About Potoff Private Philanthropy
Potoff Private Philanthropy concentrates its giving in Pima County, AZ, prioritizing career and technical education and local civic infrastructure. The foundation makes relatively large, targeted gifts that fund capital and program support for regional workforce training (notably Pima JTED) and also supports local news and school-based interventions that connect communities with information and keep students in school. Their pattern shows durable, local commitments rather than broad national giving.
Focus Areas
Vocational and career-technical education infrastructure in Pima County (e.g., VET Science Center building)Skills-based workforce development and CTE program support (Pima JTED/Foundation)Local news and civic information infrastructure in Arizona (Arizona Local News Foundation)K–12 student retention and alternative education initiatives in Pima County (Pima Cycle Breaker)
Who They Fund
Southern Arizona / Pima County residentsvocational high school studentsjob seekers and workforce entrants
About Potoff Private Philanthropy
A $2,000,000 grant to Pima County JTED for a VET Science Center building captures the foundation’s style: large, targeted investments tied to local workforce pathways and education infrastructure. Potoff Private Philanthropy pairs capital support with programmatic funding, especially around career and technical education in Pima County and adjacent Southern Arizona institutions. Its recent awards also include multi-year support for the Pima JTED ecosystem, with grants of $200,000 in 2023, $130,000 in 2024, and $177,000 and $150,000 in 2025 to Pima JTED Foundation for skills-based education. Those gifts point to sustained backing for education-to-work pipelines rather than isolated project grants. The foundation’s local commitments extend beyond schools: it has funded services that help individuals train service dogs, community information work through Arizona Local News Foundation, and school-based interventions through Pima County Superintendent of Schools. The pattern is narrow in geography and broad enough in function to touch capital projects, student support, workforce readiness, and civic information within the same county-level ecosystem.
What Potoff Private Philanthropy Funds
Career and technical education is the clearest theme in the record. Potoff Private Philanthropy gave $200,000 in 2023, $130,000 in 2024, and $177,000 and $150,000 in 2025 to Pima JTED Foundation for skills-based education. In a separate education line, it also awarded $10,000 to Pima County for Pima Vocational High School. Workforce and student persistence appear in another set of grants. The foundation gave $300,000 and $200,000 in 2025, plus $100,000 in 2023, to Pima County Superintendent of Schools for Pima Cycle Breakers. It also awarded $15,000 to Primavera Foundation for workforce development. Animal health and service-animal support are another visible thread. Handi-dogs Inc Dba Ability Dogs of Arizona received $300,000 for helping individuals train their service dogs, and a separate $15,000 grant went to Ability Dogs of Arizona for the same purpose. Make Way for Books received $140,000 for promoting childhood literacy.
How Potoff Private Philanthropy Gives
Typical awards are sizable: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $130,000, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. That spread shows a mix of smaller operating-style grants and larger capital or program commitments, including a $2,000,000 building grant and several six-figure education awards. The recent list also shows repeat support over multiple years for Pima JTED Foundation and Pima County Superintendent of Schools, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation appears to give through a private-philanthropy structure and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not accepted for several listed program areas.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.6M
Total Assets
$13.1M
Total Revenue
$832K
Total Expenses
$2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $250K, with a median of $130K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$130K
75th Percentile
$250K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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