Whiteman Foundation and Whiteman 4G Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Whiteman Foundation supports child welfare, education and health. The founder created a second foundation, the Whiteman 4G Foundation, which focuses on basic needs for children. Maricopa County, Arizona is the focus for both foundations.
IP TAKE: There are actually two foundations in the Whiteman family, but they are very similar in their geographic focus and interest areas, sharing contact information and application procedures. Whiteman generally conducts its grantmaking through a youth lens, but its grants are modest in size and it does not give away many each year. This means it’s a great grantmaker for organizations working with young children, parents, and early child educators in Maricopa County, but you should not count on requested funds to fully support your project.
Whiteman is not the most transparent funder. Its website no longer seems to be operative, which limits available information on the foundation’s grantmaking strategy and history. However, its tax filings can be found from various sources, including contact information and guidelines for application. The application is relatively straightforward. There is no official form required and applicants simply need to submit a budget, IRS letter, organization profile, and project description. While there is no publicly accessible website, grantseekers may attempt to reach out through the contact information provided to discuss possible opportunities.
PROFILE: Established in 1961, the Whiteman Foundation is based in Mesa, Arizona. It seeks to “promote the health, education and welfare of children.” This is the foundation of Jack Whiteman, who founded Empire Southwest, the region’s Caterpillar dealership. The main source of funding for this foundation is Empire Southwest, which commits over two percent of pretax profits to charity, one percent to the Whiteman Foundation, and one percent to the sister foundation, the Whiteman 4G Foundation. It was originally called the Edna Rider Whiteman Foundation and adopted its current name 35 years later. Foundation interests include health, education and children’s welfare. John Whiteman also created a new, separate foundation in 2006 for his 11 grandchildren, calling it the Whiteman 4G Foundation since they were the fourth generation of Whitemans to be involved in the family philanthropy. It funds human services, including children’s issues, abandonment, harassment and bullying, and responsible parenting. Health, including children’s cancers and diabetes, and education, including scholarships and infant brain development research, are also focuses. More recently, the board refined 4G’s interests to focus on children’s basic needs related to health, food, clothing, and education. The two children-focused foundations differ slightly in their target age interests: the Whiteman Foundation supports projects for youths up to 18 years old, while the 4G focuses on work serving youths up to age 12.
Grants for Education and Youth
Lately, the top priority for the Whiteman Foundation has been early childhood development for the birth-to-age-five demographic, with many health and education grants supporting the area's youngest residents. This is a shift from the foundation’s giving from the 1970s through the 1990s, when it primarily funded higher education and the arts. Over the years, the Whiteman Foundation has invested millions of dollars within Maricopa County. The foundation supports educational programs, out-of-school activities, and youth development programs, as well as human services and health resources for children and families. Past grantees include the Arizona Museum for Youth, Phoenix Art Museum, Idea Museum, Foundation for Blind Children, Child Crisis Arizona, and the East Valley Child Crisis Center.
IMPORTANT GRANT DETAILS:
Whiteman grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000. Meanwhile, the Whiteman 4G Foundation made $68,000 in grants recently. Its grants tend to be fewer, but occasionally larger. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s tax filings for more information on the types of organizations it supports.
Both foundations’ giving are focused on Arizona and Maricopa County.
Requests are accepted year round. Applicants are encouraged to contact staff to discuss their proposal before submitting an application.
Applications may be submitted by mail. There is no standard application form required. Applicants must submit a copy of the current year’s budget, a copy of IRS determination letter, brief history of the organization and its mission, and a detailed description of the project for which funding is requested.
Grantseekers may reach out to the staff with general questions at 480-633-4413 or by email at mtrivers@empire-cat.com.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
(480) 633-4413
2640 W Upland Dr
Chandler, AZ 85224-7870
United States
