PICOR is an independently-owned commercial real estate company based in Tucson, Arizona, and has been in operation since 1985. The company specializes in real estate services in Southern Arizona and works through Cushman & Wakefield’s global services platform to expand its reach. Since 1994, PICOR has channeled its charitable efforts through the PICOR Charitable Foundation, which is an accessible local funder in the Tucson area.
Here are a few things to know about the PICOR Charitable Foundation, including how and where it gives in Arizona and what nonprofits need to do to secure a grant.
Youth and STEM education
Local youth are the primary focus for PICOR’s grantmaking, and that has been the case since the foundation first formed. This corporate funder aims to further the efforts of Tucson youth programs its local grantmaking and through an annual pancake breakfast event. The company ensures that 100% of the proceeds from the employee-run event go to organizations it funds, and that in-kind donations and corporate support cover overhead costs. Overall, PICOR supports programs and organizations that often receive less public funding than their counterparts, making modest grants that can make a real difference in the lives of local youth.
More recently, the foundation has also been focusing on STEM education as a way to honor PICOR’s founding office manager, Ken Nickel (1924-2013). Nickel pursued a career in chemical engineering and worked for DuPont and IBM before joining PICOR. The foundation honors his love for science and technology through the Ken Nickel Memorial Grant, which helps disadvantaged youth pursue STEM learning.
A focus on Tucson
PICOR is based in Tucson, and that’s where the bulk of the foundation’s giving stays. Mike Hammond, the founder of PICOR, launched the foundation once the Tucson Kiwanis Club ceased to operate. This Kiwanis Club sponsored a local fundraising event for 32 years, and the PICOR Charitable Foundation took over where it left off. Some past PICOR grant recipients include Tucson Youth Development, Inc., Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, the Tucson Festival of Books and the YMCA of Southern Arizona.
The application process
This is an accessible foundation with a straightforward grant application process. The PICOR Charitable Foundation typically requires applicants to return their materials by September 30 to be considered for the yearly grant cycle. It makes funding decisions during the first week of November and distributes grants at the end of November. PICOR grants are between $500 and $2,500, and applicants should mail or hand-deliver their requests to the foundation’s Tucson office.
You can read more about the PICOR Charitable Foundation and other grantmakers that give in the region in IP’s Southwest Funding Guide.