Steve Zabilski contributes as guest editor for In Business Magazine

By Steve Zabilski; originally published by In Business Magazine.

Read the Grantmaking story: Grants: Creating & Securing Grants in Today's Climate

Grants represent more than funding for recipients — they are investments that empower communities to adapt and become stronger. Philanthropy at its finest can result in ripple effects far beyond its original intention.

Phoenix is home to a robust network of private foundations as well as nonprofit arms of for-profit businesses. Each tends to focus its attention and philanthropic efforts on community organizations that align with its particular aims or area of interest. The cover story this month delves into trends shaping how those funding decisions are made and how partnerships are formed.

While Phoenix ranks as the fifth largest city in the U.S., I’ve found that its philanthropic, business and government sectors often work together in uniquely collaborative ways with the same goals in mind: to fortify our communities and enrich quality of life for all. Much is underway in rooms, on Zooms, and at the bevy of interesting coffee shops and eateries that brighten our streets. Here, we are working together, across boardrooms, to find solutions to the pressing social challenges that touch us all.

Strong communities are not built by one sector alone. They are built when philanthropy, business and government recognize their shared stake in long-term prosperity.

Certainly, organizations make a difference through their giving. They can also make a difference through the people they choose to include. Valley of the Sun United Way’s Vannessa Moreno shares how hiring untapped talent through second-chance employment opportunities can unlock workforce potential as well as boost organizational culture and retention in this month’s Nonprofit feature.

Beyond philanthropy, business leaders are navigating an increasingly complex operating environment. They may find that processes for employment and consulting globally are getting more complicated, as Alycia Moss and Catherine Renshaw explain in the Legal feature “New Rules for H-1B Visas – Employers Take Note.”

Mental health has come out of the shadows and into mainstream dialogue in all sectors over the past few years. In the feature article “Mental Health Is a Leadership Imperative,” Levi King shares the results of a “study mapping the mental health landscape of small business ownership,” grounding the discussion in his own experience.

In addition to direct giving, a thriving community requires following the constantly changing dynamics of the modern marketplace. James Jorgensen examines how the tension between progress and caution continues to shape the insurance landscape, drilling down on the topic in the Economy feature “Top Business Insurance Trends Reshaping Risk Management in 2026.” And John Mitman explores the many forces at play today that have made energy strategy a core business decision in “Powering the Next Wave of Development in Arizona.”

Other topics range from optimizing websites for SEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) to workplace safety, with business-relevant content in the regular monthly sections that focus on healthcare, technology, the semiconductor industry and much more.

And, of course, continuing In Business Magazine’s annual support of Arizona Gives Day in collaboration with AZ Impact for Good, this March edition includes the 2026 Giving Guide to help businesses participate in the giving event on April 7.

I’m pleased to help bring you this March edition. It is rich with resources, ideas and inspiration that all can draw on — regardless of the sector you work in, volunteer or support. I hope you enjoy the read.

Sincerely,

Steve Zabilski
President and CEO
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust:

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $765 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information, visit pipertrust.org | Facebook | LinkedIn | X. For Piper Trust’s Annual Financial Report, Fiscal Year Ending March 2024, visit FY2024.

Media Contact:

Karen Leland, kleland@pipertrust.org | 480-556-7125
Chief Communications Officer, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

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