News and Reports
Dear Friends,
As we look back on the past year, we are proud of the support, collaboration, and innovation our partner organizations brought to our communities. They worked together to lend a hand where it was needed most, and 2024 was a year of high demand. The housing and homelessness crisis worsened throughout the United States, especially in the communities we support in Indiana and Arizona.
In 2023 and 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Arizona was the highest recorded since 2010. Also, Indianapolis has the fifth-highest eviction filing rate in the U.S. and eviction filings were the highest ever for Phoenix in 2024. To help our nonprofit partners’ efforts, the Trust focused on four main areas last year: adding more temporary housing units, supporting prevention programs, offering supportive services for those in temporary housing, and pushing for long-term solutions. This meant we increased our commitments by investing more in shelter space, emergency financial support, eviction assistance, food programs, and workforce development projects in the Indianapolis and Phoenix metropolitan areas. Since Phoenix was hit the hardest, we dedicated an extra $3.3 million above our annual budget in Arizona and teamed up with other foundations and community partners to tackle housing instability.
While we believe the housing and homelessness crisis is urgent and needs the attention of all community partners, the Trust remained steadfast in supporting programs and organizations that protected animals and nature and enriched community life in 2024. In doing so, we discovered the housing crisis also affected areas like animal welfare, water conservation and heat mitigation, reinforcing the importance of continuing to support these critical areas. Below are a few other highlights from 2024:
- Invested $22.7 million in helping people in need, protecting nature and animals, and enriching community life in Arizona and Indiana.
- Graduated its 405th student from the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program since the program began in 2001.
- Improved 50 miles of streams and 6,500 acres of habitat in Arizona’s Verde River Watershed.
- Completed the first White River Report Card to help Indianapolis communities along the river establish projects to enhance the waterway.
- Launched a small organization grant program to amplify the important role of these organizations in our communities.
- Continued to see a decrease in surrendered and euthanized animals in the Phoenix and Indianapolis metropolitan areas – 52% and 83% decreases respectively in Maricopa County and 49% and 84% decreases respectively in Marion County.
Without the determination, ingenuity and participation of all our partners, our communities would not be as strong and resilient during tough times. Continue reading to learn more about the work our partners did to help our communities thrive in 2024.
Carol Peden Schilling
Trustee Chair
Kent E. Agness
Trustee
Lisa Shover Kackley
Trustee
Gene D’Adamo
President and CEO
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
2024 Investment:
$5.3 million
Research indicates that access to affordable, stable housing reduces intergenerational poverty and increases rates of upward mobility. As Arizona continues to experience an unprecedented housing crisis where the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and evictions soar, the Trust committed a substantial portion of its 2024 funding in Maricopa County to address it. The trustees approved $3.3 million above the regular grant budget to support nonprofits serving people experiencing housing instability in Arizona. While homelessness is not to a crisis level in Indianapolis, Marion County affordable housing production is significantly lower than the need and eviction rates are high. Because this is a complex issue, with many factors affecting it, the Trust identified four areas where it can make an impact: increasing transitional housing units, supporting prevention programs, providing supportive services for those in shelter housing, and advocating for long-term solutions.
Over the last year, several shelter providers in Phoenix launched capital campaigns to increase the capacity of their emergency shelter and transitional housing space. Of those capital campaigns, the Trust awarded $2 million to UMOM New Day Center and $1 million to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. These capital campaign projects served an additional 582 individuals experiencing homelessness in the Valley. Trust funding for UMOM converted a vacant building into space for large families experiencing homelessness. The funding for SVDP added 71 beds to its transitional housing shelter for working adults.
Carmela is one of the first residents of Rosalie’s Place, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s new 71-bed workforce housing shelter. The program is dedicated to individuals who are actively working or seeking employment while striving to find a place to call their home. Carmela’s story reflects the strengths of so many in our community: Hardworking, resilient, and motivated to rebuild her life. All she needs is the right support system to guide her on this journey. Pairing SVDP’s transitional housing model with the Workforce Opportunities Program offers residents a unique set of resources. Now Carmela is gaining the tools and knowledge to re-enter the workforce and secure permanent housing. In fact, she has already completed a course to become a leasing agent, putting her one step closer to achieving her goals.
While increasing the number of units available for homeless families is critical, preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place is a key part of the overall strategy. Flexible funds provide an efficient, low-cost investment per person to remove barriers and allow families to remain in their homes. As such, the Trust provided grants to similar prevention programs in Arizona and Indiana, including $500,000 for emergency rental assistance at Pilgrim Rest Foundation and $2.25 million for emergency funding at Keys to Change in Maricopa County. To help prevent eviction, the Trust distributed $100,000 to Wildfire Arizona and $60,000 to the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic and $300,000 to the National Center for State Courts in Marion County. Also, the Trust invested in wraparound services and housing navigators to address issues interrelated with housing stability like employment, transportation, domestic violence, financial literacy, mental health and child care. The Trust granted $150,000 to Phoenix-based Homeless Youth Connection to provide homeless youth with basic resources and $75,000 to Family Promise for families experiencing housing instability. Lastly, in Indianapolis, the Trust awarded $150,000 to Horizon House for its PATH Street Outreach Program that helps those living unsheltered, $125,000 to Julian Center for shelter and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, and $75,000 to the Corporation for Supportive Housing for its community education program about the need for supportive housing options.
NINA SCHOLARS
2024 Investment:
$1.9 million
Since the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program began, the Trust has invested more than $32 million to help adults experiencing financial, physical or social hardships earn their college degrees. Led by a team of dedicated education professionals, the Nina Scholars programs at Arizona State University, Maricopa Community Colleges, Indiana University Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College include career development, emergency financial assistance, tutoring, mentoring, and community engagement. The program integrates curriculum with resources and a supportive community to propel scholars to success.
$
invested in students since 2001
“The Nina Scholars program became more than just a scholarship; it became my foundation. Through financial assistance, it bridged the gaps during my hardest moments. Through monthly meetings, one-on-one success coaching, and check-ins, it gave me guidance and reassurance. Through a community of scholars, mentors, and an unwavering director, it gave me a family.”
Jessica Crossman, Ivy Tech Nina Scholar student
Currently, there are a total of 119 Nina Scholars in Arizona and Indiana. To date, 405 Nina Scholars have graduated from their degree programs. Nina Scholars at each institution continue to outpace their peers. The first-year retention rate is 97.8% for Nina Scholars and they graduate at rates equal to or greater than their peers.
“The Nina scholarship program has profoundly transformed my life by giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream of earning a college degree. I am deeply grateful for the growth and self-development the program has provided, which has given me the courage to pursue new goals. I will take with me a newfound confidence that The Nina scholarship program has instilled as I prepare to enter the Master of Social Work program in the fall of 2025. Thank you!”
Ysenia Palma, ASU Nina Scholar student
Learn more about the program by visiting the Nina Scholars website.
ENVIRONMENT
2024 Investment:
$4.5 million
In 2024, the Trust completed the five-year Arizona and Indiana environmental roadmaps and conducted extensive research to develop a new environmental giving strategy for the Trust. Since the beginning of the Trust’s environmental initiative work eight years ago, much has been accomplished to protect the Verde River in Arizona and improve access to and water quality of the White River in Indiana. In Arizona, projects funded by the Trust created an estimated water savings on the Verde River of nearly 15 billion gallons. Much of that savings stem from permanent infrastructure projects, which promise ongoing water savings for years to come. Other highlights of the Trust’s Verde River work include:
- Establishing strong relationships to change agriculture practices in the region and on the Yavapai Apache Nation.
- Addressing water quality issues to attain state clean water standards for healthy fish and sustainable recreation.
- Protecting three miles of the river with a conservation easement.
- Developing the Verde River Watershed Report Card, which now guides conservation work and conveys information to stakeholders and the public.
- Preserving habitat for wildlife and native fish by restoring areas damaged by erosion and creating fish passages along the river while improving 50 miles of streams and 6,500 acres of habitat.
In the White River Watershed, the Trust supported many organizations and programs that worked collaboratively to create systematic, long-term protection of and engagement with the White River Watershed. The strategy helped mediate current river issues and addressed ways to prevent future degradation through regional planning and policy work. Highlights of the Trust’s White River work include:
- Completing the first White River Report Card to help guide development and engagement along the river.
- Establishing the White River Alliance River Assessment Field Team program to improve water quality testing in the watershed by identifying problem spots and developing ways to remedy them.
- Enhancing Connor Prairie’s engagement with the river, including the creation of the trails along the White River.
- Launching a branding initiative to improve public perceptions of and engagement with the river.
- Conducting the Annual Indiana Water Summit to bring advocates, decision makers and water professionals together to engage in strategic water quality, quantity and management planning and help inform policy victories.
The key to the ongoing successes of the initiatives in both communities is the partnerships that the Trust created with conservation organizations, other nonprofits, governmental agencies and tribes. This work will continue in 2025 with a narrowed focus addressing major issues in these watersheds.
Learn more about the Trust’s environmental initiatives on our website.
ANIMAL WELFARE
2024 Investment:
$3.3 million
This year marks 12 years of animal welfare initiatives in Arizona and Indiana. In 2012, the Trust funded an effort aimed at reducing the number of unwanted dogs and cats in Maricopa and Marion Counties by increasing spay and neuter surgeries, adoptions, and public education on responsible pet ownership. In a post-pandemic world, interest rates and housing, food, and medical costs for animals and people have increased dramatically. In the last two years, the homeless population in Arizona jumped 23% and the eviction rate increased 26%. Nationally, pet food prices jumped 23% and there is a critical veterinarian shortage. This additional strain on individuals and families already struggling to make ends meet means that shelter intake rates increased while pet adoptions decreased.
In 2024, the Trust reaffirmed its commitment to animal welfare issues in Arizona and Indiana by researching and developing a new five-year roadmap. Animal organizations are achieving admirable results despite high demand for service, significant community pressures and uncertain economic conditions. In the last decade, Maricopa County saw a 52% decrease in intake and an 83% drop in euthanasia and Marion County saw a 49% decrease in intake and an 84% decrease in euthanasia. Fix.Adopt.Save., the Trust’s animal welfare collaborative in Arizona, launched an online program distributing thousands of free spay and neuter vouchers to pet owners with low to extremely low incomes, while also expanding its use of private mobile clinics to augment spay and neuter capacity to reach underserved communities. In Indiana, construction for the new Indianapolis Animal Care Services shelter is underway and the Trust has also expanded its support by funding small animal organizations doing important work in their communities.
Read more about the Trust’s animal welfare initiatives on our website.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Trust’s endowment was an estimated $428.1 million. Since inception, the Trust invested more than $403 million to 1,131 nonprofit organizations in Arizona and Indiana. In 2024, the Trust distributed 341 grants and paid more than $22.7 million.
See an overview of our 2024 grantmaking.
View a list of the Trust’s grantees.
The Trust’s audited financial statements will be available on our website after July 15, 2025.