Philanthropy and Vision
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust is the legacy of Virginia Galvin Piper, whose philanthropy and vision shaped the spirit and mission of the Trust. A longtime Valley resident, Mrs. Piper’s philanthropic endeavors began under the tutelage of her first husband, Motorola founder Paul Galvin, and continued as she supported a variety of nonprofit organizations focusing on healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religion.
Mrs. Piper established the Trust in 1995 and appointed four lifetime trustees to oversee the work of the private foundation. In 1999 shortly after Mrs. Piper died, the trustees began the formal work of the Trust. When Mrs. Piper’s estate was settled in 2000, the Trust received $589 million, making it one of the 100 largest foundations in the nation and the largest foundation in Arizona.
Grantmaking
In December 2000, the trustees awarded eight Cornerstone Grants totaling $41 million to a select group of organizations Mrs. Piper historically supported. The first round of competitive grants was awarded in February 2002 to 68 organizations and totaled nearly $11.5 million.
Today, Piper Trust is committed to making grants that reflect Virginia Piper's belief that she was a steward who should dedicate her efforts to changing lives and strengthening her community. By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, the Trust supports programs that make Maricopa County a stronger, healthier and more livable community.
As a funder in a single community, the Trust strives to be a partner, educator and problem solver as well as a grantmaker. Nonprofits are critical elements in the social and economic advancement of our community, and Trust grants and programs focus on helping agencies become more effective in realizing their missions.
Each year, Piper Trust awards an average of $26 million to nonprofits that serve the people of Maricopa County. Since 2000, the Trust has awarded more than $148 million to support grants to individual nonprofit organizations as well as for a variety of strategic large-scale initiatives that hold promise for long-term community impact. These investments include a five-year commitment to attract 10 of the world’s most distinguished leaders in the development of personalized medicine to the Valley; an educational support program for new parents; innovative centers to engage older adults; and a regional arts and culture initiative.
See the Timeline for a more detailed history and the Grant Information section for grant details.