Best School Health Grants in Arizona

The Albertsons Foundation - Southwest supports nonprofit organizations that enhance local communities in the Southwest, focusing on health, hunger, education, veterans, and diversity. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 for first-time applicants, with higher amounts considered for established organizations. Eligible applicants must have a valid 501(c)(3) designation and serve the community. The foundation does not fund individuals, political or religious organizations, or events.

BOK Charitable Contributions aims to enhance community life and economic wellbeing across several states, focusing on four key pillars: United Way, economic development, education, and basic needs. The foundation supports organizations that address poverty, education, and community health. Their strategic approach ensures impactful contributions, and they welcome grant applications year-round. BOK Financial's commitment is evident in its partnerships with local nonprofits, fostering sustainable growth and development in the regions they serve.

The Creag Foundation, established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington, provides funding to innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing social issues. Focused on smaller organizations, the foundation seeks to support those with unique approaches to improve the human condition. Eligible applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for at least one year and present a new or previously unaddressed solution to societal challenges. Applications are by invitation only, encouraging creativity and passion in charitable work.

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust focuses on enhancing health and well-being in Maricopa County, Arizona, through strategic grantmaking in six key areas: arts and culture, children, education, healthcare, older adults, and religious organizations. By collaborating with local nonprofits, the Trust aims to strengthen community support and leadership, ensuring that marginalized populations have access to vital services and opportunities that foster inclusion and development.

The Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant, valued at $75,000, aims to enhance mental health in Arizona schools, particularly in response to pandemic-related stress. This grant provides essential resources for expert guidance, training sessions, and financial aid for mental health activities. It is open to eligible schools and organizations, promoting innovative solutions to urgent mental health challenges. Applications are welcomed from schools, districts, or representatives acting on their behalf to foster well-being and resilience in educational environments.

The Gupta Family Foundation Grant aims to empower disadvantaged individuals by providing financial support to organizations that foster self-reliance. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the foundation offers grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000, prioritizing smaller organizations with a strong commitment to their missions. Eligibility typically includes US-based IRS 501(c)(3) entities, with operations extending to countries like India and Kenya. The foundation emphasizes mission alignment and effective resource allocation to ensure maximum impact.

The Bayer Fund Health & Wellness Grant Program aims to support organizations that provide education and resources for patients and caregivers facing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Grants focus on assisting communities, particularly the African American population, in managing these health issues. Funding covers educational services, disease awareness, and access to care, with all activities to commence post-funding decisions. Eligible organizations must hold a 501(c)(3) status and operate within 55 miles of Bayer sites.

The Medical Student Education Program (MSE) supports public medical schools in states facing primary care provider shortages, aiming to enhance medical education for future physicians. Eligible states include those in the top quartile projected to face shortages by 2038. Currently, 12 states such as Alabama and Texas are recognized, with 23 public medical schools identified as potential beneficiaries. Note that current MSE grantees are ineligible for the 2026 funding cycle.

The Pew Biomedical Scholars Program offers significant funding of $300,000 over four years to support early-career researchers in biomedical sciences. The program encourages innovative and impactful research that contributes to human health, requiring nomination from one of the 212 participating institutions. Candidates must hold a doctorate, run an independent lab as an assistant professor, and demonstrate exceptional promise. This program fosters collaboration and annual meetings for scholars to present their findings.

The Community Facilities Grant Program in Arizona provides crucial funding to develop essential services in rural areas. This program supports public bodies, non-profits, and federally-recognized tribes to purchase, construct, or improve facilities such as healthcare centers, educational institutions, and public safety services. Grants are available for projects that meet specific eligibility criteria, particularly in smaller communities with lower median incomes, ensuring that vital resources are accessible to those who need them most.

The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Grant focuses on funding innovative projects that enhance the quality of life, primarily in Arizona. With an emphasis on health, education, and welfare, the foundation aims to support not-for-profit organizations that address critical community needs. Grants are awarded to initiatives that demonstrate potential for lasting impact and community benefit, encouraging sustainable support beyond the foundation's involvement.

The Women's Development Initiatives Grant Program, funded by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation, focuses on enhancing education and economic opportunities for women in various communities. This initiative aims to empower women through skills training, small business development, and leadership programs, ultimately fostering their participation in economic growth. Eligible organizations must directly serve women and girls in specified locations, demonstrating measurable impacts and sustainability beyond funding.

The Otter Tail Corporation Foundation Grant Program focuses on supporting 501(c)(3) organizations in communities across Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Priorities include early childhood education, health services for families in need, community development, and environmental sustainability. While the 2025 budget is fully allocated, they encourage applications for 2026, emphasizing collaborative projects that create measurable impacts.

Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is launching Innovation Grants in 2026 to support groundbreaking oral health and food insecurity programs. These grants aim to address critical challenges faced by underserved communities through innovative, adaptable projects that demonstrate real-world impact. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply, especially those that foster collaboration, utilize proven strategies in new contexts, and engage the community in co-creating solutions. Funding will enhance access to essential services and promote healthier outcomes.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000, dedicated to granting funds for environmental and human services causes. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public schools, with grants typically ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. The foundation supports unrestricted grants for various projects, including disaster relief and environmental programs, but does not fund individuals or for-profit entities. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with the foundation's priorities.

The Tree Campus Higher Education Program, initiated by the Arbor Day Foundation, encourages colleges and universities to enhance their green spaces and community forests. By participating, institutions can reduce energy consumption, combat climate change, and promote mental health among students and staff. The program offers recognition and resources for schools to foster environmental stewardship, making campuses healthier and more beautiful while instilling pride in their commitment to sustainability.

The Summer Youth Program Fund Grant aims to enhance summer programming for Maricopa County youth, providing essential financial support to organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth. Funded by local collaborators, this initiative focuses on promoting personal development and healthy lifestyle activities, while simplifying the grant application process for nonprofits. Organizations can request funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, with a total of approximately $615,000 available for distribution. This grant encourages creative programming that addresses childhood obesity and fosters community engagement.

The Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation aims to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for individuals and communities in Arizona. They focus on funding initiatives that increase access to quality education, especially for low-income students. The foundation prioritizes innovative programs that promote student achievement, college access, and leadership development. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status, a minimum annual budget, and demonstrate strong management and community engagement.

The Ono Initiative Grant by the Ono Pharma Foundation supports innovative research in Chemical Biology, aiming to transform human health. It welcomes proposals from Principal Investigators (PIs) at nominated institutions, focusing on groundbreaking solutions and promoting the development of young scientists. Grants of up to $1,035,000 over three years are available, fostering collaboration and transformative research aligned with the foundation's mission.

The Northern Arizona Community Health Grant aims to enhance the health and well-being of adolescents in northern Arizona. By focusing on health access, behavioral health, and chronic conditions, the grant supports initiatives for youth aged 0-19. With a funding preference of $50,000 or more, projects promoting equitable healthcare access and healthy behaviors are encouraged. The Health First Foundation seeks innovative collaborations that address community health needs, fostering a comprehensive approach to improve outcomes for young people.

The Arizona - Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program aims to provide safe and enriching environments for students during non-school hours, particularly targeting economically disadvantaged students. Funded for five years, the program promotes academic enrichment and offers various supportive services, including tutorial assistance and family engagement opportunities. Applicants may request between $50,000 and $120,000 in funding, with the first three years fully funded and continuation years at 75% funding, contingent on compliance.

The Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff, established in 1987, provides vital funding to enhance the quality of life for Flagstaff residents through various competitive grant programs. These grants support local nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups across multiple fields, including education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. The Foundation emphasizes collaboration with grant applicants, aiming to empower them to deliver high-quality services and programs that directly benefit the community.

Community Investment Fund

Community Investment Funds (CIFs) have been established in communities near our operations in Colorado, New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. The CIFs engage community leaders in cultivating and assessing community projects that address identified community priorities (developed at Community Partnership Panels), and allow them to allocate Freeport-McMoRan Foundation funds to programs and projects that encourage a strong focus on local capacity-building, community development and sustainability.

Focus Areas

Education and Workforce Development:

The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Education & Workforce Development priority and goals.

• PK-12:
  • Professional development programs for teachers and/or school administrators
  • Student preparation, incentive or other programs that drive achievement /performance and matriculation (including early childhood)
  • Classroom equipment or supplies that are proven to drive achievement /performance and are tied to a program or training/professional development
  • Programs that remove barriers or address problems related to lack of performance
  • Programs that engage parents in supporting their student’s achievement in reading, math or the pursuit of graduation and/or enrollment in higher education
  • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs
• Higher Education:
  • Student counseling or advising services that help students navigate the process of enrollment in a higher ed program
  • Programs that increase access / remove barriers to enrollment or the pursuit of higher ed
  • Teacher/school administrator or counselor training needed to fully understand the higher education landscape, what is available to students and how to access it
  • Student preparation, awareness, incentive or other campaigns or efforts that drive enrollment and attainment
  • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs

Economic Opportunity:

The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Economic Opportunity priority and goals.

• Small Business Development:
  • Programs that provide training or skill-building to entrepreneurs on start-up or growth
  • Access to capital programs
  • Other support services that drive start-up, expansion or retention
  • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps and needs among small business owners
• Affordable Housing:
  • Loan funds or other resource programs that help families access housing options or make housing more affordable for them
  • Housing improvement programs that allow families to stay in safe, quality housing
  • Research studies, surveys or other activities to identify gaps, needs or viable models
• Other Economic Opportunity:
  • Programs that provide transportation to health, education, recreation or other critical activities
  • Programs that increase the availability of and access to quality healthcare facilities and services
  • Projects that create or improve parks or other recreational activities
  • Projects that improve or eliminate blight or beautify high traffic areas in the community
  • Restoration of lands for habitat or public use
  • Projects that improve river or waterway health
• Capacity and Leadership:

The following are examples of the types of programs we seek in support of the Resiliency, Capacity and Leadership priority and goals.

• Programs that provide leadership or other skills for staff, board, volunteers or other community constituents to improve organizational or community performance.
• Organizational self-assessment or diagnoses activities to determine gaps and needs.
• Efforts to develop leadership succession plans that protect and prolong organizational effectiveness.
• Planning initiatives to evaluate, identify and/or consider supports needed to weather future economic disruptions (commodities market or global economy downturns, health pandemics, technological disruptors to the future of jobs/economies, etc.)
• Programs, training or other efforts that aid organizations in understanding the broader social context of which they are part and how they can collectively mobilize to address community needs and create resiliency.
• The development of leadership networks as a tool for transformative social change and amplifying impact across social systems or issues.
• Projects to increase citizen engagement in solving or addressing community challenges or opportunities.

This philosophy includes securing and maintaining our social license to operate and delivering transformation through robust stakeholder engagement and consultation, social investment, and impact evaluation. 

Arizona Community Foundation

For more than four decades, the Arizona Community Foundation has worked in tandem with generous individuals, families, and organizations to address some of the biggest challenges facing our state.

Scholarships

In partnership with our generous donors, we award millions of dollars annually to help students achieve their educational goals. Through our online system, students complete one application and are matched with available scholarships, based on their eligibility requirements.

Blue Cross Blue Shield AZ & Prosano Health Svcs. Employee Dependent Scholarship

The Blue Cross Blue Shield AZ (BCBSAZ) & Prosano Health Svcs. (PHS) Employee Dependent Scholarship supports dependents of BCBSAZ & Prosano Health Services employees. Applicants must be attending any of the Arizona State University campuses and a qualified dependent of a BCBSAZ or PHS employee who has at least 1 year of employment with either organization.

The SAEMS Environmental Scholarships support University of Arizona students pursuing degrees in environmental, health, and safety fields. Annually, SAEMS awards over $235,000 to help students engage in volunteer service and leadership, fostering their professional growth. Eligible candidates must be full-time students with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and the application period runs from May 1 to July 1, 2025, for the 2025-2026 academic year. This initiative aims to encourage future leaders in environmental solutions.

The Community Investment Fund in Greenlee County, AZ, is dedicated to fostering long-term community resilience through strategic collaborations. With a focus on education, economic opportunity, and capacity building, the fund supports initiatives that empower individuals and organizations to thrive. Projects must exceed $10,000 and align with the foundation's commitment to transformative change, ensuring that funding directly benefits local communities, enhancing their overall well-being and capacity to navigate economic challenges.