The Ellis Center for Educational Excellence is an Arizona-focused funder that concentrates on K–16 education improvement, literacy, college access, and education accountability across the Phoenix/Greater Arizona region. They support both direct service providers (early literacy, youth mentoring, college pathways) and policy/advocacy organizations that shape public narratives and accountability in Arizona education. Grants frequently target underserved populations — including foster youth, DACA/Dreamer students, and Black and Latino communities — and combine program support, capacity-building, and convening/leadership initiatives.
A defining feature of Ellis Center for Educational Excellence C/o Arizona Community Foundation is its sustained support for Arizona education organizations through recurring, multi-year grants. The largest recent award in the data is a $696,300 general-support grant to Arizona Community Foundation in 2025, alongside a $291,100 award in 2024 tied to programs, "Changing the Narrative," and education programming. Those grants sit within a broader pattern of funding K–16 education improvement, literacy, college access, and accountability across Phoenix and Greater Arizona. The foundation’s grantmaking reaches both service delivery and sector-shaping work. It has funded Make Way for Books for a neighborhood school readiness collaborative across three years, supported Arizona State University Foundation for pathway and academy programs, and backed Education Forward Arizona for work on the value of education and divisive narratives. Other grants extend to teacher recruitment, foster youth support, and college pathway initiatives for DACA and Dreamer students. Ellis Center for Educational Excellence C/o Arizona Community Foundation also uses grants to support convening and narrative change, including education talent convenings and accountability-oriented organizations. The result is a portfolio that combines direct student supports, institutional partnerships, and education policy-adjacent work within Arizona.
Early literacy is one of the clearest themes in the portfolio. In 2025, the foundation gave $115,000 to Make Way for Books for the Neighborhood School Readiness Collaborative, following the same $115,000 award in 2024 and 2023. College access appears in several forms. The foundation gave $150,000 to Earn to Learn for program support and scholarship matching funds, and $100,000 to Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation for the Promise Pathway for DACA and Dreamer students. Teacher pipeline work is another recurring thread. In 2025, it funded TNTP Inc with $130,000 for the Arizona Solution Summit: Education Talent Convening, and it gave $100,000 to Million Dollar Teacher Project in 2024 for general support. The foundation also supports education accountability and narrative work. It gave $200,000 to Education Forward Arizona in 2025 for Everything to Gain and fighting divisive narratives, and $75,000 to Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting in 2023 for accountability in Arizona education.
$1.8M
$42.2M
$2.7M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $63K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$63K
75th Percentile
$100K
MICHAEL KELLEY
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Concentrated, state‑focused giving with many mid-sized grants and multiple repeat investments; they combine programmatic support and capacity-building with funding for convenings, research, and narrative/accountability work. A small set of recurring grantees receives significant funding alongside targeted investments in smaller nonprofits serving specific populations.
Notable grantees: Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona State University Foundation, Make Way For Books, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona Center for African American Resources
Typical grants cluster at the mid-six-figure and low-six-figure level: the p25 is $25,000, the median is $62,500, and the p75 is $100,000. The recent list shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Arizona Community Foundation, Make Way for Books, Arizona State University Foundation, and Partnership for Economic Innovation. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is classified as a pure DAF provider and does not make program-related investments. Funding appears to be largely general support, program support, scholarship matching, and capacity-building support.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Arizona, with 87% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and the top state by grant count also Arizona. Recent recipients are clustered in Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. Phoenix-based organizations include Education Forward Arizona, Friends of the Children - Phoenix, and Million Dollar Teacher Project; Tucson-based recipients include Make Way for Books and the University of Arizona Foundation. Outside Arizona, the recent grants list includes Education Design Lab in Washington, DC, TNTP Inc in New York, NY, and Common Sense Media in San Francisco, CA.
The portfolio centers on K–16 education improvement, with grants tied to early literacy, college access, teacher recruitment and retention, education accountability, and convening. Recent awards include support for school readiness, pathway programs, scholarship matching, and narrative work around the value of education.
Yes. The recent grants list shows multi-year support for several recipients, including Make Way for Books in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Arizona State University Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Arizona Community Foundation in 2024 and 2025.
Typical grants are in the five-figure to low-six-figure range. The distribution provided shows a p25 of $25,000, a median of $62,500, and a p75 of $100,000.
Phoenix appears frequently, along with Tempe, Tucson, Scottsdale, and Gilbert. Recent Phoenix recipients include Education Forward Arizona, Friends of the Children - Phoenix, and Million Dollar Teacher Project; Tucson recipients include Make Way for Books and the University of Arizona Foundation.
No. While Arizona recipients dominate the portfolio, the recent grants list also includes organizations in Washington, DC; New York, NY; and San Francisco, CA. Even so, 87% of grants go to recipients in Arizona.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,781,200 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $696,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $200,000 | 2025 | EVERYTHING TO GAIN (VALUE OF EDUCATION AND FIGHTING DIVISIVE NARRATIVES) |
| TNTP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $130,000 | 2025 | ARIZONA SOLUTION SUMMIT: EDUCATION TALENT CONVENING |
| MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS | TUCSON, AZ | $115,000 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL READINESS COLLABORATIVE |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $115,000 | 2025 | UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE-PHOENIX PATHWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - PHOENIX | PHOENIX, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - PHOENIX |
| EDUCATION DESIGN LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | SECOND YEAR OF SUPPORT FOR THE GREATER PHOENIX/MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES GROWTH ENGINE FUND |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $90,000 | 2025 | "KITABU" - A COMMUNITY BASED LITERACY PROGRAM |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | TEMPE, AZ | $80,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ASU SPARKS SUCCESS EVENT AND FIRST STAR ASU ACADEMY |
| MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT | PHOENIX, AZ | $75,000 | 2025 | MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT, ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION |
| ADVOCACY31NINE | GILBERT, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN PHOENIX |
| COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | ARIZONA COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK 2024 |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $291,100 | 2024 | FY '23 PROGRAMS, SUPPORT FOR "CHANGING THE NARRATIVE", AND SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRA |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $115,000 | 2024 | PATHWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS | TUCSON, AZ | $115,000 | 2024 | NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL READINESS COLLABORATIVE |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | "KITABU"-A COMMUNITY BASED LITERACY PROGRAM |
| MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOUNDATION | TEMPE, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | PROMISE PATHWAY FOR DACA AND DREAMER STUDENTS |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC INNOVATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | PIPELINE AZ CAPACITIY BUILDING |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN-PHOENIX | PHOENIX, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT | PHOENIX, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADVOCACY31NINE | GILBERT, AZ | $75,000 | 2024 | ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN PHOENIX |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | TEMPE, AZ | $75,000 | 2024 | FIRST STAR ASU ACADEMY PROGRAM |
| NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $60,000 | 2024 | FLEISCHER SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY |
| ARIZONA BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION | PHOENIX, AZ | $60,000 | 2024 | ABEC CAREER EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION |
| GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | FOR ELEVATE ED AZ |
| CITY CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING | TUCSON, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | FOR COMMUNITYSHARE: ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| ALIENTO EDUCATION FUND | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2024 | YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| FIESTA EVENTS INC | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | FIESTA BOWL CHARITIES WISHES FOR TEACHERS |
| CULTURAL COALITION INC | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | SHE SE PUEDE STEM PROGRAM FOR THE I RISE FOUNDATION |
| JOBS FOR ARIZONA'S GRADUATES INC | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | JAG CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM |
| HAVASUPAI TRIBE | SUPAI, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | HAVASUPAI SUMER SCHOOL |
| YAVAPAI COUNTY FREE LIBRARY DISTRICT | PRESCOTT, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | BRING ON THE BOOKS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | TEMPE, AZ | $211,817 | 2023 | BUILDING A WHOLE-SCHOOL AT KYRENE DE LAS MANITAS, NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE MODEL AT KYRENE DE LAST MANITAS ($111,817), NAVAJO NATION DOCTORAL COHORT PROGRAM ($25K), ASU FIRST STAR PROGRAM ($75K). |
| EARN TO LEARN | TUCSON, AZ | $150,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIP MATCHING FUNDS |
| MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS | TUCSON, AZ | $115,000 | 2023 | NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL READINESS COLLABORATIVE |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $102,000 | 2023 | PATHWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| EDUCATION DESIGN LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GREATER PHOENIX/MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES GROWTH ENGINE FUND. |
| COMMON SENSE MEDIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $90,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF AZ OPERATIONS |
| ARIZONA BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION | PHOENIX, AZ | $75,000 | 2023 | EXPANISION OF ABEC CAREER EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING | PHOENIX, AZ | $75,000 | 2023 | ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC INNOVATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $75,000 | 2023 | PIPELINE AZ CAMPAIGN |
| SAVE OUR SCHOOLS ARIZONA | TEMPE, AZ | $75,000 | 2023 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW | OAKLAND, CA | $65,000 | 2023 | INVISIBLE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOLLOW UP REPORT ($15K); FOSTERED ARIZONA - REDUCING THE LONG TERM EDUCATIONAL IMPACT OF COVID FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE ($50K) |
| SOUNDS ACADEMY | PHOENIX, AZ | $60,000 | 2023 | SOUNDS ACADEMY OVERNIGHT SUMMER MUSIC PROGRAM |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING | TUCSON, AZ | $50,000 | 2023 | FOR COMMUNITYSHARE |
| GREATER PHOENIX CHAMBER FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2023 | FOR ELEVATE ED |
| ARIZONA LATINO LEADERS IN EDUCATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2023 | ALL IN EDUCATION - LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS EVALUATION |
ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$696,300GENERAL SUPPORT
EVERYTHING TO GAIN (VALUE OF EDUCATION AND FIGHTING DIVISIVE NARRATIVES)
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION
$115,000UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE-PHOENIX PATHWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
SECOND YEAR OF SUPPORT FOR THE GREATER PHOENIX/MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES GROWTH ENGINE FUND
ARIZONA CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES
$90,000"KITABU" - A COMMUNITY BASED LITERACY PROGRAM
SUPPORT FOR ASU SPARKS SUCCESS EVENT AND FIRST STAR ASU ACADEMY
MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT
$75,000MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT, ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION
ADVOCACY31NINE
$50,000ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN PHOENIX
ARIZONA COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK 2024
FY '23 PROGRAMS, SUPPORT FOR "CHANGING THE NARRATIVE", AND SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRA
ARIZONA CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES
$100,000"KITABU"-A COMMUNITY BASED LITERACY PROGRAM
PROMISE PATHWAY FOR DACA AND DREAMER STUDENTS
PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC INNOVATION
$100,000PIPELINE AZ CAPACITIY BUILDING
MILLION DOLLAR TEACHER PROJECT
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ADVOCACY31NINE
$75,000ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN PHOENIX
FLEISCHER SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
ARIZONA BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION
$60,000ABEC CAREER EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
$50,000ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION
CITY CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
$50,000FOR COMMUNITYSHARE: ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION PROGRAM
CULTURAL COALITION INC
$25,000SHE SE PUEDE STEM PROGRAM FOR THE I RISE FOUNDATION
HAVASUPAI TRIBE
$25,000HAVASUPAI SUMER SCHOOL
YAVAPAI COUNTY FREE LIBRARY DISTRICT
$25,000BRING ON THE BOOKS
BUILDING A WHOLE-SCHOOL AT KYRENE DE LAS MANITAS, NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE MODEL AT KYRENE DE LAST MANITAS ($111,817), NAVAJO NATION DOCTORAL COHORT PROGRAM ($25K), ASU FIRST STAR PROGRAM ($75K).
GREATER PHOENIX/MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES GROWTH ENGINE FUND.
ARIZONA BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION
$75,000EXPANISION OF ABEC CAREER EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
$75,000ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARIZONA EDUCATION
PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC INNOVATION
$75,000PIPELINE AZ CAMPAIGN
INVISIBLE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOLLOW UP REPORT ($15K); FOSTERED ARIZONA - REDUCING THE LONG TERM EDUCATIONAL IMPACT OF COVID FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE ($50K)
CITY CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
$50,000FOR COMMUNITYSHARE
ALL IN EDUCATION - LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS EVALUATION