H.S. Lopez Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation makes modest grants in Arizona for education, public health, diseases, housing, hunger, economic opportunity, arts, and culture
IP TAKE: The Lopez Family Foundation is a modest funder primarily serving the area of Southern Arizona. It rarely gives away more than a few hundred thousand dollars a year, with most of its funding taking the form of $1,000-$10,000 grants for small, local nonprofits in the area. Its stated grantmaking priorities are broad and lacking in detail, but it generally pursues the same interests as any other small, local funder, with grants to schools, hospitals, clinics, shelters, food banks, the arts, and human services. While a grant from Lopez might not represent a massive windfall for your organization, it is certainly a good opportunity for supplementing your budget.
Lopez is not the most transparent funder, as it does not maintain a comprehensive, searchable grants database on its website, only a limited list of past grantees with no dates or grant values. This may give you a good idea of the types of organizations this funder supports, but won’t tell you much about its grantmaking priorities or strategy. It also appears to be a somewhat accessible funder, as it does accept applications year-round, but with a limited staff and most of the decision-making done by the board, it is not clear how approachable this funder is or how responsive it may be to attempts at communication.
PROFILE: The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of real estate mogul Humberto Lopez and family. After immigrating to the United States at the age of 12, Lopez made his first real estate investment of $1,000 while working at his first job as an accountant. In 1975, Lopez teamed with Glenn Toyoshima to form HSL Properties, now the largest apartment and hotel property owner in Southern Arizona. The HS Lopez Foundation mission is to “fund programs which focus on advancing education, health and welfare in our community.” Grantmaking prioritizes Tucson and the surrounding Pima County, Arizona, where the Lopez family have been longtime residents. The HS Lopez Foundation works broadly in its areas of interest and does not name specific goals for its grantmaking in education, health and welfare.
Grants for Education and Youth
The Lopez Foundation’s education grantmaking works to “advance education resources in our community.” It does not name specific priorities in this area, but tax filings indicate that it commonly makes donations to public schools, charter schools, and universities, as well as nonprofits working to improve educational outcomes and youth well-being in Arizona. Past grantees include Academy of Distinction, Cochise College, Scholarships AZ, Flowing Wells Educational Foundation, San Miguel of Tucson, UC San Diego, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, and YMCA of Southern Arizona.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
The Lopez Foundation’s health grantmaking supports organizations “providing resources for a healthier life.” It does not name specific priorities in this area, but tax filings indicate that it commonly makes donations to hospitals, clinics, and nonprofits providing basic needs and human services, as well as national disease-related organizations. Past grantees include Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, Handi-Dogs, Marshall Home for Men, Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services, Arizona Dental Foundation, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, St. Andrews Children’s Clinic, Hendricks House, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and American Cancer Society.
Grants for Economic Opportunity and Arts & Culture
The Lopez Foundation’s welfare grantmaking is aimed at “serving those in need.” It broadly funds nonprofits working to improve well-being and quality of life of Arizona residents in areas such as arts, culture, housing development, veterans, racial justice, religion, job training, and economic opportunity. Past grantees include Tucson Boys Chorus, Gospel Rescue Mission, Step Up To Justice, Poverello House of Tucson, Arts for All, Safe Haven Care Foundation, Fox Tucson Theater Foundation, Symphony Women’s Association, Be Kind People Project, St. Luke’s Home, Primavera Foundation, and Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona.
IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:
Grants generally range between $1,000 and $10,000, although one to two grantees a year may receive up to $100,000. View a list of past grantees on the funder’s granting history page.
Grants mainly center around Tucson and broader Pima County, Arizona. It sometimes makes grants outside of this area at the discretion of the board of directors.
The HS Lopez Family Foundation accepts applications by email or mail. Deadlines for proposals have traditionally fallen on the first of March, June, September and December 1 in the past, with announcements made between 30 to 60 days after submission.
The Lopez Foundation does not make grants for individuals, capital campaigns, real estate purchases, or lobbying efforts.
Direct general questions to the staff at 520-245-9737 or HSLFF@TheHSLopezFamilyFoundation.org.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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