The Comunidad Grants program, administered by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA), is designed to provide unrestricted funding to grassroots nonprofits working directly within their communities. This program prioritizes organizations addressing emerging community issues and aims to build long-term trust and impact. In its inaugural year (2024), the Comunidad program granted $132,000 to 24 nonprofits across Southern Arizona. The program is committed to equity, inclusion, and dignity, recognizing that transformative change requires both time and financial support.

The 2025 grant cycle invites applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Southern Arizona or those applying with a fiscal sponsor. Eligible applicants must be based in counties south of the Gila River, including Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma, and parts of Pinal County. Organizations must have an established board of directors and be current in all reporting to CFSA. Additionally, applicants must have an annual operating budget under $100,000, ensuring the grants support smaller, grassroots initiatives. Grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, government agencies, capital fund drives, agency endowments, debt reduction efforts, individual schools, religious organizations for sectarian purposes, or sports teams.

The funding priorities of Comunidad Grants emphasize organizations that serve rural areas and those that focus on historically marginalized communities. The application evaluation is based on a rubric that assesses awareness of community needs, organizational response to these needs, the financial impact of the grant on the nonprofit’s mission, and operational sustainability.

The application period for the 2025 Comunidad Grants opens on January 21, 2025, and closes on February 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM Arizona Time. Applications will be reviewed between February and April 2025, with award notifications announced in April 2025. Funds will be distributed in May 2025, followed by a Grantee Celebration on June 3, 2025.

Interested applicants can learn more by watching the Information Session held on January 23, 2025. Further inquiries can be directed to CFSA at (520) 770-0800 or by visiting their headquarters at 5049 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85711.