Del E. Webb Foundation: Arizona
/OVERVIEW: The Del E. Webb Foundation primarily supports causes related to health, human services, education, and youth in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
IP TAKE: The Del E. Webb Foundation is a low-profile funder with a geographically restricted giving area. It primarily supports organizations serving the state of Arizona, with some grants going to nonprofits based in Nevada and California. While it does not currently have any specific grantmaking priorities, it has historically given mainly in the areas of health, human services, education, and youth development, supporting a range of hospitals, clinics, food banks, homeless shelters, youth groups, and camps. While this funder ostensibly accepts letters of inquiry from new applicants, it seems to prefer sticking with the organizations it knows and has worked with for many years. Most of its grants are modest, under $50,000, but several of its long-term grantees receive upwards of $200,000 a year.
This funder is lacking in transparency, as its barebones website does not contain much information about its grantmaking strategy, priority focus areas, or past grantees. Grantseekers must seek elsewhere for tax records indicating the types of organizations it typically supports. It is also not the most accessible funder, with previous grantseekers reporting that it is difficult to get in contact with, rejects the majority of submitted LOIs, and does not give feedback on denied applications. This seems to be the type of funder where you have to know somebody on the inside in order to have a shot at its funding.
PROFILE: The Del E. Webb Foundation, based in Prescott, Arizona, was founded in 1960 to carry out the giving legacy of the successful construction professional of the same name. It seeks to invest “in productivity that results in long-term benefits.” Del E. Webb was born in Fresno, California, but moved to Phoenix as a young man. Webb’s construction company gained major government construction contracts during World War II, but he is best known for building Sun City, the first large retirement community in the country. These developments in active retirement living led to the “snowbird culture” that still exists in the Phoenix area today. Webb was also a huge baseball fan and semi-professional baseball player, which led to his co-ownership of the New York Yankees later in life. Primary foundation interests are children and health, with an emphasis on long-term benefits and permanent improvements.
On its website, Webb names the ideal characteristics of a successful proposal. It prioritizes programs and organizations that “have a track record of success with proven results,” “can be self-sustaining,” “have attainable and measurable goals,” "break a negative cycle or change unproductive behavior,” “provide services for free or minimal cost,” “use innovative, current technology,” and “can track success through follow-up reporting.” While it does not name specific focus areas, it generally prioritizes grantmaking in the fields of public health, diseases, education, youth, community development, food security, and human services.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
While the Del E. Webb Foundation does not name specific areas of interest for its grantmaking, its biggest priority by funding amount is health. It makes grants for a variety of health-related causes in its giving area, including health care access, clinics providing out-patient care, infant and child welfare, access to dental care, pediatric surgery, hospitals and Catholic hospitals, support for the disabled and handicapped, emergency medical services, and various disease specialties. Past grantees include HonorHealth Foundation, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Ronald McDonald House, Central Arizona Dental Society, Westminster Free Clinic, Little Eyes International, Nourish, Diocesan Council for SOC of St. Vincent De Paul, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped, Sepsis Alliance, and Center for Healthy Aging.
Grants for Education and Youth
While the Del E. Webb Foundation does not name specific areas of interest for its grantmaking, it regularly makes grants for education and youth development. It primarily funds nonprofit institutions that focus on youth development, enrichment, and welfare, including after school programs, summer camps, and youth organizing. Past grantees include Hushabye Nursery, Tucson Children’s Museum, Youth on Their Own, CUP of Empowerment Coalition, Friends of Camp Colton, Armer Foundation for Kids, Foundation for Blind Children, Laptops 4 Learning, and Lions Camp Tatiyee.
Grants for Community Development and Food Systems
While the Del E. Webb Foundation does not name specific areas of interest for its grantmaking, it makes a significant number of grants to organizations providing human services, housing, and food security in its giving area. Previous grantees include Walker Fire Protection Association, Homes for Families, Arizona Diaper Bank, Hart Pantry, Foster Kinship, Nourish, Prescott Area Shelter Services, Sahuarita Food Bank, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Carol’s Kitchen, and Bakersfield Rescue Mission.
IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:
The Del E. Webb Foundation’s grants can range anywhere from $5,000 to $75,000, with select grantees receiving $100,000 to $250,000 or more. While the foundation does not maintain a list or database of past grantees, grantseekers may search for its previous tax records for more information on the types of organizations it supports.
Grantmaking is geographically limited to Arizona, Nevada, and California.
As a rule, Webb does not support the arts, music, sports, political or religious activities, runs, galas, fundraising activities, scholarships, government agencies, fiscal sponsors, or organizations that award grants to others.
The Application process starts with an eligibility quiz, followed by a one-page letter of intent. Select submissions will be invited to submit a full grant application.
While there is no deadline to submit letters of intent, deadlines for full applications are accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis. Board meetings take place in mid-April, mid-July, mid-October, and mid-January.
Grantseekers may reach the foundation staff at 928-445-9699 or direct inquiries to Grants@DEWF.org, and general information requests to Info@DEWF.org.
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