The Piper Fellows program acknowledges the never-ceasing demands of nonprofit leadership and offers opportunities for nonprofit leaders to reach, retool, and revitalize. A Piper Fellowship offers the potential for up to $90,000 in grant funding to a Fellow’s organization.
2024 applications are now closed. Applications for 2025 open in spring.
Study & Travel
Piper Trust offers up to six fellowship awards of $30,000 (maximum) annually to support professional development for outstanding leaders of nonprofit charity/501(c)(3) organizations serving Maricopa County.
Work Related
A Piper Fellow’s personally designed “professional development plan” can be taken all at once or divided into several time periods or dates and is based on what is best for the organization. Fellow candidates are encouraged to explore educational and professional programs, visit model program sites, and meet with related leaders across the nation.
Professional Development
A Piper Fellowship also includes a $10,000 grant award for staff and board development and eligibility for the Fellow’s organization to apply for a Piper Fellows Organizational Enhancement Award grant of up to $50,000 within six months of Fellowship completion. Fellowships and grant-related Fellowship awards are contingent upon the Fellow’s continued employment at the organization.
OUR FELLOWS
Prize Years
2013
Kathryn Blake
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of Education
Phoenix Art Museum
CURRENT POSITION
Director
Juniata College Museum of Art
Kathryn Blake
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of Education
Phoenix Art Museum
CURRENT POSITION
Director
Juniata College Museum of Art
2013
Patricia Klahr
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President & CEO
Chrysalis
CURRENT POSITION
Consultant
PJKlahr Consulting
Patricia Klahr
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President & CEO
Chrysalis
CURRENT POSITION
Consultant
PJKlahr Consulting
2013
Kimberlie McCue
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Program Director of Conservation of Threatened Species and Habitats
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Science Officer
Desert Botanical Garden
Kimberlie McCue
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Program Director of Conservation of Threatened Species and Habitats
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Science Officer
Desert Botanical Garden
2013
Cindy Ornstein
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of the City of Mesa’s Department of Arts and Culture
Executive Director of Mesa Arts Center
Cindy Ornstein
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of the City of Mesa’s Department of Arts and Culture
Executive Director of Mesa Arts Center
2012
Carlos Galindo-Elvira
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Development Officer
Valle del Sol
CURRENT POSITION
Director of Community Outreach
Chicanos Por La Causa
Carlos Galindo-Elvira
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Development Officer
Valle del Sol
CURRENT POSITION
Director of Community Outreach
Chicanos Por La Causa
2012
Christine Girard
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Vice President
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
CURRENT POSITION
Owner/Consultant
Dr. Christine Girard, LLC
Christine Girard
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Vice President
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
CURRENT POSITION
Owner/Consultant
Dr. Christine Girard, LLC
2012
Terry Hines
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Operating Officer
Child Crisis Center
CURRENT POSITION
Owner / Consultant
DTH Consulting
Terry Hines
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Operating Officer
Child Crisis Center
CURRENT POSITION
Owner / Consultant
DTH Consulting
2012
Doug Hirano
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Community in Action
CURRENT POSITION
Principal
Hirano and Associates, LLC
Doug Hirano
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Community in Action
CURRENT POSITION
Principal
Hirano and Associates, LLC
2012
David W. Noble
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Development Director
Sun Sounds of Arizona
CURRENT POSITION
Marketing and Development Director
VOICEcorps Reading Service
David W. Noble
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Development Director
Sun Sounds of Arizona
CURRENT POSITION
Marketing and Development Director
VOICEcorps Reading Service
2011
Barbara Fenster
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
Barbara Fenster
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
2011
Karl Gentles
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Back to School Clothing Drive
Karl Gentles
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
Back to School Clothing Drive
2011
MaryLynn Mack
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Deputy Director
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Operating Officer
South Coast Botanic Garden
MaryLynn Mack
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Deputy Director
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Operating Officer
South Coast Botanic Garden
2011
Darlene Newsom
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer
UMOM New Day Centers
CURRENT POSITION
Founder
Newsom Nonprofit Consulting
Darlene Newsom
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer
UMOM New Day Centers
CURRENT POSITION
Founder
Newsom Nonprofit Consulting
2011
Jared Sakren
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Producing Artistic Director
Southwest Shakespeare Company
CURRENT POSITION
Artistic Director
6th Street Playhouse Santa Rosa, CA
Jared Sakren
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Producing Artistic Director
Southwest Shakespeare Company
CURRENT POSITION
Artistic Director
6th Street Playhouse Santa Rosa, CA
2010
Martin Quintana
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Operations Officer
Chicanos Por La Causa
Martin Quintana
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Operations Officer
Chicanos Por La Causa
CURRENT POSITION
Chief Financial Officer
Copa Health
2010
Sunnee O’Rork
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
i.d.e.a Museum
Sunnee O’Rork
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director
i.d.e.a Museum
2010
Avein Saaty-Tafoya
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer
Adelante Healthcare
CURRENT POSITION
President & CEO
Friendly House
Avein Saaty-Tafoya
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer
Adelante Healthcare
CURRENT POSITION
President & CEO
Friendly House
2010
Julie Zalimas
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Manager of Children's Services
EMPACT - The Suicide Prevention Center, Inc.
CURRENT POSITION
Director of Children's Services
La Frontera Arizona/EMPACT - Suicide Prevention Center
Julie Zalimas
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Manager of Children's Services
EMPACT - The Suicide Prevention Center, Inc.
CURRENT POSITION
Director of Children's Services
La Frontera Arizona/EMPACT - Suicide Prevention Center
2009
Elaine McGinn
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of Planning and Exhibits
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Director of Visitor Experience and Community Engagement
Desert Botanical Garden
Elaine McGinn
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
Director of Planning and Exhibits
Desert Botanical Garden
CURRENT POSITION
Senior Director of Visitor Experience and Community Engagement
Desert Botanical Garden
2009
Dr. Paul Mittman
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President
Sonoran University of Health Sciences (Formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences)
Dr. Paul Mittman
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President
Sonoran University of Health Sciences (Formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences)
2009
Peggy Mullan
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President & CEO
Beatitudes Campus
Peggy Mullan
POSITION WHEN AWARDED PIPER FELLOWSHIP
President & CEO
Beatitudes Campus
