, anti-hate advocacy, dance programming for veterans and military-connected communities, and literacy and lifelong learning. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated missions of the foundation.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $788,200. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $61,000, with a median of $20,000. It reported 8 grants totaling $230,000 in 2024 and 6 grants totaling $196,300 in 2023.

Among its largest 2025 grants were $61,000 to The Phoenix Zoo for a secretary bird habitat and related purposes; $60,000 to Children First Foundation for an art teacher for Title I and art supplies; $50,000 each to Manhattan School of Music for a scholarship endowment fund, The UCLA Foundation for a scholarship fund, Jewish Free Loan for its education program, and the Musical Instrument Museum for field trips and memory care. Other reported grants included $35,000 to Rosie’s House and $25,000 each to Desert Botanical Garden, Ballet Arizona, Phoenix Public Library Foundation, Audubon SW of National Audubon, and Phoenix Symphony.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Lynn M Running as president and executive director, Theresa H Ehrenreich as vice president and director, and Joan Lipson as secretary and community engagement liaison.

Twiford Foundation is led by Lynn M. Running, President & Exec.d since 2025 (on filings since 2020); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lynn M. Running

    President & Exec.d

    President, Secretary & Exec.d → President & Exec.d, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $153K (2020) → $211K (2025)

  • Theresa H. Ehrenreich

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $5K (2025)

  • Joan Lipson

    Secretary & Community Engagement Liason

    New on the 2025 filing

    11 hrs/week

    $9K (2025)

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Lynn M Running — President/Exec.d: $211KLynn M RunningPresident/Exec.d$211KJoan Lipson — Secretary/Community Engagement Liason: $9KJoan LipsonSecretary/Community Engagement…$9KTheresa H Ehrenreich — Vice President/Director: $5KTheresa H EhrenreichVice President/Director$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $211K, to Lynn M Running (President/Exec.d). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Twiford Foundation

How much does Twiford Foundation give each year?

Twiford Foundation gave $788K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $230K across 8 grants.

What is Twiford Foundation's typical grant size?

Twiford Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,426, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Twiford Foundation give grants?

Twiford Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (13%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (20 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).

Does Twiford Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Twiford Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Twiford Foundation's largest grantees?

Twiford Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Phoenix Zoo ($61,000), Children First Foundation ($60,000) and Manhattan School of Music ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Twiford Foundation?

Twiford Foundation reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $778K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Twiford Foundation fund?

The foundation’s own stated mission is not available here. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes education and cultural programming. Children First Foundation describes its mission as engaging students as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and active citizens. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Twiford Foundation?

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 Twiford Foundation's EIN?

Twiford Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0938381. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Twiford Foundation 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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 6, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 25, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Twiford Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix

Scottsdale, AZ

It supports Jewish life and Jewish-serving organizations, synagogues, and schools in Greater Phoenix, including community services, education, and institutional needs; Israel and overseas programs are funded by invitation only. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $119,000 to $2.6 million, with a median of about $302,000, and it also accepts small-grant requests up to $3,000 on a rolling basis. Organizations serving Greater Phoenix may apply through its published grant opportunities.

Assets

$105.5M

Grants

19

Total Given

$10.4M

Livingston Foundation

Phoenix, AZ

Assets

$770K

Grants

23

Total Given

$23K

Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation funds community development in underserved areas, including affordable housing, community facilities, health, education, and social services; it also supports small businesses and scholarships. Its 2024 grants were $110,196 and $856,740, both to Arizona organizations, while NMTC financing is for eligible projects in Maricopa County and requires at least $8 million; no typical grant level or policy on unsolicited requests is stated.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$39.9M

Grants

2

Total Given

$967K

Thunderbirds Charities

Phoenix, AZ

Thunderbirds Charities funds Arizona nonprofits serving Maricopa and Pinal Counties, supporting children and families, education, community quality of life, people with physical or mental challenges, and efforts addressing domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,321 to $1 million, with a median award of $34,055. It accepts applications through its website.

Assets

$11.3M

Grants

150

Total Given

$11.0M

John F Long Foundation Inc

Phoenix, AZ

John F Long Foundation supports Arizona charities, schools, education programs, and community needs, including efforts that strengthen neighborhoods and help people help themselves. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $3,000; nearly all grant dollars went to Arizona, with a small share going to Idaho. It accepts requests with no stated deadline from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.

Assets

$7.9M

Grants

96

Total Given

$385K

Sherman and Linda Saperstein

Phoenix, AZ

Assets

$60K

Grants

27

Total Given

$69K

More similar funders

More Funders in Arizona

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Twiford Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/twiford-foundation-morg_895939ba83e840d0a9c09031411510c2

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860938381_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Twiford Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/twiford-foundation-morg_895939ba83e840d0a9c09031411510c2},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Twiford Foundation'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.

Twiford Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?