Trends Charitable Fund

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OVERVIEW: The Trends Charitable Fund supports women, children, human services, and basic needs in Arizona.

IP TAKE: Trends Charitable Fund is a low-profile Arizona grantmaker that conducts the majority of its grantmaking through the lens of women and girls. This is a small funder that appears to make only a handful of grants each year, and those grants it does make are modest, rarely exceeding $100,000. These usually go to local or regional nonprofits providing basic needs human services, usually with a focus on women and families. This means organizations whose work relates to homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, and economic opportunity for the underserved.

TCF is not the most transparent or accessible funder. Aside from the rare press release, TCF does not announce, publicize, or provide a record of its grantmaking on its website. It also does not accept unsolicited applications or provide anyway for interested grantseekers to submit a letter of inquiry. To attract TCF’s attention, it pays to be well-connected in the Phoenix area and better to have an in with one of the organization’s “trend setters”—women in community leadership roles who TCF honors each year for their community work. Securing funding here will require some networking.

PROFILE: Established in 1995, the Trends Charitable Fund (TCF) is a grantmaking organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is affiliated with Trends Magazine, which dates back to 1982 and serves as a premier publication about society and lifestyle for affluent readers in Arizona. The foundation raises funds primarily through its annual fundraising event, “An Evening of Trends,” which sells tickets ranging from $500 to $15,000 and sponsorships ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. The foundation’s mission “emphasizes uplifting women, children, and their families through impactful programs.” To that end it supports both operational and capital funds and awards local grants to basic human services and immediate needs for vulnerable populations.

Grants for Women and Girls

The Trends Charitable Fund is a locally focused foundation that restricts giving to its home region. Programs must benefit women, children, and families at the local level. The foundation has supported programs and issues like women’s shelters, women’s health outreach, reproductive health and rights, adoption services and economic opportunity for women and girls. It reviews other needs on a case-by-case basis. Past grantees include Maggie’s Place, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, and Aid to Adoption of Special Kids.

Grants for Public Health and Science Research

In addition to its work for women and girls, TCF often funds basic human needs services, such as health, literacy, education, and legal services. Past support has gone towards organizations supporting abused and neglected children, homeless adults and youth, and ovarian cancer research. Past local grantees include the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Arizona Helping Hands, Casa Center for Positive Social Change, Phoenix Rescue Mission, and House of Refuge Sunnyslope.

IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:

Grants range between about $25,000 and $100,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records.

  • Grantmaking centers around organizations based in and serving the state of Arizona.

  • TCF does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Grantmaking decisions are made by the Board of Directors and publicly announced in November or December.

  • TCF does not typically support capital campaigns, lobbying activities, or individuals.

Direct general questions to the staff at info@trendscharitablefund.org or 480-296-5922.

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