Arizona Coyotes Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Arizona Coyotes Foundation is an NHL corporate funder that supports education, youth, public health, and economic opportunity for underserved communities throughout Arizona.
IP TAKE: The Arizona Coyotes Foundation is a modest corporate funder that serves the people of Arizona, particularly the Phoenix region. Like many corporate funders, it broadly funds education, health, and human services programs in its giving area, with a particular focus on hockey and other athletics programs for youth. Unfortunately, the team itself is currently in a state of suspended operations due to financial difficulties and the status of the foundation’s giving is difficult to determine. While it has not announced the cessation of operations and the team remains hopeful it will be re-enfranchised within the next five years, no recent tax returns are available to show the foundation’s activities in recent years, so it is unclear whether it is still making grants to the community while the team is inactive.
Even leaving aside the parent team’s operational difficulties, the foundation is not the most transparent or accessible funder. Like many corporate funders, it does not maintain a comprehensive database of past grants. It does have a list of past grantees on its website, but the grants are undated, so there is no indication of whether this presents an accurate picture of the foundation’s current activities. It is also like other corporate funders in preferring to conduct grantmaking by invitation only. The website provides no guidelines or instructions for applying, nor any contact information for grant inquiries. So while this foundation may still be an available resource for grantseekers in Arizona, it may take a great deal of networking and insider information even to know whether the its still operational.
PROFILE: The Arizona Coyotes Foundation, established in 2001, is the philanthropic arm of the Arizona Coyotes NHL team, based in Glendale, Arizona, outside of Phoenix. Originally known as the Winnipeg Jets, the team has had a rocky history of financial difficulties since relocating to Arizona. After owner Jerry Moyes declared bankruptcy in 2009, the team continued to play under direct management from the NHL until the city of Glendale declined to renew their contract in 2022. A proposal to build new facilities in Tempe, Arizona, has since fallen through and the team has suspended all operations while it seeks to secure new facilities. The NHL has announced that if it fails to do so by 2029, the team’s operations may be permanently discontinued. In the meantime, the team’s charitable foundation appears to be carrying on its work to “enhance the quality of life throughout Arizona by supporting organizations and programs that promote access to education, health and wellness and economic advancement for underserved and diverse communities.” The foundation currently has three main focus areas: Education, Health and Wellbeing, and Economic Advancement.
Grants for Education and Youth:
The Coyotes Foundation’s Education grantmaking seeks to “close the education gap for underserved communities.” Rather than supporting schools and school districts directly, it primarily funds nonprofits that seek to improve educational outcomes through outreach, tutoring, after-school activities, supplies, and other resources. It prioritizes projects that focus on “educational attainment for students of color, veterans, nontraditional students and other underrepresented groups.” It also supports programs that aim to expand access to sports and athletic activities. Past grantees include ALL in Education, Be a Leader Foundation, Flight 33, Junior Achievement Arizona, Mikey’s League, New Pathways for Youth, and Year Up.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases:
The Coyotes Foundation’s Health and Wellness grantmaking seeks to “promote access to resources that improve health outcomes for underserved and underinsured populations.” It supports hospitals, clinics, research institutes, and other health-related nonprofits in Arizona. Past grantees include Ability360, Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Foundation, Children’s Cancer Network, Navajo Health Foundation, Community Health Center of Yavapai, and Vitalant.
Grants for Community Development and Economic Opportunity:
The Coyotes Foundation’s Economic Advancement grantmaking supports “organizations and programs that promote access to financial resources and facilitate economic participation for people of color, underrepresented and underemployed groups.” It broadly funds organizations and projects providing basic needs, human services, job training and reeducation, leadership training, mentorship, economic justice, and community development projects in its giving area. Past grantees include Anytown Leadership Program, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Chicanos Por La Causa, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Harvest Compassion Center,
IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:
Grants generally range from $5,000 to $30,000. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s list of previous grantees for more information on the types of projects it supports.
The Arizona Coyotes Foundation’s grants are limited to regional nonprofits in Arizona or national organizations with a branch or chapter of operations in Arizona.
Grants are by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not provide any way to submit them.
As the team is currently in suspended operations, it is unclear what the current or future state of the foundation’s giving may be.
Grantseekers may reach out to info@arizonacoyotesfoundation.com for further inquiries.
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