Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. It supports nonprofit organizations and community partners working to improve quality of life in Maricopa County, with grantmaking and initiatives across six core areas.
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust gave $24.5M across 483 grants in 2025 (avg $51K), mostly in Arizona. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $24,494,226
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 483
- -7.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,713
- -10.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $429,931,720
- -2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (67 of 292, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The Trust recommends that new and prospective applicants attend a Piper 101 information session. Applicants are encouraged to speak with a program officer before submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI should describe the project and address its impact, effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability; after review, an organization may be invited to submit a full proposal. Eligible applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization or governmental entity, have been in operation for at least three years from the effective date of tax-exempt status, and be located in or primarily serve Maricopa County. Responsive-grant applicants must not be private foundations or ineligible Type III supporting organizations, and their programs must fit a stated funding area.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Angelica Gonzalez
Mailing address: 1202 East Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone: (480) 948-5853
Email: agonzalez@pipertrust.org
Website: https://pipertrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust
Who Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix ($1.1M across 8 grants). Together the top 10 received $7.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 47 grants to individuals ($988,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,662 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,851 grants of 2,662 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s grant process focuses on efforts that primarily serve Maricopa County, Arizona. In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona; other recipient-state shares were Nebraska, 3%; California, 2%; Oregon, 1%; and the District of Columbia, 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 483 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 67 of 292 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 84% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $24.5M (2025) to $155.4M (2022). In 2025 it made 483 grants totaling $24.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Phoenix, AZ | Implement mental health services for youth in 30 Club locations | $1,000,000 |
| Creighton University Omaha, NE | Establish endowed chair position and a fellowship in health disparities at Virginia G Piper Medical Clinic at Society of St Vincent de Paul in Phoenix | $750,000 |
| Maricopa County Community College District Foundation Tempe, AZ | Expand Licensed Practical Nurse program | $750,000 |
| A New Leaf Mesa, AZ | Support organizational capacity building project | $500,000 |
| Child Crisis Arizona Mesa, AZ | Support construction of new Center for Child & Family Wellness (Capital Campaign) | $500,000 |
| Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix, AZ | Support completion of the Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science (Capital Campaign) | $500,000 |
| Southwest Human Development Phoenix, AZ | Establish "Shared Services Hubs" for early childhood center business operations | $500,000 |
| The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Phoenix, AZ | Support for the 2024 Charity and Development Appeal | $500,000 |
| The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Phoenix, AZ | Support for the 2025 Charity and Development Appeal | $500,000 |
| The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) Phoenix, AZ | Advance scientific evidence for early cancer detection models | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust?
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 | $429,931,720 | $29,026,611 | $27,744,593 | $24,494,226 | 483 | $30,921,486 | $37,804,403 | $20,496,181 |
| 2024 | $442,664,466 | $40,989,910 | $31,410,246 | $29,657,995 | 524 | $35,916,880 | $19,542,574 | $20,836,575 |
| 2023 | $442,496,970 | $23,907,785 | $37,269,555 | $32,216,739 | 502 | $38,609,455 | $8,842,668 | $21,924,930 |
| 2022 | $496,549,315 | $85,713,153 | $164,375,606 | $155,401,484 | 581 | $161,702,628 | $88,120,823 | $26,162,262 |
| 2021 | $604,142,134 | $41,511,711 | $46,708,613 | $43,545,429 | 572 | — | $39,565,666 | $24,919,976 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $20.5M 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 Trust’s mission is to support organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for people in Maricopa County, Arizona. Its six areas are arts and culture, children, education, healthcare and medical research, older adults, and religious organizations. It also supports nonprofit capacity, leadership, and effectiveness.
Grantees include organizations with varied missions. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley says it empowers young people to reach their full potential; Child Crisis Arizona says it works to provide children and youth a safe environment by strengthening families; and Desert Botanical Garden says it advances education, research, exhibition, and conservation of desert plants. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust awarded 483 grants totaling $24,494,226. Awards ranged from $25 to $1 million, with a median grant of $7,500. The largest grant went to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley: $1 million to implement youth mental health services in 30 Club locations. Other large awards included $750,000 to Creighton University for a health-disparities endowed chair and fellowship connected to a Phoenix clinic, and $750,000 to Maricopa County Community College District Foundation to expand its Licensed Practical Nurse program. The Trust also awarded $500,000 each to A New Leaf, Child Crisis Arizona, Desert Botanical Garden, Southwest Human Development, and the an individual recipient Diocese of Phoenix, among other organizations.
The Trust makes grants through a competitive application process and also supports initiatives, programs, and projects identified by the Trust or philanthropic partners. Funding can include programmatic, capital campaign, and capital project grants. Its website lists event or program sponsorships, scholarships, and programs conducted within the classroom during the regular school day among what it does not fund.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust is led by Stephen Zabilski, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2021); all 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Zabilski
President & CEO
Trustee → Trustee, President & CEO, 2023
Trustee, President & CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $276K (2025)
James Bruner
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2.2 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $61K (2025)
Jose Cardenas
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1.4 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Judy Mohraz
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $54K (2025)
Laura Grafman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2.1 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Paul Critchfield
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2.5 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $56K (2025)
Sharon Harper
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1.8 hrs/week
$44K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Ed Zuercher
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.1 hrs/week
$28K (2023) → $50K (2025)
Lori Higuera
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.7 hrs/week
$28K (2023) → $50K (2025)
Paul Mulligan
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
$28K (2023) → $55K (2025)
Carey Chambers
CFO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$349K (2021) → $390K (2025)
Karen Leland
Chief Communications Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$227K (2021) → $251K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Mary Jane Rynd (2021–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Stacey Easterling (2021–2023) — Vice President of Programs
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $390K, to Carey Chambers (CFO). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust
How much does Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust give each year?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust gave $24.5M across 483 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29.7M across 524 grants.
What is Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $50,713, across 483 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust that year got $36K on average.
Where does Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust give grants?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust gives mostly in Arizona: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (249 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (32 grants), Tempe, AZ (28 grants) and Mesa, AZ (26 grants).
Does Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (87 of 483) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Holiday Grant" (66 grants), "Support Arts and Culture Forward Program" (20 grants) and "Build Fundraising Capacity" (19 grants).
Who are Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix ($1,070,000 across 8 grants), Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley ($1,050,000 across 2 grants) and A New Leaf ($885,000 across 4 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 47 grants to individuals ($988,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust reported $429.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is to support organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for people in Maricopa County, Arizona. Its six areas are arts and culture, children, education, healthcare and medical research, older adults, and religious organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust?
The Trust recommends that new and prospective applicants attend a Piper 101 information session. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's EIN?
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-6247076. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/virginia-g-piper-charitable-trust-morg_0d5f97a6f5c1469a898c45876e11b28b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_866247076_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/virginia-g-piper-charitable-trust-morg_0d5f97a6f5c1469a898c45876e11b28b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust'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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