OVERVIEW: The Garcia Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education and youth, health and human services.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. Contact information is provided below.
PROFILE: Established in 1996, the Garcia Family Foundation was founded by billionaire Ernie Garcia II and family. Garcia operates DriveTime Automotive, one of the largest car retailers in the country. He is also the biggest shareholder of Carvana, a used car e-commerce company, which his son Ernest Garcia III founded. The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts further information regarding its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. According to tax filings, the Garcia Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education and youth, health and human services.
Ernie Garcia supports his school, the University of Arizona. The family recently directed a large grant to the University of Arizona Foundation, supporting PANDA, which deals with “discovery processes to improve treatments and cures for devastating childhood diseases” and the Arizona Assurance Program, which provides academic, financial and social support for low-income Arizona students. Another important grantee is Human Services Campus (HSC), a “collaborative force composed of many partner organizations working together to end homelessness in our community.” HSC is home to the Brian Garcia Welcome Center, which bears the name of Ernie’s late son who volunteered at the organization.
Grants range from $3,000 to $560,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $950,000. Past grantees have included Barrow Neurological Foundation, Brophy College Prep, Xavier College Prep and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.
While the foundation keeps a low profile, it does accept applications. There are no deadlines. Application should include organization name, address, contact person, requested amount; specific project or program name; current operating budget; summary of project budget; as well as an IRS determination letter, list of board of directors, latest annual report and audited financial statement for most recent fiscal year. An address and phone number are provided below.
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CONTACT:
Garcia Family Foundation
1720 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Suite A
Tempe, AZ 85281
(602) 778-5011