$1.8 Million Directed: ACF of Flagstaff’s Horse-Trading Event

On Friday, July 10, the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff (ACF of Flagstaff) hosted its annual Horse-Trading event. This year’s gathering marked a milestone worth celebrating. Nearly a dozen fundholders and community partners came alongside ACF of Flagstaff to direct $1.8 million to local nonprofits — up from $1.7 million last year.

What Is a Horse-Trading Event?

For those new to the concept, Horse-Trading is a Collaborative Funding event where ACF brings donor advised fundholders and private foundations together to help fund projects that were partially or unfunded through the competitive grant cycle. Rather than making grant decisions in isolation, participants come together to listen, learn, and align their giving with the region’s most pressing needs.

This year, nearly 140 grant applications were submitted as part of Flagstaff’s grant cycle—a testament to both the depth of need and the strength of the local nonprofit community.

A Milestone Moment

The $1.8 million directed this year represents more than a number. It reflects the generosity of fundholders who show up, engage, and trust one another with the responsibility of shaping their community’s future.

One family, who attended the event for the first time as observers, was so moved by the process that they decided to join in and make grants directly from their ACF fund to help some of the organizations. A reflection of the event’s spirit of open, inspired giving.

An especially meaningful moment came when another inspired collaborative funder made an additional $50,000 gift directly to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona—a spontaneous act of generosity that exemplifies what happens when donors gather with open hearts and shared purpose.

Thank You to Our Participants

None of this is possible without the people who give their time, resources, and trust. Heartfelt gratitude goes to June Brockmeyer, Jennifer W. Perry, Kim Covington, Ashley Acton, Chelsea Buck-Leilich, and the Regional Boards of Advisors from Flagstaff and Sedona for their leadership and commitment. Thank you also W.L. Gore & Associates for opening their doors and hosting this event year after year.

A special acknowledgment goes to the Geile family, whose “four generations of generosity”—captured beautifully in a family photo from the event—serve as a powerful reminder of what it means to build a legacy of giving.Events like this one embody what community philanthropy looks like in practice: neighbors investing in neighbors, across generations, toward a stronger Flagstaff for all.