OneAZ Community Foundation – 2027 Community Impact Grants

$5,000 Grants for Arizona Nonprofits Strengthening Communities and Expanding Opportunity

The OneAZ Community Foundation 2027 Community Impact Grant Program will provide $5,000 competitive grants to Arizona nonprofit organizations working to improve lives, expand opportunity, and strengthen communities across the state.

Funding supports three primary pillars: Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Community Vitality, and Developing Future Leaders.

Eligible organizations must be headquartered in Arizona, have annual operating budgets between $250,000 and $5 million, and have held 501(c)(3) status for at least two years.

Applications open February 1, 2027 at 8:00 a.m. and close February 12, 2027 at 4:00 p.m. Grant recipients will be announced in April 2027.

Organization: OneAZ Community Foundation / OneAZ Credit Union
Support Type: Community Impact Grants
Funding Amount: $5,000
Geographic Focus: Arizona
Applications Open: February 1, 2027 at 8:00 a.m.
Deadline: February 12, 2027 at 4:00 p.m.
Recipients Announced: April 2027

New to corporate grant fundraising?

Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

➡️ https://corporategrantsguide.com/corporate-grants-101/

About the Funder

OneAZ Community Foundation is the charitable arm of OneAZ Credit Union and invests in nonprofit organizations creating meaningful impact throughout Arizona.

The Foundation’s giving is supported in part by OneAZ members: every OneAZ debit card purchase generates a contribution to the Foundation.

Since 2016, the Foundation reports awarding more than $3.64 million in grants and supporting more than 600 nonprofit organizations across Arizona.

Its grantmaking is designed to strengthen communities, expand economic opportunity, and invest in Arizona’s future leaders.

What This Program Supports

Community Impact Grants support projects aligned with one of three primary funding pillars.

Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship

Programs that promote economic independence and expand financial opportunity.

Examples may include initiatives focused on:

• Financial inclusion
• Financial literacy
• Credit building
• Workforce and economic mobility
• Entrepreneurship
• Small-business development
• Economic independence
• Career readiness

Programs should demonstrate how their work helps individuals and communities create greater financial stability and opportunity.

Community Vitality

Programs that support sustainable community growth and improve quality of life.

This broad category may include initiatives that:

• Improve access to essential services
• Address food insecurity
• Support housing stability
• Strengthen community connections
• Improve health and wellbeing
• Enrich cultural life
• Help vulnerable populations meet basic needs
• Strengthen neighborhoods and local communities

Recent OneAZ grantees have included organizations working in areas such as food security, housing repairs, healthcare access, youth services, and community development.

Developing Future Leaders

Programs that equip young people and emerging leaders with the skills, experiences, and opportunities needed to succeed.

Funding may support:

• Youth mentorship
• Civic engagement
• Leadership development
• Professional development
• Career preparation
• Educational enrichment
• Programs building leadership and life skills

Organizations should clearly demonstrate how their programming helps participants develop into future community, civic, or professional leaders.

Funding Amount

Selected organizations will receive a:

$5,000 Community Impact Grant

The program is competitive, and applicants should clearly demonstrate alignment with one of OneAZ Community Foundation’s three funding pillars.

Eligibility

To be considered, an organization must:

• Be recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Have been in operation and held 501(c)(3) status for at least two years
• Preferably have at least five years of operating history
• Have filed an IRS Form 990 within the previous year
• Have audited financial statements prepared by an independent accountant, preferably within the previous 18 months, or have a financial review performed by an independent accountant
• Be headquartered in Arizona
• Have the majority of its staff based in Arizona
• Provide the majority of its services in Arizona
• Use the requested grant funding primarily in Arizona
• Have an annual organizational budget of at least $250,000
• Have an annual organizational budget of no more than $5 million
• Align with at least one OneAZ Community Foundation funding pillar

Important Prior-Grantee Restriction

Organizations that received funding from the OneAZ Community Foundation in the previous year are not eligible to apply in the current year.

Organizations that received a OneAZ grant in 2026 should therefore not apply for the 2027 Community Impact Grant cycle.

Ineligible Requests & Organizations

OneAZ Community Foundation does not fund:

• Individuals
• Event fundraising sponsorships
• Political candidates
• Political campaigns
• Activities designed to influence legislation or elections
• Social or political issues outside the United States
• Organizations that discriminate in their delivery of programs or services
• Religious organizations, churches, or programs that are purely denominational in purpose
• Foundations or organizations that primarily make grants to others
• Individual schools
• School booster clubs
• PTA or PTO organizations
• School athletic teams
• School bands
• School performing arts groups
• Alumni associations or reunions
• National organizations without local Arizona chapters
• Consumer interest organizations

Organizations should carefully review these exclusions before investing time in an application.

Financial Requirements

The OneAZ Community Foundation has more substantial financial documentation requirements than many small corporate grant programs.

Applicants must have:

• A recently filed Form 990
• Audited financial statements prepared by an independent accountant, preferably within the last 18 months, or
• A financial review conducted by an independent accountant

This makes the opportunity particularly well suited to established small- and mid-sized nonprofits rather than very early-stage organizations.

2027 Grants Webinar

OneAZ Community Foundation will host a webinar for prospective applicants before applications open.

📅 Grants Webinar: January 22, 2027 at 9:00 a.m.

The webinar will provide an overview of the grant program and application process and offer prospective applicants an opportunity to ask questions.

Organizations considering applying should strongly consider attending, particularly given the program’s short application window.

Timeline & Review

📅 Grants Webinar: January 22, 2027 at 9:00 a.m.
📅 Applications Open: February 1, 2027 at 8:00 a.m.
📅 Application Deadline: February 12, 2027 at 4:00 p.m.
📅 Recipients Announced: April 2027

The application window is only 12 days, so organizations should prepare eligibility documentation and project information before February 1.

Application / Request Process

Applications will be submitted through the OneAZ Community Foundation’s online application process.

Before the application opens, organizations should confirm that they:

• Meet the Arizona headquarters requirement
• Fall within the $250,000–$5 million annual budget range
• Have held 501(c)(3) status for at least two years
• Did not receive OneAZ Community Foundation funding in 2026
• Have the required Form 990 and independent financial documentation
• Can clearly align their request with one of the Foundation’s three funding pillars

The 2027 application portal will become available when the grant cycle opens on February 1.

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://www.oneazcu.com/community/apply/

OneAZ Community Foundation:

➡️ https://www.oneazcu.com/community/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for Arizona nonprofits that:

• Have annual budgets between $250,000 and $5 million
• Have been operating for at least two years
• Serve primarily Arizona residents
• Have solid financial systems and required financial documentation
• Work in financial literacy or economic mobility
• Support entrepreneurship or workforce development
• Address essential community needs such as food, housing, or health
• Strengthen community vitality and quality of life
• Provide youth mentorship or leadership development
• Can demonstrate meaningful and measurable local impact

The broad Community Vitality category makes this grant relevant to a wide variety of Arizona nonprofits, while the economic empowerment and future-leader pillars create additional opportunities for workforce, financial education, entrepreneurship, youth, and leadership programs.

One thing applicants should watch closely is the very short February application window. Organizations that appear eligible should prepare well in advance rather than waiting until the portal opens.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Grant Amount: $5,000
Applications Open: February 1, 2027 at 8:00 a.m.
Deadline: February 12, 2027 at 4:00 p.m.
Recipients Announced: April 2027
Geographic Focus: Arizona
Applicant Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Minimum Organizational History: Two years; five years preferred
Annual Budget Requirement: $250,000–$5 million
Funding Pillars: Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Community Vitality, and Developing Future Leaders
Prior Recipient Restriction: Organizations funded by OneAZ Community Foundation in 2026 are not eligible for the 2027 cycle
Application Window: Only 12 days
Best Suited For: Established Arizona nonprofits with strong financial documentation and measurable programs improving economic opportunity, community vitality, or leadership development
Separate Opportunity: OneAZ also provides larger Legacy Grants, but those are invitation-only and unsolicited applications or LOIs are not accepted