Zanner Foundation
Zanner Foundation is a private foundation based in Oro Valley, Arizona. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including heritage preservation, human welfare, education, arts, wildlife, research, and journalism.
Zanner Foundation at a glance
In short: Zanner Foundation gave $63K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Arizona. 75% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $62,796
- +248.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +300.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,233
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,100
- Total assets
- $90,436
- -19.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (9 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (54% 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 Zanner Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 14412 N Giant Saguaro Place, Oro Valley, AZ 85755
Phone: (217) 324-5971
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zanner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Litchfield Route 66 Museum ($20K). Together the top 10 received $62K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona (54%), Illinois (32%), Minnesota (8%), California (4%), and Tennessee (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Zanner Foundation open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 12 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 8% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 423% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 422% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2023) to $63K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $63K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Litchfield Route 66 Museum Litchfield, IL | Preserving Illinois Heritage and the Mother Road's Enduring Spirit | $20,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Medallion Phoenix, AZ | Human welfare | $18,000 |
| Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Tucson, AZ | Human and animal welfare | $10,000 |
| Jones Family Foundation Red Wing, MN | Education grants | $5,000 |
| Tucson Museum of Arts Tucson, AZ | Connects art to life | $4,396 |
| Tucson Wildlife Center Tucson, AZ | wildlife rehabilitation | $1,200 |
| The Bear League Homewood, CA | Protect bears | $1,000 |
| Tahoe Lake Front Association Tahoe City, CA | To protect lakefront property | $1,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Children welfare | $700 |
| Lahontan Community Foundation Truckee, CA | Health and human services | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Zanner Foundation?
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 | $90,436 | $40,459 | $62,987 | $62,796 | 12 | $62,796 | $18,768 | $14,881 |
| 2024 | $112,964 | $622 | $18,017 | $18,000 | 3 | $18,000 | $13,725 | $14,237 |
| 2023 | $117,239 | $130 | $6,570 | $6,500 | 3 | $6,500 | $1,213 | $10,740 |
| 2022 | $122,526 | $5,027 | $12,258 | $12,000 | 4 | $12,000 | $5,002 | $10,246 |
| 2021 | $122,439 | $2,139 | $21,697 | $20,283 | 3 | $20,283 | $1,530 | $12,629 |
| 2020 | $131,051 | $735 | $16,023 | $15,642 | 3 | — | $254 | $9,668 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zanner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, Tucson Wildlife Center says it rescues, provides emergency medical care for, and rehabilitates wildlife, while promoting education and habitat protection. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says its mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $62,796. Grants ranged from $500 to $20,000, with a median grant of $1,100.
Largest grants included $20,000 to Litchfield Route 66 Museum for preserving Illinois heritage and the Mother Road’s legacy; $18,000 to Mayo Clinic Medallion for human welfare; $10,000 to Community Foundation for Southern Arizona for human and animal welfare; and $5,000 to Jones Family Foundation for education grants. Other grants included $4,396 to Tucson Museum of Arts, $1,200 to Tucson Wildlife Center, and $700 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ronald Scharf and Suzanne Scharf as directors.
Zanner Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ronald Scharf
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Scharf
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Zanner Foundation
How much does Zanner Foundation give each year?
Zanner Foundation gave $63K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18K across 3 grants.
What is Zanner Foundation's typical grant size?
Zanner Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,100, and its average grant was $5,233, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zanner Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Zanner Foundation give grants?
Zanner Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (32%) and Minnesota (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (4 grants).
Does Zanner Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Zanner Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Zanner Foundation's largest grantees?
Zanner Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Litchfield Route 66 Museum ($20,000), Mayo Clinic Medallion ($18,000) and Community Foundation for Southern Arizona ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Zanner Foundation?
Zanner Foundation reported $90K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $63K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zanner Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, Tucson Wildlife Center says it rescues, provides emergency medical care for, and rehabilitates wildlife, while promoting education and habitat protection. St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zanner Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Zanner Foundation's EIN?
Zanner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4793228. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Zanner Foundation 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zanner Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Arizona
Arizona Community Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
Arizona Community Foundation funds nonprofits, schools, tribal entities, government agencies, and most religious organizations in areas including arts and culture, community development, the environment, health, and education. Its 2025 grants had a median of $17,760; most funding goes to Arizona, though it also awards grants nationally. Competitive grants require an online application during an open cycle; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,174
Total Given
$92.9M
The Picerne Family Charitable Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
The Phoenix-based Picerne Family Charitable Foundation funds nonprofits and programs in education, arts, health and mental health, older-adult services, affordable housing, equity, and the environment. Its 2025 grants had a median of $1,250, though amounts varied widely; specific programs offer awards up to $15,000 and serve areas including Southern California, San Diego, and Orange County. The profile describes application processes for certain programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited general requests.
Assets
$23.9M
Grants
672
Total Given
$2.5M
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust
Phoenix, AZ
Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust funds nonprofits and community partners serving Maricopa County, Arizona, in arts and culture, children, education, healthcare, older adults, religion, and nonprofit capacity. In 2025, grants ranged from $25 to $1 million, with a median of $7,500. It uses a competitive application process that begins with a Letter of Inquiry; unsolicited requests are not explicitly addressed.
Assets
$429.9M
Grants
483
Total Given
$24.5M
Petsmart Charities Inc
Phoenix, AZ
PetSmart Charities funds programs that improve companion animals’ well-being, including adoption, veterinary care, pet food assistance, and disaster response, in the U.S. and Canada. Its median grant is $15,000; the profile states that disaster-response requests are open to eligible animal welfare and human service organizations, while its veterinary-care Accelerator grants are by invitation only.
Assets
$96.8M
Grants
655
Total Given
$48.1M
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation funds nutrition education, access to fresh food, and wellness programs, especially for children through schools and community organizations. Its typical grant is around $10,000; larger multi-year grants vary, with Healthy Communities grants listed at $50,000–$100,000. It supports eligible organizations in states where Sprouts stores operate, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.0M
Grants
349
Total Given
$13.1M
Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
Tucson, AZ
The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona funds nonprofits through competitive grants and donor-advised funds, supporting general operations, grassroots groups, scholarships, and community initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,300 to $1,062,929, with a median of $20,000, and it primarily serves a seven-county Southern Arizona region. It accepts applications for competitive grant opportunities, including CORE Grants; donor-advised grants are recommended by donors.
Assets
$219.5M
Grants
346
Total Given
$11.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Arizona
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Zanner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zanner-foundation-morg_10adaceea13e4d9e9803f60fc78423b2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814793228_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zanner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zanner-foundation-morg_10adaceea13e4d9e9803f60fc78423b2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Zanner 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.
Zanner Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?