Arizona foundations handed out $99 million over 2-year span

By Susie Steckner

Arizona's largest foundations gave away more than $99 million to meet the state's needs, from preserving the environment to propping up public health care to expanding youth programs, according to a new study.

Using data from 2000 and 2001, the study shows charitable giving got a boost from new foundations and increases in foundations' total assets. For example, four relatively new foundations added more than $1 billion in overall assets in 2001, compared with 2000.

Some of the data predates the recent economic downturn and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But the study still offers the most comprehensive look available at the state's public and private foundations. It was conducted by Assistant Professor William Brown at Arizona State University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership & Management, with help from the Grantmakers Forum.

• Six foundations each had assets of more than $100 million in 2001, up from one foundation in 1993.
• Arizona had 686 public and private foundations in 2000, up from 636 in 1998. The total was 436 in 1993.
• Most of the state's foundations are private, with 535 in 2000, compared with about 56,500 nationwide.