How much funding does Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits provide?

Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits provides $7,500 - $15,000 (plus $8,500 bonus for 2-year grant cycle participants) in funding.

When is the deadline for Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits?

This grant has a rolling deadline or the deadline has not been announced.

Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits

Desert Financial Credit Union

Foundation Annual Grants for Nonprofits Grants for Education Grants for Youth Programs Workforce Development Grants

Funding Amount

$7,500 - $15,000 (plus $8,500 bonus for 2-year grant cycle participants)

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits

Funder: Desert Financial Foundation / Desert Financial Credit Union

Geographic Scope: Arizona (statewide)

Award Amount: $7,500 - $15,000 per organization (26 nonprofits received $541,000 total in 2024; includes $8,500 bonus for 85th anniversary)

Focus Areas:

Education - Early childhood education, tutoring, academic support, STEM/STEAM programs

Youth Development - Boys & Girls Clubs, mentoring, after-school programs, youth services

Workforce Development - Job training, career readiness, skills development for teens and young adults (ages 16-24)

Financial Literacy - Training for underserved populations including women in poverty

Child Welfare & Support Services - Grief support, arts programs for trauma-affected children, support for children experiencing homelessness, caregiving support

Services for Vulnerable Populations - Refugee assistance, autism support, services for Native American communities

Geographic Focus

Phoenix Metro area
Maricopa County
Flagstaff
Prescott/Prescott Valley
Yuma
Tempe
Scottsdale
Mesa
Glendale
Rural Arizona
Navajo, Hopi, and Apache nations

Eligibility Requirements

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Serve Arizona communities
Focus on education, youth development, and/or workforce development
Demonstrate clear community impact
Use funds effectively for stated mission
Formal application and review process

Special Features

Two-Year Grant Cycle (New in 2024): Grant recipients who meet year one requirements automatically receive same funding in year two without reapplication
Grant recognition ceremony held annually (August 2024 ceremony)
Largest grant cycle to date in 2024 ($541,000 total including 85th anniversary bonus)
80% increase in giving from 2023 to 2024

Background

Desert Financial Foundation has provided more than $2 million to Arizona nonprofits through grants in the past decade. In 2024, 26 organizations were selected from formal application pool. Desert Financial Foundation was founded in 2017 to aid nonprofits in providing community services and support education.

How to Apply

Application Process

1. Obtain application from Desert Financial Foundation
2. Complete formal grant application including:
- Organization background and mission statement
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit status verification
- Description of proposed program or initiative
- Budget and use of funds breakdown
- Expected community impact and outcomes
- Organization's financial statements
- List of board members
- Proof of community partnerships
3. Submit application by specified deadline (contact for current deadline)
4. Application review by Desert Financial Foundation grant committee
5. Notification of funding decisions
6. Grant recognition ceremony (typically held in August)
7. Year-one grant completion and reporting
8. Automatic year-two funding if requirements met (under new two-year cycle)

Contact: Nina Tekwani, Director of Brand Communications / AVP of Brand Marketing
Email: press@desertfinancial.com
Phone: (602) 433-7000
Website: DesertFinancial.com/Community

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What Desert Financial Credit Union actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024

Grants in 2024: 59
Total given: $2.08M
Median grant: $24K
Range: $80–$278K

By dollars: Arizona 100%. Top recipient cities: Phoenix, AZ; Flagstaff, AZ; Prescott, AZ.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
20% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

Desert Financial Foundation · Phoenix, AZ

Event sponsorship, scholarships, workplace giving match

$278K
The Foster Alliance · Phoenix, AZ

Board service gift, dollars for doers incentive program, event sponsorship, in-kind,…

$120K
Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation · Phoenix, AZ

Dollars for doers incentive program, event sponsorship, grant, fundraising, workplace…

$117K
A New Leaf · Mesa, AZ

Grant, board service donation, dollars for doers incentive program

$95K
American Heart Association · Tempe, AZ

Board service donation, donation, event sponsorship, fundraising match

$92K