OVERVIEW: The Phoenix Suns Charities is a NBA team funder that supports children and families throughout Arizona. Areas of interest are healthcare, education and career development and basketball and recreation.
IP TAKE: Compared to other sports team funders, this well-established foundation shares informative application guidelines with grant seekers and makes it easy to get in touch. Three annual grant cycles have due dates that fall on the first of August, November and February, and the grant application is entirely online. This is a great funder to know for organizations working with kids in Arizona.
PROFILE: Established in 1988, Phoenix Suns Charities (PSC) is the philanthropic arm of the Phoenix Suns NBA team. It benefits organizations that assist children and families in Arizona. The original Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo had a vision for PSC and initially assembled community leaders to oversee operations. Managing partner Robert Sarver has extended the reach of PSC since then to bring in more community stakeholders. Grantmaking areas of interest are health, education and career development and basketball and recreation.
Today, PSC distributes over a million dollars each year to local charities and has given out over many millions to Arizona organizations since its inception. The foundation raises funds through events like the Suns Golf Classic, the Jump Ball, Suns Charities 88, and the Slam Dunk Street Party. Grant money also comes from employee giving, game night auctions, special license plates, and other donors. PSC grantees include Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels in Phoenix, Arizona Brainfood in Mesa, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, and El Rio Health Center Foundation in Tucson. PSC also awards scholarships to local students. Since 2012, Suns Charities 88 has been bringing together Phoenix business professionals to give back to the community through PSC, as well.
This funder makes over $1.5 million in grants each year. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. PSC requires nonprofit applicants to be Arizona organizations in operation for at least three years. All grant money must serve Arizonans, and all organizations must serve children under 18 or families.
This sports team funder is open to receiving unsolicited grant applications and links detailed guidelines to its webpage. Grant applications are typically due on the first of August, November and February. Direct general questions to the charities’ staff at grants@azfoundation.org or 602-381-1400.
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