About Margaret E Mooney Foundation C/O Patricia Lohse
The Margaret E. Mooney Foundation concentrates major gifts in Tucson and Southern Arizona, prioritizing capital and capacity-building investments that strengthen community institutions serving children, families, and cultural life. They favor bricks-and-mortar and program-capacity grants (museums, arts venues, YMCAs, housing and meal services) as well as education and literacy initiatives, often funding local nonprofits and university programs that serve youth. Grants are large and strategic rather than numerous small awards, with several repeat grantees and multi-year or multi-purpose commitments.
Focus Areas
Children’s museums and informal STEM/learning centers in TucsonCommunity capital projects and facility restorations (arts venues, cultural institutions)Affordable housing development and land/capital support for Habitat-for-Humanity-style projects in Southern ArizonaNutrition and senior/child food security programs (Mobile Meals and community meal services)Youth development and camp/outdoor education programs run by University of Arizona and YMCACommunity literacy and cradle-to-career education partnerships in Tucson
Who They Fund
About Margaret E Mooney Foundation C/O Patricia Lohse
A $750,000 capital campaign grant to Children’s Museum Tucson captures the Margaret E Mooney Foundation C/o Patricia Lohse’s pattern of large, local, institution-building gifts. The foundation’s recent grantmaking favors Tucson and Southern Arizona organizations that need buildings repaired, capacity expanded, or programs stabilized, rather than a broad spread of smaller awards. Grants have supported museums, arts venues, housing organizations, meal programs, youth development partners, and education entities tied to children and families. Several recipients appear more than once, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. Habitat for Humanity received a $565,136 land-donation capital grant in 2024, while Literacy Connects received $360,249 for community literacy programs and mortgage relief in 2025. The University of Arizona Foundation appears with both capital support for Camp Cooper and program support for the African American Museum of Southern Arizona. That mix shows the foundation funding both physical infrastructure and program delivery when a local institution serves a defined community purpose. Its grant portfolio also includes cultural institutions and social-service providers such as Mobile Meals of Southern AZ, Stratford Art Works, YMCA of Southern Arizona, and Reid Park Zoological Society. The recurring theme is targeted support for organizations that anchor community life in Tucson.
What Margaret E Mooney Foundation C/O Patricia Lohse Funds
Education-related grants show both facilities and program support. The foundation gave $225,000 to University of Arizona Foundation for Camp Cooper capital in 2025 and another $225,000 in 2024 for Camp Cooper program support. It also awarded $125,000 to Pima Council on Aging for building funds for the Caregiver Training Institute and $51,000 to Pima Community College Foundation for endowed scholarships. In arts and culture, the foundation backed physical improvements and cultural programming. Stratford Art Works received $200,000 for Teatro Carmen restoration in 2024 and $100,000 for capital improvement funds for a new building in 2023. Arizona Theater Company was awarded $52,500 for community theater support, and the Loft Cinema received $50,000 for elevator capital. Human services and housing also appear repeatedly. Habitat for Humanity received $565,136 for a land donation capital fund, Mobile Meals of Southern AZ received $250,000 for community capital funds in 2024, and Literacy Connects received $360,249 for community literacy programs and mortgage relief in 2025.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.7M
Total Assets
$33.9M
Total Revenue
$2.8M
Total Expenses
$2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $31K and $225K, with a median of $117K.
25th Percentile
$31K
Median
$117K
75th Percentile
$225K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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