The Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation makes very large, targeted grants focused on community impact in Arizona and selective international health support. Their giving centers on a major local sports-related charity, substantial university philanthropy at the University of Arizona, and a single sizeable grant for health services in Ethiopia, indicating interest in civic, educational, and global health outcomes. The foundation prefers high-dollar, strategic gifts rather than many small awards.
A defining feature of the Penny and Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation is the size of its anchor gifts: $5,000,000 to the University of Arizona Foundation in 2025 and $5,000,000 to Phoenix Suns Charities in 2024. Those commitments frame a foundation that favors concentrated support for large institutional and community partners rather than a broad spread of small awards. The pattern extends to a $1,000,000 grant to Ethiopia Health Aid Inc in 2024, showing that the foundation also makes selective international health grants alongside its Arizona-centered philanthropy. Its recent grants point to a mix of education, civic life, health, and Jewish communal support. The University of Arizona Foundation appears as a repeated recipient, and Phoenix Suns Charities is another major beneficiary. Smaller grants connect the foundation to organizations such as the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix. The overall picture is of a funder that uses large, targeted awards to support a small set of named institutions and initiatives.
Education and campus philanthropy are a core part of the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it gave $100,000 to the University of Arizona Foundation, and in 2025 it followed with a $5,000,000 grant to the same recipient. Jewish communal organizations also appear repeatedly. The foundation gave $500,000 to the Arizona Jewish Historical Society in 2025 and $250,000 to the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in 2024, alongside a $35,000 grant to the Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix in 2024. Its grantmaking also reaches health and community aid beyond Arizona. Ethiopia Health Aid Inc received $1,000,000 in 2024, and California Hospital Medical Center Foundation received $100,000 in 2023.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, which suggests that many of its awards are standardized at that level even though a few grants are much larger. The recent record shows repeated support to some organizations across years, including the University of Arizona Foundation, Phoenix Suns Charities, the Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix, and Claremont Mckenna College. That pattern points to relationship-driven, concentrated giving rather than a one-time transactional approach. The foundation is structured as a charitable foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$5.7M
$203K
$5.2M
$5.9M
Most grants fall between $25K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large-dollar grants that are one-off or occasional major commitments. Mix of prominent local beneficiaries (sports charity and state university) and a targeted international health grant; limited breadth and likely strategic or relationship-driven choices.
Notable grantees: Phoenix Suns Charities, University of Arizona Foundation, Ethiopia Health Aid Inc
Giving is national, with all recent grants going to recipients in the United States. Arizona receives the largest share of grants by count, and 35% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent Arizona recipients include Tucson, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, showing a strong in-state pattern. Outside Arizona, recent grants went to recipients in New York, California, Washington, DC, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Its typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. That means the middle of its recent grantmaking is highly concentrated at a single award level, even though the foundation also makes much larger grants.
Recent grants include higher education, Jewish communal organizations, Arizona civic and historical institutions, sports-related philanthropy, and health aid. Named recipients include the University of Arizona Foundation, Phoenix Suns Charities, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, and Ethiopia Health Aid Inc.
Yes. While Arizona is the top state by grant count and 35% of grants go to Arizona recipients, the foundation also gives across the United States. Recent recipients are located in California, New York, Washington, DC, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Yes. The University of Arizona Foundation, Phoenix Suns Charities, the Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix, Claremont Mckenna College, and Minneapolis Foundation - the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund each appear more than once in the recent grants list, showing recurring support for selected institutions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ARIZONA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | PHOENIX, AZ | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION - THE LARRY FITZGERALD FIRST DOWN FUND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $51,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF GREATER PHOENIX | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEEN LIFELINE | PHOENIX, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GOOTTER-JENSEN FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEMPLE CHAI ASSOCIATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,700 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| STARRY FOUNDATION | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ETHIOPIA HEALTH AID INC | MONTROSE, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| VALLEY OF THE SUN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $250,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $100,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE | CLAREMONT, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF GREATER PHOENIX | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $35,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| RUTGERS HILLEL CORPORATION | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT UCLA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT | STORRS, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MSU HILLEL | EAST LANSING, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BARROW NEUROLOGICAL FOUNDATION - WOMEN'S BOARD | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT BARUCH COLLEGE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION - THE LARRY FITZGERALD FIRST DOWN FUND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| OSU HILLEL FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HOUSTON HILLEL INC | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT THE CLAREMONT COLLEGES | CLAREMONT, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE - MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION AT QUEENS COLLEGE | FLUSHING, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL OF GEORGIA | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE NORTH 34TH STREET FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE - ASU | TEMPE, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HILLEL ADVISORY | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE - TEXAS | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES - NAT | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTH CAROLINA HILLEL FOUNDATION | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SANTA CRUZ HILLEL FOUNDATION | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT DAVIS AND SACRAMENTO | DAVIS, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HUNTER HILLEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL OF THE FLORIDA SUNCOAST | TAMPA, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HILLEL AT CSI INC | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| USC HILLEL FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| GOOTTER-JENSEN FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| TEMPLE CHAI ASSOCIATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| THURGOOD MARSHALL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE | CLAREMONT, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$100,000CHARITABLE
GOOTTER-JENSEN FOUNDATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
TEMPLE CHAI ASSOCIATION
$6,700CHARITABLE
STARRY FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE
PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES
$5,000,000CHARITABLE
ETHIOPIA HEALTH AID INC
$1,000,000CHARITABLE
CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
$50,000CHARITABLE
RUTGERS HILLEL CORPORATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
$25,000CHARITABLE
MSU HILLEL
$25,000CHARITABLE
THE B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL AT BARUCH COLLEGE INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
OSU HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL AT THE CLAREMONT COLLEGES
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE - MIAMI
$25,000CHARITABLE
B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION AT QUEENS COLLEGE
$25,000CHARITABLE
THE NORTH 34TH STREET FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL THE FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE - TEXAS
$25,000CHARITABLE
SANTA CRUZ HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
HUNTER HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL OF THE FLORIDA SUNCOAST
$25,000CHARITABLE
HILLEL AT CSI INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
USC HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
GOOTTER-JENSEN FOUNDATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
TEMPLE CHAI ASSOCIATION
$6,000CHARITABLE
THURGOOD MARSHALL CENTER
$100,000CHARITABLE
CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE
$50,000CHARITABLE