Endowment / Foundation

Updated:

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Virginia G. Piper established the Trust in 1995. She was the widow of Motorola co-founder Paul Galvin. The foundation operates as a private independent...

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust logo

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Virginia G. Piper established the Trust in 1995. She was the widow of Motorola co-founder Paul Galvin. The foundation operates as a private independent grantmaker focused exclusively on Maricopa County. The Trust allocates across private equity, hedge funds, and startups. Confirmed holdings include commitments to Equity Partners III and Equity Partners IV. It also maintains a real estate footprint through direct ownership of its headquarters at 1202 East Missouri Avenue and an extension property at 1177 East Missouri Avenue. Geographic activity remains confined to the United States, with primary emphasis on Arizona. Cambridge Associates has served as investment advisor since 2006. Northern Trust acts as custodian since 2014. The foundation reported estimated annual giving of $23.4 million and executed a $123 million one-time grant program in 2021. Governance rests with a board of trustees that includes family members and local business leaders. Stephen J. Zabilski, who joined the board in 2006, assumed the CEO role in 2023.

General information

Firm type

Endowment / Foundation

Year founded

1995

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Phoenix

Corporate office

1202 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85014, United States

Principals

Stephen J. Zabilski

President and CEO

Sector focus

HealthcareEducationArts & Culture

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust?

Stephen J. Zabilski serves as President and CEO. The board of trustees, which includes family members and local executives, oversees investment policy.

Does Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The Trust holds limited partner positions in private equity funds including Equity Partners III and Equity Partners IV. It also maintains exposure to hedge funds and early-stage opportunities.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

Virginia G. Piper, widow of Motorola co-founder Paul Galvin, established the Trust in 1995 with assets from the electronics and technology sector.

What geographic areas does the Trust target?

All grantmaking and operational activity is restricted to Maricopa County, Arizona, within the United States.

Which professional networks does the Trust belong to?

The Trust holds memberships in the Arizona Grantmakers Forum, Council on Foundations, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, PEAK Grantmaking, Philanthropy Southwest, and Early Childhood Funders Collaborative.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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