PICOR Charitable Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The PICOR Charitable Foundation supports programs for disadvantaged youth and STEM education in Tucson and the broader Southern Arizona area.
IP TAKE: The PICOR Charitable Foundation is a low-key corporate funder that broadly funds education and youth programs in Southern Arizona. PICOR particularly prioritizes smaller, local organizations that do not receive as much funding, so this is a good funder for Tucson nonprofits that often get overlooked by the big foundations, especially if your organization works with youth and education. Like many corporate funders, it provides limited information on its grantmaking strategy and guidelines, but its application is simple and straightforward. While its modest grant values will only provide a minor supplement to your operating budget, the ease of application means you shouldn’t pass up this funder.
PICOR is not the most transparent funder, as its list of past grantees covers only the previous year and does not contain details about the funded project or grant amount. Grantseekers may seek out the foundation’s tax records or annual reports for a little more information on its grantmaking habits. However, it is relatively accessible, as it accepts applications once a year, in September, with grants distributed the following November. If you are unsure whether your organization or project aligns with PICOR’s giving priorities, feel free to reach out to their representatives to discuss potential opportunities.
PROFILE: Established in 1994, the PICOR Charitable Foundation is the grantmaking arm of the commercial real estate company C&W/PICOR. The company was founded in 1985 and is licensed in Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. It is a member of the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance, the largest privately held commercial real estate services firm in the world. The foundation originally aimed to step in for the Tucson-based Kiwanis Club, which held fundraising events for local charities. Today, the foundation’s big annual event is a pancake breakfast in October. Company employees have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through the breakfast, with all proceeds going to charities. The foundation’s mission is to “reach out to those charities benefiting disadvantaged youth where our modest grants will make a significant difference.” In addition to its grants for youth, the foundation awards one STEM education grant each year.
Grants for Education and Youth
The PICOR Charitable Foundation aims to “reach those charities benefiting disadvantaged youth where our modest grants will make a significant difference.” The funder seeks to support groups that do not receive as much funding as other organizations. The grant money largely comes from individual and business donations to the foundation. In 2013, PICOR established a STEM grant in memory of a founding member of PICOR named Ken Nickel. He was an active and involved member of the foundation board and with the pancake breakfast event. Past grantees include Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, Arizona Theater Company, Special Olympics Arizona, Tucson Girls Chorus, Tucson Jewish Community Center – Special Needs Services, and Tucson Soccer Academy.
IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:
Youth grants typically stay in the Tucson area and range from $500 to $2,500. The maximum award is $3,000. Review the funder’s tax records to learn more about past grantees.
PICOR’s grantmaking centers around Southern Arizona. It does make grants to national organizations with branches of operations in its giving area.
PICOR accepts applications from local nonprofits. The application form may be downloaded from its website. The completed form and any supplemental material must be submitted by September 30. The committee reviews submissions and makes its decisions in the first week of November.
To apply for the Ken Nickel Memorial STEM Award, check the box marked “STEM Award” on the application form.
For further inquiries grantseekers may reach out to Tom Nieman at (520) 748-7100.
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