OPEN — CFSA CORE 2026–2027 general operating grant application window is November 2–30, 2026. Applications due November 30 at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time. Eligibility and portal attachments must be confirmed.
Arizona — CFSA CORE 2026–2027 General Operating Grants ($15,000–$30,000)
Community Foundation for Southern Arizona CORE Grants provide $15,000–$30,000 in flexible one-year general operating support to eligible established midsized Southern Arizona nonprofits. Applications open November 2, 2026 and close November 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time.
Funding$15,000–$30,000 per eligible applicant for one year of flexible general operating funding; official guidance does not state a fixed overall pool, universal match, or reimbursement requirement.
DeadlineNovember 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time. Applications open November 2, 2026.
Last verified2026-11-04
Required next actionReview official guidance at https://cfsaz.org/grants/core-grants/. Confirm 501(c)(3) status or eligible fiscal sponsorship; at least two years of Southern Arizona operations; $100,000–$2,000,000 annual expenses; qualifying local operations; and current CFSA reporting. Register in the CFSA grant portal, prepare the general operating support application and attachments required by the portal, and submit between November 2 and November 30, 2026, before 5:00 p.m. Arizona time.
Broad Eligibility
Southern Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing or eligible fiscally sponsored organizations with at least two years of local operations, governing board/leadership, current CFSA reporting, and $100,000–$2,000,000 in annual operating expenses. Geographic coverage: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma and eligible Pinal County south of the Gila River. Established local affiliates of national organizations may qualify.
Atlas Analysis
Official controlling grant instructions reviewed October 27, 2026: https://cfsaz.org/grants/core-grants/. Distinct CORE mid-sized nonprofit general support track, not procurement. Individual applicant request range $15,000–$30,000 for one year; no individual maximum beyond $30,000. November 2 opening and November 30 deadline at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time. Spending is unrestricted organizational support rather than program-specific purchases. Excludes individual schools, government, commercial applicants, capital fund drives, endowments, debt reduction and sectarian activities. No universal matching or reimbursement condition published on the program page; portal-only attachments should be confirmed after opening. Separate Corazón program is restricted to organizations with expenses greater than $2 million.
Southern Arizona CORE Grants — 2026–2027
The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) has announced its CORE Grants for established mid-sized charitable organizations serving Southern Arizona. The program makes $15,000–$30,000 available to an individual eligible nonprofit for one year of flexible general operating support. Applications open November 2, 2026 and close November 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time. Applications are not yet open as of October 27, 2026.
Who may apply
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing or qualifying fiscally sponsored organizations that have operated in Southern Arizona for at least two years. An established governing board or appropriate fiscally sponsored leadership structure is required. Eligible entities must be based in Southern Arizona or have a qualifying locally staffed operation and meaningful local governance. The region includes Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties, plus applicable portions of Pinal County south of the Gila River. Applicants must be current with CFSA reporting and have annual operating expenses between $100,000 and $2,000,000. National affiliates need a separate Southern Arizona operating budget, local staff and local governance.
Funding and uses
Organizations may request $15,000–$30,000 per applicant for general operating needs, including services, staff and benefits, technology or infrastructure, development, fundraising and communications. The funder does not require a project-specific spending plan in its published guidance. Applicant request amounts within the range are not scored. The available total program pool was not stated as an individual applicant award. No universal match, cost-sharing percentage or reimbursement condition is specified in the current public program instructions.
Restrictions and application steps
CFSA generally excludes individuals, for-profit entities, government agencies, individual schools, sports teams, capital fundraising drives, agency endowments, debt reduction, and religious organizations seeking sectarian support. Fiscally sponsored projects are eligible if their sponsor qualifies. The application requires CFSA grant-portal registration. Selection criteria include community responsiveness, organizational governance and sustainability, results, and demonstrated effectiveness. Decisions are expected in March 2027, with grant funding in April 2027. Applicants must check the portal for the final required attachments and certify accurate materials.
Official funder application details: Community Foundation for Southern Arizona — CORE Grants. Source verified October 27, 2026.
Source verificationReferenced source · cfsaz.orgAtlas last verified this record 2026-11-04. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
