Frequently Asked Questions
What We Fund
Q: What does Piper Trust fund?
A: The Trust supports projects in the areas of healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations. We have particular interest in projects that benefit young children, adolescents and older adults in Maricopa County. Grants to faith-based organizations fulfill program guidelines for these target populations. See Program Areas…
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Eligibility
Q: What types of organizations do you fund?
A: Piper Trust supports organizations that have been in existence and actively operating in Maricopa County as a Section 501(c)(3) organization for at least three years. We do not fund individuals, private foundations or ineligible Type III supporting organizations.
Q: Do you have a geographical focus?
A: Yes. We fund organizations that principally serve residents of Maricopa County, Arizona. We do not seek applications from organizations principally serving residents of other parts of Arizona or other U.S. states. Piper Trust does not make international grants.
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Types of Grants
Q: What is the Trust's typical size of grant awarded?
A: Grants awarded over the past year have ranged from a few thousand to several million dollars. You can find a detailed list of grants awarded on this website. See Search Grants...
Q: Are multi-year grants considered?
A: Yes. Piper Trust considers multi-year terms when the proposed project requires more than one year to achieve its objectives.
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How to Apply
Q: How often can I apply for funding?
A: We ask applicants to submit no more than one request per year. Time limitations help both applicants and Piper Trust staff be more thoughtful in preparing and reviewing proposals.
If Piper Trust declines a grant proposal, you may submit a subsequent request 12 months after the date of the last submission. For organizations with an active grant, we ask them not to reapply until 12 months after the end of the grant. We make exceptions if we initiate the project and ask an organization to apply.
Q: Do you have application deadlines?
A: There are no deadlines for initial proposals. Letters of inquiry are accepted and reviewed throughout the year. If we ask for a full proposal, there are three deadlines for proposals, corresponding to Piper trustees’ three grant review meetings each year. If we do not receive the proposal by the deadline, we automatically move it to the next grant cycle.
Q: How does an organization apply for funding?
A: We ask applicants to complete an online grant summary form, attaching a two-page letter of inquiry. For more information, see the Grantseekers Toolbox, right.
Q: What is the grant review process?
A: Under normal circumstances, we will review the initial inquiry and request any further information within six weeks of receiving a request. A program director may ask for a site visit and full proposal. After staff completes its review of full proposals, the trustees review staff recommendations at its next grant review meeting. We will notify you in writing of the disposition of your request after this meeting. The application and review process can take between two and six months, depending on how fully developed a request is when submitted and on our grant review schedule.
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Online Grant Summary Form
Q: How does the online grant summary form work?
A: The process differs slightly for first-time users and returning users and the form varies somewhat depending on whether you represent a nonprofit organization, church or governmental entity.
Q: What if I submitted my grant summary form and forgot to attach the two-page Letter of Inquiry?
A: If you forgot to attach your two-page letter of inquiry with the submittal, please email it to grants@pipertrust.org. Please type your organization’s name on the subject line so we can identify it quickly and attach it to the grant summary form for review and consideration.
Q: What browsers are supported or required?
A: The online application process requires the browser set to allow cookies. Supported browsers include:
- Internet Explorer 5.5 (PC and Mac)
- Internet Explorer 6.0 (PC)
- Netscape 7.02 (PC)
- Opera 7.11 (PC)
- Safari 1.0 (v85) (Mac)
Q: How do I return to my Grant Summary Form in progress?
A: Go to “Account Login” (see Grantseekers Toolbox, right) and click on “I am a returning user.” Enter your email and password. Your account page should appear listing all open grant summary forms and those submitted.
Q: How do I create a new application?
A: Go to “Account Login” (see Grantseekers Toolbox, right) and click on “I am a new applicant.” Enter your email address and then create a password. Enter your Tax ID#. The system automatically generates an application automatically and saves it in your account pag
Q: Can I still submit a hard copy of my application?
A: We continue to accept hard copy grant requests that are mailed or hand-delivered to our offices. We hope submitting online grant requests will improve the ease with which organizations can submit requests for Piper Trust funding. We strongly encourage you to try this process, and we welcome your feedback on how we can make it better!
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More Information
Q: Is it appropriate to call Piper Trust staff prior to sending a request or to receive feedback on requests that were not funded?
A: Yes. In fact, Piper Trust staff encourage you to contact them in advance to determine whether your program fits within Piper Trust's guidelines. Please call us if it is not clear why we did not fund your proposal. See Applying for a Grant…
Q: Can I meet Trust staff to learn more about guidelines and the application process?
A: Yes. We hold Piper 101 public information sessions on the first Wednesday of each month at Piper Trust offices. These programs provide an initial introduction to Piper grantmaking for grantseekers who have not had prior information about or contact with Piper Trust. The sessions reiterate the information on this website, as well as provide opportunities to hear the information directly from Piper Trust staff and cover specific questions about guidelines and how to apply.
Because we seek to allow an informal exchange of information, we limit attendance for each session and require reservations. See Attend Piper 101…
Q: Where can I learn more about receiving support from foundations?
A: There are many resources designed to help nonprofits connect with fundraising resources. See Nonprofit Resources…
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