Whether it’s football, baseball or basketball, sports teams across the U.S. have long engaged in philanthropy as a way of giving back to the people that cheer them on. One of the most well-established sports team foundations is Phoenix Suns Charities (PSC), which has existed since 1988 and has a mission of enhancing the lives of children in Arizona.
Here’s what local nonprofits in the Southwest should know about Phoenix Suns Charities and how to secure a grant from this organization.
Types of support
All of PSC’s efforts are centered on local children — the funder awards over $1.5 million per year to impact over 400,000 children annually. There are three main topics of interest for PSC: basketball and education, education and career development, and healthcare. PSC most commonly awards unrestricted grants so that grantees can spend the money however they wish.
Recent work
PSC philanthropy has been ramping up in recent years with more frequent grant cycles and larger grants. The success of the team has been driving PSC’s charitable commitments, and the foundation has given over $33 million to help struggling children and families with education and healthcare. Central High School has been a major grant recipient over the years. PSC has also amplified its giving power by partnering with the NBA and Kaiser Permanente on community outreach efforts.
Here are some additional examples of recent PSC grantees and charitable projects:
Heart of Freedom Trip
JR Suns
Spirit of Cotton Award
NBA Math Hoops
Bridges Brightest Ballers
Applying for a grant
PSC is an accessible grantmaker, but also one with a distinctive application process. Rather than asking applicants to submit paper documents to apply for a grant, PSC requires them to submit 90-second videos to show how their organizations are improving the lives of children and families in Arizona. You can view video examples on the PSC website to get a better sense of how this process works.
Videos are evaluated based on how many kids a program is reaching, ease of access to those programs, what community need is being fulfilled, demographics being reached and whether the program is connected to basketball in some way. The grant application deadlines occur on August 1, November 1 and February 1.
Other details to know
As you start thinking about ideas for your 90-second video, there are a few other important details to keep in mind with regard to PSC funding. Most grants are between $10,000 and $25,000 each. Not surprisingly, basketball-inspired initiatives are given priority in each funding cycle. And beyond just grantmaking, PSC engages in philanthropy through player and staff volunteer hours and player appearances at special events.
Read more about this funder in IP’s full profile of Phoenix Suns Charities, which is part of our Southwest Funding Guide.
