The Eliot Spalding Foundation focuses on strengthening basic human services and youth supports in Southern Arizona, primarily through unrestricted/general operating grants. Most funding is local and repetitive—either channeled in bulk to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona or distributed as modest, recurring general-support grants to frontline nonprofits addressing youth education, food/housing insecurity, legal access, and elder care.
The Eliot Spalding Foundation C/o Clayton Niles makes most of its support through broad, flexible grants rather than tightly targeted project awards. In 2025, its largest recent allocation was $657,470 to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona for general charitable purpose, one of several sizable transfers to that intermediary. That pattern points to a funder that uses both a centralized community channel and direct nonprofit grants to move resources into Southern Arizona. The direct grants show a steady interest in local human services, with repeated support for organizations such as Southern AZ Legal Aid, Pima Council on Aging, Our Family Services, and YMCA Family Program Unit. The foundation’s giving also reaches youth-focused and family-support work, including grants to First Focus on Kids and Angel Charities for Children Inc. Across the recent record, the foundation appears to favor general operating or broad-purpose support, with grant sizes often landing in a modest range for local nonprofits while a few allocations to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona are much larger. Its recent activity is entirely within Arizona and concentrated in Tucson-based recipients.
A core theme is flexible community funding. The foundation gave $657,470 to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in 2025 for general charitable purpose, followed by additional large transfers of $434,847, $403,648, $365,040, and $299,779 for the same broad purpose. That intermediary channel sits alongside direct grants to service providers on the ground. In access to justice, it gave $10,000 to Southern AZ Legal Aid in 2025 for general charitable purpose, after making the same-sized grant in 2023 and 2024. Family and child supports also appear repeatedly: First Focus on Kids received $10,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation likewise backed YMCA Family Program Unit and Angel Charities for Children Inc with multiple $10,000 grants over several years. Elder services are present too, including Pima Council on Aging.
Typical grants are small to moderate: the 25th percentile is $3,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $9,000. The recent record also shows a pronounced two-tier pattern, with a cluster of very large 2025 allocations to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and a long tail of $10,000 direct awards to local nonprofits. The giving is repetitive rather than one-off: several recipients appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Southern AZ Legal Aid, First Focus on Kids, Our Family Services, Pima Council on Aging, YMCA Family Program Unit, American Red Cross, and Angel Charities for Children Inc. The foundation does not make program-related investments and does not fund individuals.
$3M
$0
$3K
$3M
Most grants fall between $3K and $9K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$9K
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Concentrated local giving with one very large intermediary grant and many small, repeated general‑support awards; favors established Tucson-area nonprofits and funds general operating rather than project‑specific work.
Notable grantees: Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, Youth on Their Own, Literacy Connects (Make Way for Books / Libraries Limited family of literacy grantees), Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Community Food Bank
The foundation’s grantmaking is geographically concentrated in Arizona, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Tucson is the dominant recipient city and appears across the direct-grant record, including Southern AZ Legal Aid, First Focus on Kids, Our Family Services, Pima Council on Aging, YMCA Family Program Unit, American Red Cross, and Angel Charities for Children Inc. The largest awards also go to Tucson-based Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, reinforcing the local focus.
It supports general charitable work in Southern Arizona, with repeated grants tied to human services, youth supports, legal aid, food and housing insecurity, early literacy, and elder care. The recent record includes Tucson-based nonprofits such as Southern AZ Legal Aid, Our Family Services, Pima Council on Aging, and First Focus on Kids.
The reported grant-size distribution is modest: p25 is $3,000, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $9,000. The recent file also includes a separate cluster of much larger grants to Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in 2025.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Southern AZ Legal Aid in 2023, 2024, and 2025; First Focus on Kids in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Our Family Services, Pima Council on Aging, YMCA Family Program Unit, American Red Cross, and Angel Charities for Children Inc across at least two years.
Its giving is entirely within Arizona in the recent record, and Tucson is the main recipient city. The top state by grant count is AZ, and 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state.
The record shows both large intermediary support and direct operating-style grants. In 2025, it made multiple sizable general charitable purpose grants to Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, while also sending repeated $10,000 grants directly to local nonprofits such as Southern AZ Legal Aid and Pima Council on Aging.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $657,470 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $434,847 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $403,648 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $365,040 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $299,779 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $284,250 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $175,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $145,107 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $142,392 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $94,715 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $8,913 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| OUR FAMILY SERVICES | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PIMA COUNCIL ON AGING | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ANGEL CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN INC | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| FIRST FOCUS ON KIDS | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SOUTHERN AZ LEGAL AID | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| YMCA FAMILY PROGRAM UNIT | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| YOUTH ON THEIR OWN | TUCSON, AZ | $9,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS | TUCSON, AZ | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| AZ JUSTICE PROJECT | PHOENIX, AZ | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MISSION OF MERCY ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| LIBRARIES LIMITED | TEMPE, AZ | $6,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| LITERACY CONNECTS | TUCSON, AZ | $6,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | TUCSON, AZ | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| STEP UP FOR JUSTICE | TUCSON, AZ | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GRAND CANYON YOUTH | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| DANCING IN THE STREETS | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LUKE'S HOME | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CAREGIVER TRAINING INSTITUDE | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION | TUCSON, AZ | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GODS VAST RESOURCES | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| TU NIDITO | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICE | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| INTERMOUNTAIN CENTERS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| UNITED WAY | TUCSON, AZ | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ERIK HITE FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST MARY'S FOOD BANK | PHOENIX, AZ | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PIMA COUNCIL ON AGING | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ANGEL CHARITIES FOR CHILDREN INC | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SOUTHERN AZ LEGAL AID | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| OUR FAMILY SERVICES | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| YMCA FAMILY PROGRAM UNIT | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| FIRST FOCUS ON KIDS | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| YOUTH ON THEIR OWN | TUCSON, AZ | $9,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS | TUCSON, AZ | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MISSION OF MERCY ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| LIBRARIES LIMITED | TEMPE, AZ | $6,500 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PIMA COUNCIL ON AGING
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
FIRST FOCUS ON KIDS
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SOUTHERN AZ LEGAL AID
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
YMCA FAMILY PROGRAM UNIT
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
AZ JUSTICE PROJECT
$7,500GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MISSION OF MERCY ARIZONA
$7,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
LIBRARIES LIMITED
$6,500GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
DANCING IN THE STREETS
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST LUKE'S HOME
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CAREGIVER TRAINING INSTITUDE
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION
$4,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GODS VAST RESOURCES
$3,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
INTERMOUNTAIN CENTERS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
$3,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
UNITED WAY
$2,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ERIK HITE FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST MARY'S FOOD BANK
$2,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PIMA COUNCIL ON AGING
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SOUTHERN AZ LEGAL AID
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
YMCA FAMILY PROGRAM UNIT
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
FIRST FOCUS ON KIDS
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MISSION OF MERCY ARIZONA
$7,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
LIBRARIES LIMITED
$6,500GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE