The Application Process

Letter:

Please prepare a letter of no more than three pages responding to the following questions:

• Why are you working in your field?
• What significant lessons have you learned in your work?
• What do you see yourself doing in five years?
• How would you use the award resources and release time for personal development of your capacity to enhance leadership, client service and operational effectiveness within your organization? Be specific about proposed activities or course of study and length of time.
• How would your experience as a Piper Fellow benefit your organization?
  

Support Materials:

In addition to the application letter, please submit the following information on standard 8.5" x 11" paper:

• One-page description of your organization, its mission and services.
• Résumé that covers, at minimum, the past 10 years of your career.
• Proposed budget for the sabbatical expenditures.
• A list of three Maricopa County-area references with complete contact information.
• Brief letter of endorsement, signed by your organization’s board chair or other appropriate person, including: 1) plan for
  organizational management during your absence and upon your return; 2) guarantee of maintenance of your regular salary and health and other benefits during the award period; and 3) agreement that you will not go to the place of work or be distracted by work issues during your leave.
  

Deadline:

Mailed applications must be postmarked by September 15. Please do not email or fax applications. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Submit to:

Piper Fellows Program
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
1202 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85014

September 15
Postmark deadline for receipt of completed applications at the Trust's office.

September 15, 5 p.m.
Deadline for receipt of couriered applications at the Trust's office.

Late November
Finalists' interviews at the Trust's office.

Early December
Notification/Announcement of awards.

Selection:

Each year, the fellow selection process is conducted by an independent committee of distinguished Valley citizens knowledgeable about the importance of the nonprofit sector and its contributions to the region. The selection committee operates independently and makes its recommendations directly to the Piper Trust Board of Trustees for its consideration.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Jolley Mohraz at 480.948.5853 or jmohraz@pipertrust.org.

For more information about the Piper Fellows program, download the Piper Fellows Brochure.