The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona Awards Innovative Grants
January 19, 2022
The Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona is a private foundation with a mission to Promote Population Health and Community Wellness Throughout Southeast Arizona. This mission is accomplished by offering grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Cochise and eastern Santa Cruz Counties. Each year the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona offers several grant cycles to include Fast Pitch, Responsive, Innovative, and Strategic. In 2021, a COVID-19 Recovery grant and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion grant were added.
The Innovative Grant cycle awards grants to nonprofit organizations for projects that meet criteria outlined within the application as being innovative. Grants are awarded for up to $50,000 for a one-year project or up to $100,000 for a two-year project. The grant opened for applications in June of 2021. Of twenty-seven original applicants, nineteen applications met the criteria to be evaluated for funding. During evaluation for funding, each application goes through a rigorous review process that takes several weeks. The review committee consists of members of the Legacy Foundation Philanthropy Committee, Board members, and staff who spend countless hours reading and reviewing applications before discussing and making final decisions. Of the nineteen applications evaluated, eleven were selected to receive funding.
The Innovative Grant cycle culminated this week with a virtual Innovative Grant Celebration, recognizing and awarding the successful organizations.
This year, eleven organizations were awarded a total of $534,396 in Innovative Grant funds. A virtual grant celebration held on January 19th recognized each of the organizations for their innovative ideas and projects. Michael Groves, Legacy Foundation Chairman of the Board, sharing appreciation on behalf of the Legacy Foundation Board commented, “Thank you for doing the hard work, to move the needle for health and wellness in our communities.”
The awardees are:
Arizona’s Children Association for education and training in Trauma Informed Care
Champions for Youth Foundation for state-of-the-art safe and sanitary public restrooms
City of Douglas for LED Solar Lighting for the Airport Park Walking Path
City of Sierra Vista for ProQA Emergency Police Dispatch Protocol training
Copper Queen Library (City of Bisbee) for an outdoor Library Story Walk
Coronado Lobo Club for a new rubberized School Sports Track
Good Neighbors Alliance for a Day Program to help homeless individuals with training and resources
Huachuca City Community Garden, Inc. for a Teaching Garden designed for elementary students
Love Muziq Operation 13:2 for a Community Gymnasium and sports venue
Mentoring Cochise Kids for an afterschool Youth Mentoring Program
Willcox Theater and Arts, Inc. for an Arts and Programming Community Gathering Space
Margaret Hepburn, Legacy Foundation CEO commented, “We are incredibly proud of all of our awardees and look forward to following your progress on these exciting community projects. Congratulations to all of you!”
The Legacy Foundation Fast Pitch grant cycle opens on January 24th. The Fast Pitch grant awards up to $2500 for a one year project that includes internal education or training, technology or software that builds the internal capacity of an organization.
For more information on the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona, visit our website: https://lfsaz.org
