We pursue our mission through grantmaking and programs in four areas:
Bioscience
Building Arizona as a global center for research and commercialization in the biosciences.
Flinn Scholars
Providing world-class undergraduate education in partnership with Arizona’s public universities.
A privately-endowed philanthropic foundation benefiting Arizona.
The Flinn Foundation was established in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. and Irene P. Flinn. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona to benefit future generations.
To achieve this mission, the Foundation aims to: advance Arizona’s bioscience sector; enhance undergraduate education for high-achieving students at the state’s public universities; elevate the fiscal and creative capacity of the state’s arts and culture organizations; and strengthen civic life and state-level civic leadership in Arizona.
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Providing no-cost meeting space to Arizona nonprofits.
The Flinn Foundation Educational Conference Center features two meeting rooms available to nonprofit member organizations closely aligned with the Foundation’s specific areas of interest in the biosciences, health care, education, civic leadership, and the arts. More about the Conference Center
NEWS AND UPDATES
Bioscience
Flinn to fund new Alzheimer’s research, cancer data platform
The Flinn Foundation has approved two separate grants to support innovative Alzheimer’s disease research and a data project to enhance cancer prevention research and care delivery across the state. “The Flinn Foundation is excited to be funding these two multi-year projects that will lead to advancements and innovation among Arizona’s proven strengths in neuroscience […]
Civic Leadership
Flinn-Brown Fellows recognized for leadership efforts across Arizona
Five Flinn-Brown Fellows have been honored by their peers for their leadership, contributions to the state, and efforts in building up their communities and the Flinn-Brown Network. The 2026 Flinn-Brown Awards, which were presented during the annual Flinn-Brown Convention on Friday, Aug. 14, and a reception the prior evening, honor the high-impact leaders with these […]
Bioscience
ASU’s Mehdi Nikkhah receives Flinn grant to accelerate Glioblastoma therapeutics
Mehdi Nikkhah, Ph.D., an Arizona State University professor of biomedical engineering, is the principal investigator on a team developing a “GBM-on-a-Chip” platform that closely mimics the human Glioblastoma microenvironment for use in drug development. Nikkhah says this technology will allow for the testing of multiple compounds and therapeutic drugs in a faster and safer manner […]
Bioscience
U of A College of Medicine-Phoenix researcher developing diagnostic for top gynecological cancer in U.S.
Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, Ph.D., of the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix was one of seven researchers awarded a $100,000 grant from the Flinn Foundation Translational Seed Grants Program in 2026 for her work in endometrial cancer. Herbst-Kralovetz said she is developing a vaginal swab that can detect the cancer at an early stage through molecular […]