United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.
Valley of the Sun United Way’s recent grant record is defined by a very large, repeated commitment to early learning: FTF Quality First Scholarships to Providers received $87,195,345 in 2025, after $60,914,994 in 2024 and $33,626,337 in 2023. That pattern places early literacy and education at the center of the foundation’s work, alongside other community needs reflected in its focus areas. The grants also show support for program-specific work rather than unrestricted funding, with program support appearing throughout the recent list. The foundation’s portfolio reaches a mix of direct service organizations and community intermediaries. Candelen received $7,950,713 in 2024 and $6,104,221 in 2023 for program support, while Southwest Human Development received $6,741,541 in 2024 and $5,424,611 in 2023 for program support. Other recurring recipients include Child & Family Resources and Easter Seals Blake Foundation, indicating a sustained relationship with organizations serving children and families. The recent grants also include direct designations to various agencies, showing that some funding is routed through broader community channels rather than only single-organization awards.
Education and early childhood services are the clearest thread in the recent grants. Valley of the Sun United Way gave $1,028,585 in 2025 to Make Way for Books in Tucson for program support, and the foundation’s largest grant series also supported FTF Quality First Scholarships to Providers across 2023 to 2025. Family support and child development appear in multiple awards. Child & Family Resources in Tucson received $3,124,431 in 2024 and $2,300,960 in 2023, both for program support. The foundation also funds housing- and stability-related work. A New Leaf Inc in Mesa received $929,358 in 2025, $877,295 in 2024, and $776,627 in 2023, all marked program support. Community services and neighborhood support show up through Chicanos Por La Causa Inc, which received $779,000 in 2023, $410,871 in 2024, and $559,844 in 2025 for program support.
Valley of the Sun United Way’s typical grant size sits at a p25 of $26,212, a median of $69,558, and a p75 of $135,851, though the recent file also shows several much larger program awards. The pattern is not a one-off model: the same grantees appear across multiple years, including awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That suggests ongoing support rather than isolated transactions. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant descriptions are consistently program support or other restricted program/project support, indicating a structured, purpose-specific style of giving.
$62.9M
$100.4M
$73.5M
$77.5M
Most grants fall between $26K and $136K, with a median of $70K.
25th Percentile
$26K
Median
$70K
75th Percentile
$136K
About 97% of grants go to recipients in AZ.
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Grantmaking is highly local and overwhelmingly centered in Arizona: 97% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Arizona is also the top state by grant count. Phoenix is the main recipient city, with additional grants in Tucson, Mesa, and Tempe. The recent list also includes county-level or regional intermediaries in Phoenix, such as senior meal, burial support, and direct designation programs. All recorded recipient-country distribution is in the United States, with 360 grants there.
The recent grants show funding for early childhood and education providers, family support groups, housing-related services, and community agencies. Named recipients include FTF Quality First Scholarships to Providers, Candelen, Southwest Human Development, Child & Family Resources, A New Leaf Inc, and Chicanos Por La Causa Inc.
Typical grant size is p25 $26,212, median $69,558, and p75 $135,851. The recent grant list also includes much larger program awards, including an $87,195,345 grant in 2025 and several multi-million-dollar awards in prior years.
Yes. Arizona is the top state by grant count, and 97% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipients include organizations in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Tempe.
The grant descriptions point to restricted, program-specific support. Recent awards are labeled program support or direct designations, and the foundation’s philosophy tags specify restricted program/project support and operational support for specific programs.
The recent data shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years. Examples include FTF Quality First Scholarships to Providers in 2023, 2024, and 2025, plus multi-year support to Candelen, Southwest Human Development, A New Leaf Inc, and Chicanos Por La Causa Inc.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Things First Quality First Scholarships to Providers | Phoenix, AZ | $45,070,430 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| Direct Designations to Various Agencies | Phoenix, AZ | $5,026,755 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| Other Community Initiatives - Various Partners | Phoenix, AZ | $3,384,242 | 2026 | Program Support |
| A New Leaf Inc | Mesa, AZ | $762,435 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Arizona Community Foundation DBA Read On Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $734,400 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Chicanos Por La Causa Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $642,895 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Make Way for Books | Tucson, AZ | $373,878 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley | Phoenix, AZ | $373,284 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Community Bridges Inc | Mesa, AZ | $331,358 | 2026 | Program Support |
| St Mary's Food Bank | Phoenix, AZ | $228,144 | 2026 | Program Support |
| School Readiness Kits - Various Partners | Phoenix, AZ | $224,973 | 2026 | Program Support |
| UMOM New Day Centers Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $175,657 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Southwest Human Development | Phoenix, AZ | $154,077 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Solari Inc | Tempe, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Child Crisis Arizona | Mesa, AZ | $147,652 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Big Bros Big Sisters of Central AZ | Phoenix, AZ | $147,116 | 2026 | Program Support |
| NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES INC | Phoenix, AZ | $143,212 | 2026 | Program Support |
| United Food Bank | Mesa, AZ | $143,093 | 2026 | Program Support |
| A New Leaf (Homeward Bound) | Phoenix, AZ | $131,758 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Native American Connections | Phoenix, AZ | $124,678 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Year Up | Boston, MA | $124,200 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Arizona Housing Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $122,620 | 2026 | Program Support |
| BE A LEADER FOUNDATION | Phoenix, AZ | $121,758 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Valley of the Sun YMCA | Phoenix, AZ | $111,641 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Fresh Start Women's Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $107,671 | 2026 | Program Support |
| AZCEND | Chandler, AZ | $106,192 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Stemmler & Associates LLC DBA FrameShift Group | Phoenix, AZ | $102,838 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service Inc (JFCS) | Phoenix, AZ | $97,870 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Keys to Change (Human Services Campus) | Phoenix, AZ | $97,530 | 2026 | Program Support |
| HOMELESS YOUTH CONNECTION INC | Avondale, AZ | $91,643 | 2026 | Program Support |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES INC | Phoenix, AZ | $90,048 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Mercy House Living Centers | Santa Ana, CA | $89,200 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center | Phoenix, AZ | $87,975 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) | Phoenix, AZ | $87,643 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Phoenix Legal Action Network | Tempe, AZ | $87,400 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Jobs for Arizona's Graduates | Phoenix, AZ | $86,977 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest | Phoenix, AZ | $86,424 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Tempe Community Action Agency | Tempe, AZ | $84,379 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Read Better Be Better | Phoenix, AZ | $83,250 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Avondale School District | Avondale, AZ | $82,713 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale | Scottsdale, AZ | $80,896 | 2026 | Program Support |
| The Salvation Army | Phoenix, AZ | $80,818 | 2026 | Program Support |
| New Pathways for Youth Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $78,729 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Maggie's Place Inc | Phoenix, AZ | $75,712 | 2026 | Program Support |
| AROUET FOUND | Phoenix, AZ | $74,538 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Friendly House | Phoenix, AZ | $71,695 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Duet Partners in Aging | Phoenix, AZ | $71,324 | 2026 | Program Support |
| ICAN | Chandler, AZ | $69,619 | 2026 | Program Support |
First Things First Quality First Scholarships to Providers
$45,070,430PROGRAM SUPPORT
Direct Designations to Various Agencies
$5,026,755PROGRAM SUPPORT
Other Community Initiatives - Various Partners
$3,384,242Program Support
A New Leaf Inc
$762,435Program Support
Arizona Community Foundation DBA Read On Arizona
$734,400Program Support
Chicanos Por La Causa Inc
$642,895Program Support
Make Way for Books
$373,878Program Support
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley
$373,284Program Support
Community Bridges Inc
$331,358Program Support
St Mary's Food Bank
$228,144Program Support
School Readiness Kits - Various Partners
$224,973Program Support
UMOM New Day Centers Inc
$175,657Program Support
Southwest Human Development
$154,077Program Support
Solari Inc
$150,000Program Support
Child Crisis Arizona
$147,652Program Support
Big Bros Big Sisters of Central AZ
$147,116Program Support
NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES INC
$143,212Program Support
United Food Bank
$143,093Program Support
A New Leaf (Homeward Bound)
$131,758Program Support
Native American Connections
$124,678Program Support
Year Up
$124,200Program Support
Arizona Housing Inc
$122,620Program Support
BE A LEADER FOUNDATION
$121,758Program Support
Valley of the Sun YMCA
$111,641Program Support
Fresh Start Women's Foundation
$107,671Program Support
AZCEND
$106,192Program Support
Stemmler & Associates LLC DBA FrameShift Group
$102,838Program Support
Jewish Family & Children's Service Inc (JFCS)
$97,870Program Support
Keys to Change (Human Services Campus)
$97,530Program Support
HOMELESS YOUTH CONNECTION INC
$91,643Program Support
CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
$90,048Program Support
Mercy House Living Centers
$89,200Program Support
Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center
$87,975Program Support
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)
$87,643Program Support
Phoenix Legal Action Network
$87,400Program Support
Jobs for Arizona's Graduates
$86,977Program Support
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
$86,424Program Support
Tempe Community Action Agency
$84,379Program Support
Read Better Be Better
$83,250Program Support
Avondale School District
$82,713Program Support
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
$80,896Program Support
The Salvation Army
$80,818Program Support
New Pathways for Youth Inc
$80,000Program Support
Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation
$80,000Program Support
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
$78,729Program Support
Maggie's Place Inc
$75,712Program Support
AROUET FOUND
$74,538Program Support
Friendly House
$71,695Program Support
Duet Partners in Aging
$71,324Program Support
ICAN
$69,619Program Support