The TW Lewis Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of large, general‑purpose grants that support higher education and direct charitable assistance. Recent awards include major unrestricted gifts to a private Christian university, a leading university business school, and a local St. Vincent de Paul chapter, indicating a blend of investment in postsecondary institutions and community basic‑needs services. Grants are unrestricted, suggesting a preference to fund operating capacity rather than specific projects.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large general‑purpose grants rather than many small awards; favors one‑off or single‑year unrestricted operating support to institutional recipients.
A 2025 grant of $400,000 to Grand Canyon University stands out as the largest recent award from Tw Lewis Foundation and points to a funding pattern built around sizable general-purpose gifts. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs higher education, conservative policy and advocacy organizations, and Phoenix-area direct-service charities with unrestricted support. That mix includes a $200,000 general-purpose grant to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2025 and repeated support for St Vincent De Paul in Phoenix, which received $210,000 in 2024, $110,000 in 2025, and $101,000 in 2023. The foundation’s recent awards also reach organizations tied to youth development, family services, and university athletics, showing a broad but selective approach rather than a narrow project-by-project program. General-purpose language appears throughout the recent grants, suggesting an emphasis on institutional flexibility and operating capacity. The pattern is especially visible in Arizona, where many of the foundation’s recipients are located.
In higher education, Tw Lewis Foundation gave $400,000 to Grand Canyon University for general purpose support and $200,000 to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for general purpose support. Those two grants show an interest in both private Christian higher education and business education. The foundation also funded public-facing service organizations in Phoenix: Valleywise received $100,600 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024, both for general purpose support. In community support, St Vincent De Paul in Phoenix received multiple unrestricted grants, including $210,000 in 2024 and $110,000 in 2025. Youth-oriented giving also appears in the record, with $91,981 to Young Life Arizona in 2023 and $100,000 to United Christian Youth Camp in 2023.
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $23,500 at the median, and $52,612 at the 75th percentile, with a smaller set of much larger awards at the top of the range. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including St Vincent De Paul, Valleywise, Alliance Defending Freedom, America First Policy Institute, Conservative Partnership Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and Young America’s Foundation. Tw Lewis Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, funds organizations rather than individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Many recent grants are labeled general purpose, indicating flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding.
$2.4M
$10.2M
$559K
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $53K, with a median of $24K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$24K
75th Percentile
$53K
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Notable grantees: Grand Canyon University, St. Vincent de Paul, UNC Kenan‑Flagler Business School
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with all 153 recent grants going to US organizations. Arizona is the top state by grant count, and 67% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Phoenix appears frequently among recipient cities, alongside Scottsdale and Prescott in Arizona. Outside Arizona, the list includes Chapel Hill, Arlington, Washington, Reston, Lexington, and Gig Harbor, showing a national reach even though the pattern is heavily concentrated in Arizona.
Recent grants go to higher education institutions, conservative policy and advocacy groups, and local direct-service charities. Examples in the record include Grand Canyon University for general purpose support, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for general purpose support, and St Vincent De Paul in Phoenix for general purpose support across multiple years.
Yes. The recent list shows multi-year support to several recipients, including St Vincent De Paul in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Valleywise in 2024 and 2025; Alliance Defending Freedom in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and America First Policy Institute and Conservative Partnership Institute in more than one year.
The 25th percentile grant size is $5,000, the median is $23,500, and the 75th percentile is $52,612. The recent record also includes larger outliers such as $400,000 to Grand Canyon University and $200,000 to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Arizona receives the largest share of grants, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Phoenix is a frequent recipient city, and Scottsdale and Prescott also appear often in the Arizona grant list.
The recent grants are labeled general purpose, which indicates flexible support. That pattern appears across education, community service, and policy-related grants, including awards to Grand Canyon University, St Vincent De Paul, and Valleywise.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | PHOENIX, AZ | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNC KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL | PHOENIX, AZ | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| VALLEYWISE | PHOENIX, AZ | $100,600 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN STUDIO | GIG HARBOR, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONSERVATIVE PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHOENIX RESCUE MISSION | PHOENIX, AZ | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SUSAN B ANTHONY PRO-LIFE AMERICA | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRESH START | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARIZONA HELPING HANDS | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GOLDWATER INSTITUTE | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | GILBERT, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG LIFE ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR INSTITUTE | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | ATLANTA, GA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS | PHOENIX, AZ | $36,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DREAM CITY CHURCH | PHOENIX, AZ | $31,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | CHANDLER, AZ | $30,519 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR THE RIGHTS OF ABUSED CHILDREN | PHOENIX, AZ | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TENEO | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | WIC PROGRAM |
| INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMMUNIO | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BALLET ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | REPUBLIC, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHAMA PEAK LAND ALLIANCE | PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE FOSTER ALLIANCE | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIC | HOCKESSIN, DE | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHOENIX CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN CORNERSTONE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STEELE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH CENTER (PANDA) | TUSCON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHOENIX CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL | PHOENIX, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LEXINGTON RESCUE MISSION | LEXINGTON, KY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FORGE LEADERSHIP NETWORK | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HEARD MUSEUM | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FUTURE FOR KIDS | TEMPE, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WOMEN'S BOARD OF THE BNF | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF PUBLIC RADIO ARIZONA (KJZZ) | TEMPE, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LITERARY SOCIETY OF THE SOUTHWEST | CHANDLER, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
UNC KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
$110,000GENERAL PURPOSE
VALLEYWISE
$100,600GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PHOENIX RESCUE MISSION
$70,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRESH START
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GILBERT CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG LIFE ARIZONA
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DREAM CITY CHURCH
$31,000GENERAL PURPOSE
VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$30,519GENERAL PURPOSE
TENEO
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COMMUNIO
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIC
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
STEELE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH CENTER (PANDA)
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PHOENIX CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WOMEN'S BOARD OF THE BNF
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRIENDS OF PUBLIC RADIO ARIZONA (KJZZ)
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LITERARY SOCIETY OF THE SOUTHWEST
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE