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Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a private independent foundation, was established by Virginia Galvin Piper, a devoted Catholic and widow of Paul V. Galvin, founder of Motorola. Following her death in 1999, Piper Trust received nearly $600 million from her estate and became the largest foundation in Arizona and one of the 100 largest foundations in the nation.
Piper Trust seeks to enhance and strengthen the quality of life for the people in Maricopa County, the fastest growing county in the nation, and location of Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States. The Trust’s strategic grantmaking focuses on six areas: healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations. Since 1999, the Trust has awarded nearly $234 million (as of August 31, 2008) to nonprofits honoring Virginia Piper’s philanthropic interests.
Piper Trust launched a major initiative, “Strengthening Catholic Education,” reflecting Virginia Piper’s tradition of supporting Catholic schools. The Trust has invested more than $31 million over the past eight years in this effort. The investments range from high schools to preschools and elementary schools. Focusing first on secondary education, the foundation awarded $22 million in grants to the six Maricopa County Catholic high schools to enhance facilities, strengthen academic programs and ensure that more young people have the opportunity to attend Catholic institutions. Recognizing the importance of early education, the Trust next focused on parish preschools and kindergartens, awarding nearly $800,000 to support capital improvements and assess curricular needs.
More recently, the Trust focused on strengthening elementary education. Piper Trustees made an $8-million commitment in February 2008 to the 25 Maricopa County Catholic elementary schools. The three-year grant will fund repairs and renovations critical to student health and safety. Working with MaryBeth Mueller, Executive Director and Superintendent of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Phoenix, the Trust sponsored an initial structural and mechanical analysis of the capital needs of the elementary schools. This blueprint not only provided the basis for prioritizing critical construction and renovation projects that the Piper Trust grant will complete over three years but also offers a longer-term plan the school administration can use in planning for additional improvements for the Diocesan elementary schools.
In 2000, the year following Mrs. Piper’s death, Piper Trust awarded a $8-million Cornerstone Grant for the new Diocesan Center in Phoenix. The Trust also contributes $300,000 to the annual Charity Development and Appeal of the Diocese of Phoenix, and has funded other Catholic initiatives such as a retirement home for priests and a new chapel, social hall and student center for the All Saints Catholic Newman Center at Arizona State University in Tempe.
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