OVERVIEW: Cardinals Charities is a NFL team funder that focuses grantmaking on women, children, and minorities in Arizona.
FUNDING AREAS: Women, children, and minorities in Arizona
IP TAKE: Whether or not a nonprofit is involved with sports, this is a great funder to know in Arizona. Funding areas are broad, which means that a wide variety of human resources nonprofits receive Cardinals funding.
PROFILE: Established in 1990, Cardinals Charities is the philanthropic arm of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team. It seeks “to improve the quality of life and enhance opportunities for children, women, and minorities in the state of Arizona.” The foundation was established to support opportunities for underserved populations in Arizona. Grant seekers can learn more about the history of this franchise and the team’s connection to Arizona here. Grantmaking areas of interest are women, children and minorities.
Cardinals Charities grants are awarded once per year to nonprofits throughout the state. Since inception, this funder has given out millions of dollars to charitable organizations. Foundation guidelines require that at least 75 percent of all funding must be spent within Arizona. The foundation usually awards over 100 grants per year to groups with missions that align with its own. Grantees include Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, Ballet Arizona, Benson Area Food Bank, various Boys and Girls clubs, Duet: Partners in Health & Aging, and the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation. Other grants have gone to Maryvale Preparatory Academy, the Phoenix Boys Choir, and St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic.
In addition to the foundation grants, there are other community programs affiliated with the Cardinals, including the Community Quarterback Award, Neighborhood Heroes, Arizona Ford Dealers Sacks for Scholarships and the Arizona Cardinals Women’s Club. Various players and coaches have their own ways of giving too. For example, the Larry Fitzgerald’s First Down Fund, established in 2004, supports children and families. Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians and his wife Christine, a longtime family law attorney, established the Arians Family Foundation in 2013 to help abused and neglected children. Patrick Peterson established the Patrick Peterson’s Foundation for Success in 2013 to support low-income and inner-city youth, Drew Stanton’s High 5ive Foundation has been operating since 2008 to support people with disabilities, and the Professional Football Players Mothers Association is a nonprofit corporation made up of mothers to enhance the public perception of their sons. In partnership with Albertsons, Safeway and the University of Phoenix, the Arizona Cardinals’ NFL FLAG program organizes non-contact football leagues for kids between the ages of five and 17.
Foundation grants tend to range from $10,000 to $50,000. Learn more about the funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking is typically limited to groups that operate in and serve Arizona communities.
Nonprofits are welcome to apply each year for grants. Grant application cycles typically open in early April, with deadlines in June or July. The grant application process is all online; the website provides specific information about this during the open application period. Direct general questions to the staff at askquestions@cardinals.nfl.net. The general phone number for the Cardinals is 800-999-1402.
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