Grants

MAVERIK Charitable Giving

The Maverik Charitable Giving program's areas of interest include education, including higher education, mentorship and preparation, and at-risk populations; local hunger, including local food banks, childhood hunger programs, and regional food bank networks; and, outdoor enrichment, including outdoor educational experiences for at-risk or minority groups, and conservation programs. 

The program's areas of interest include:

• education, including higher education, mentorship and preparation, and at-risk populations;

• including local food banks, childhood hunger programs, and regional food bank networks; and, 

• outdoor enrichment, including outdoor educational experiences, outdoor experiences for at-risk or minority groups, and conservation programs.  

Note: Maverik also offers corporate sponsorships for non-501(c)(3) entities. 

Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed quarterly.

Award: To Be Determined

Use this link to access information on how to apply:
Community - Maverik - Adventure's First Stop

Purpose of Program: The main goal of the S-STEM program is to enable academically talented, low-income students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields. Ultimately, the S-STEM program seeks to increase the number of academically promising low-income students who graduate with an S-STEM eligible degree and contribute to the American innovation economy with their STEM knowledge. Recognizing that financial aid alone cannot increase retention and graduation in STEM, the program provides awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) not only to fund scholarships, but also to adapt, implement, and study evidence-based curricular and co-curricular[a] activities that have been shown to be effective in supporting recruitment, retention, transfer (if appropriate), student success, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM.

Note: Non-Profit 501(c)(3) entities. 

Application Deadline: March 2, 2026.

Award: $2,000,000.00 up to 6 years

Use this link to access information on how to apply:
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation

Purpose of Program: The Harold C. and Deborah L. Elliott Family Foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of human life, primarily in Phoenix and Yuma, AZ, and Folsom, CA.

Funding has traditionally gone to community healthcare projects, scholarships for higher education, housing the homeless, shelter services for women and children, environmental preservation and conservation, and services for disadvantaged seniors.

Note: Non-Profit 501(c)(3) entities. 

Application Deadline: Mid-September

Award: $10,000.00 - $50,000.00

Use this link to access information on how to apply:
Elliott Foundation | California & Arizona Home Builder | Elliott Homes

Purpose of Program: The Garcia Family Foundation primarily provides support to nonprofit organizations in Arizona and the Dallas, TX, metro area.

The Foundation's areas of interest include:

• post-secondary education;
• homelessness, from prevention to housing;
• child welfare, primarily systems work; and,
• data and technology in human services.

Types of support include scholarships, general operating, and project support.

Note: Non-Profit 501(c)(3) entities. 

Application Deadline: October 1, no later than March 1 annually

Award: TBD (Range $5,000.00 - $100,000.00+)

Application information can be directed to:

1720 West Rio Salado Parkway
Suite A , Tempe, AZ 85281

jon.ehlinger@garciafamilyfoundationaz.org

Purpose of Program: Through an open, competitive cycle the APS funds will benefit and support eligible nonprofits through grants in the areas of arts & culture, community development, education, environment, and human services.

Eligible Applicants: Non-Profit 501(c)(3)

Application Deadline: Grant requests are open from February 1 until October 1 annually

Opens February 1, 2026

Award: TBD

Use this link to access information on how to apply:
Community Impact Grants

Purpose of Program: The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations that serve the residents of southern Arizona.

Grants are provided in the following three main focus areas:

• education from infancy through adulthood, including pre-school, K-12, college, specialty trades, and community interest programs;
• health, including healthy lifestyles and programs assisting individuals deal with physical or mental illness; and,
• welfare, including food insecurity, homelessness, and programs providing essential resources for everyday life.

Types of support include building funds, technical assistance, project support, general operating support, and emergency funding.

Eligible Applicants: Non-Profit 501(c)(3)

Application Deadline: Opens April 1, 2026

Award: $250 - $250,000; average award $10,000

Link: The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation | Southern Arizona Foundation

Hispanic Serving Institutions: Enriching Learning, Programs, and Student Experiences

Eligible Applicants: Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

Purpose of Program: The goals of the NSF HSI Program are to:

1. Enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at HSIs.
2. Increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in STEM at HSIs.

Description: Institutions are encouraged to consider how their mission and designation as an HSI could reimagine and/or strengthen courses, degree programs, departments, or divisions. The HSI:ELPSE solicitation supports projects that are purposefully designed to meet students where they are, accounting for both their assets and the challenges they may face. Institutions are expected to use institutional data to identify equity gaps, identify areas of need, and unpack the factors that shape students’ individual realities and shared experiences. Perspectives gained from these data should be central to the design of the project.

Application Deadline: February 11, 2026

Award Ceiling: Up to $1,000,000 for 5 years

Link: Search Results Detail | Grants.gov

Sony Social Responsibility

Eligible Applicants: Non-Profit 501(c)(3)

Purpose of Program: Within the U.S., Sony focuses the majority of its charitable giving on art, culture, technology and the environment, with a particular emphasis on education in each of those areas. While support in other areas may also be considered, the Company seeks to apply its financial, technological, and human resources to the encouragement of the creative, artistic, technical, and scientific skills required of tomorrow's workforce.  

Description: The company welcomes requests for support throughout the year within the guidelines set below. To apply online, please visit the YourCause GrantsConnect online portal.

Requests must include the following information:

• A brief, written description of the organization, including its legal name, history, activities, purpose, and proof of registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit status.
• History of previous support from Sony, if applicable.
• The amount being requested, if applicable.
• A description of the purpose for which the grant is requested.

Application Deadline: Applications are welcome throughout the year through an online portal on their website.

Award Ceiling: TBD

Link: Social Responsibility - Giving Guidelines | Sony Corporation of America

Eligible Applicants: Non-Profit 501(c)(3)

Purpose of Program: The Union Pacific Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities served by Union Pacific, primarily in the midwestern and western United States. (A map of Union Pacific's communities is available on the Union Pacific website.)

The Foundation's Community Ties Giving Program provides Local Grants in the following areas:

Safety
Priority is given to programs that seek to:

• encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety;
• eliminate risks and improve safe access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, for instance signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements;
• prepare and equip residents and emergency responders to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur;
• prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence; and,
• build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. 

Workforce Development
Priority is given to programs that seek to:

• put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future;
• raise awareness of, and educate and prepare young adults for, middle-skills jobs through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement or on-the-job experience, with emphasis on areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations, such as welding, electrical work, etc.;
• "upskill" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career, with emphasis on areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations;
• resolve barriers to employment, such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs; and,
• build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Note: Programs with a focus on cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce through the intentional support of women and people of color, as well as those with a focus on rural communities, will be given special consideration.

Community Vitality
Priority is given to programs and projects that seek to:

• create, sustain, or expand upon artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.);
• provide recreational opportunities that foster well-being, enrichment, and an appreciation for the natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.);
• revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce, and attract more residents, businesses, and visitors to town;
• ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health, and community health needs, etc.);
• offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.); and,
• build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

Environmental Sustainability
Priority is given to programs and projects that seek to:

• preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity;
• protect and enhance water, soil, or air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction programs;
• reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste;
• develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership;
• advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably;
• promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects; and,
• build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization.

The Foundation prioritizes funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations.

Types of support include:

• project support;
• capacity building;
• equipment; and,
• building funds.

Application Deadline: Opens April 1 through 30, 2026

Award Ceiling: $5,000 - $30,000

Link:  Annual Local Grants | Union Pacific