Welcome to Connections!

Dear Arizona Connections Readers,

Welcome to this summer edition announcing the Trust's second round of grants for 2011 in Arizona, totaling $1.7 million to 24 nonprofit organizations.

We again remained responsive to requests that are helping to shore up individuals and families still struggling to stabilize their daily lives post-economic recession. Many other grants are investments in programs and projects that are nurturing the Valley's next generation—infants, children and youth—to prepare them for productive and fulfilling futures.

This round also was very significant for organizations dedicated to protecting animals and nature. The 10 grantees range from animal welfare organizations to environmental and conservation organizations working to improve management and preservation of Arizona's most limited and vital natural resource, water.

Looking forward, I want to share with you a new emphasis you will begin to notice in the Trust's 2012 grants. The Trust's mission statement is unchanged, and Nina Mason Pulliam's values will continue to guide us. However, there are some refinements in each of the three program areas. One lesson we have learned from the economic downturn is that it is imperative that Trust-funded programs and projects yield results with potential to create long-term impact. For example, in the Helping People in Need program area, there will be more emphasis on organizations that not only are providing basic services to families and individuals in crisis but also are working with them to become self-sufficient to reasonable degrees of their abilities. This could include partnerships among organizations to create a continuum of support to reach the ultimate goal.

Also, to enable staff to engage more with potential grantees prior to submitting proposals we are reducing the annual competitive grant cycles from three to two. You can learn more about our modified program areas and rationale for change by reviewing the Trust's 2012 Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions on our website.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program embodies the qualities that we want to encourage and stimulate throughout the Trust's grantmaking. We were pleased to welcome the 11th cohort of Nina Scholars at a recent luncheon at the Heard Museum. The combined 62 percent graduation and persistence rate of the Nina Scholars at Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges significantly exceeds that of the entire student bodies of these two institutions. This year's 29 graduates are truly inspiring! To learn more about the program, please visit the Trust's Nina Scholars website.

Finally, in April when we announced that the Trust's 2010 annual report was available on the website, we indicated we would inform our readers when the Trust's 2010 audited financial statements were accessible. The 2010 statements are now available in PDF format.

As always, we welcome your questions and comments.