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VALLEY LEADERSHIP CORPORATION
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860373283 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE W70Z · Public & Societal Benefit · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.valleyleadership.org
revenue
$667K
expenses
$1.1M
net assets
$298K
employees
7
volunteers
60
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

VALLEY LEADERSHIP GIVES ARIZONANS THE TOOLS TO SOLVE CHALLENGES TOGETHER. WE DO THAT BY EMPOWERING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF ARIZONANS TO LEAD THROUGH OUR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND MOBILIZING THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON OUR STATE'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Valley Leadership Corporation cultivates community leaders through immersive programs that explore Arizona's diverse regions, systems, and challenges. Its flagship initiatives, Explore and Catalyze, engage cohorts in cross-sector learning journeys focused on equity, adaptability, and interconnectedness. The organization emphasizes experiential education, connecting leaders with communities across the state to foster informed, collaborative action.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $199K
    CATALYZE SETS UP ARIZONANS TO TAKE ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM HELPS LEADERS BUILD A FOUNDATION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES, THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THE ISSUES FACING ARIZONA. WITH A VIRTUAL FORMAT AND MULTIPLE SESSION DATES, PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE WHEN AND WHERE IT WORKS BEST FOR THEM. AND, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SOCIAL EVENTS.
  2. #2 $133K
    EXPLORE TAKES LEADERS OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR COMFORT ZONE TO GET TO KNOW THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF THE STATE AND HOW OUR MOST PRESSING ISSUES SHOW UP IN RURAL, URBAN, SUBURBAN AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS WILL EXPAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE, KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES AND HAVE THE TIME AND SPACE TO FORGE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILD CONNECTIONS IN ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE
named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Arizona Leaders of the Year
Annual recognition program honoring individuals for their dedication to community engagement and servant leadership across Arizona.
Catalyze
Leadership development program designed to expand access to leadership training for individuals addressing Arizona’s most pressing issues.
Change Labs Pitch Your Hustle
Entrepreneurship competition supporting Native American entrepreneurs across Arizona.
Explore
Immersive leadership program that takes participants on statewide journeys to understand Arizona’s diverse communities, economies, and challenges, with a focus on border regions, tribal lands, and urban centers.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Youth Civic Leadership Development 6 activities
    • Catalyze Leadership Program
      Operates the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action, fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. This program includes scheduled classes, such as Class 6 from August 2026 to February 2027.
    • Catalyze Leadership Program
      Operates the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action, fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. This program includes virtual and in-person sessions and partners with local schools.
    • Catalyze Program
      Operates the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans take community action, fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles, with offerings for leaders aged 14 and older.
    • Leadership Development Programs (Catalyze)
      Operates the "Catalyze" program, a leadership development initiative for Arizonans aged 14 and older, including partnerships with local schools, to foster community action, connections, and leadership skills through virtual and in-person sessions.
    • Leadership development through the Catalyze program
      Operates the Catalyze program, a leadership development initiative for Arizonans aged 14 and older, which includes virtual and in-person sessions, engagement with industry leaders, and partnerships with local schools. Class 6 is scheduled to run from August 2026 to February 2027.
    • Operate the Catalyze leadership development program
      Runs the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action by fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. The program includes structured virtual and in-person sessions, with Class 6 scheduled from August 2026 to February 2027, and is delivered in partnership with local schools.
  • Motivational & Leadership Keynote Speaking 6 activities
    • Corporate Leadership Workshops
      Conducts interactive corporate series workshops to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact.
    • Corporate Leadership Workshops
      Conducts interactive corporate series workshops designed to engage corporate leaders in developing and applying leadership principles with integrity, purpose, and impact.
    • Corporate Series Workshops
      Conducts interactive corporate series workshops to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact.
    • Corporate leadership workshops
      Delivers interactive corporate series workshops designed to help corporate leaders lead and manage with integrity, purpose, and impact.
    • Deliver corporate leadership workshops
      Conducts interactive corporate series workshops designed to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact, as part of its broader leadership development offerings.
    • Leadership Development Workshops
      Conducts interactive corporate series workshops and leadership development programs that include virtual and in-person sessions to engage corporate leaders in leading with integrity and purpose.
  • Immersive Community Learning Programs 6 activities
    • Experiential learning through the Explore program
      Runs the Explore program, which immerses participants in Arizona’s diverse communities through cohort-based statewide journeys, including site visits to regions like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis, and sessions on state history, water policy, and leadership. Explore Class 5 included a Foundations Day and multi-day border region trips focused on equity, adaptability, and community connections.
    • Explore Leadership Program
      Operates the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest in different communities. This includes immersive trips to locations like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis to provide firsthand insight into regional economic, cultural, and community connections, as well as Foundations Days focused on Arizona history, water policy, and leadership.
    • Explore Leadership Program
      Operates the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest in different communities through statewide journeys and immersive trips to various regions like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis, engaging with local leaders.
    • Explore Program
      Operates the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest in different communities, including immersive trips to Nogales and Yuma.
    • Leadership Development Programs (Explore)
      Operates the "Explore" program, a statewide journey for leaders to understand Arizona's diversity and pressing issues through immersive trips to various communities, including Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis, and foundational learning sessions on Arizona history and policy.
    • Operate the Explore leadership development program
      Runs the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest across different communities, including immersive trips to regions like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis along the U.S.-Mexico border. The program includes a Foundations Day, eleven virtual sessions, three in-person sessions, and an optional social event, with cohorts such as Class 5 and the largest cohort to date launched in 2024–2025.
  • Community Leadership Recognition Events 5 activities
    • Community Conversations and Spotlights
      Hosts spotlight conversations, such as those for National Hispanic Heritage Month, to engage with community leaders and discuss relevant topics.
    • Community Engagement and Recognition
      Hosts spotlight conversations, such as with Sam Gomez during National Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognizes individuals as Arizona Leaders of the Year.
    • Host public leadership conversations and events
      Hosts public events such as the National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight conversation with community leaders, and recognizes outstanding contributors through honors like naming Arizona Leaders of the Year.
    • National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight
      Hosts spotlight conversations, such as with Sam Gomez, Executive Director of The Sagrado Galleria, to highlight community leaders and their work.
    • Public leadership events and recognitions
      Hosts public events such as the National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight conversation and recognizes outstanding leaders by naming Arizona Leaders of the Year, including Leslie Motter and Terry Goddard as the 76th honorees.
  • Member Recognition Awards 2 activities
    • Arizona Leaders of the Year Award
      Names individuals as Arizona Leaders of the Year, recognizing their contributions to leadership in the state.
    • Recognition of Arizona Leaders
      Identifies and recognizes prominent individuals as Arizona Leaders of the Year, celebrating their contributions and leadership.
  • Young Professional & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Expansion of leadership programming access
      Announced its largest leadership cohort to date, reflecting expanded access to leadership development opportunities across Arizona.
  • Organizational Transparency Reporting 1 activity
    • Publication of annual impact reporting
      Produces and publishes an annual Impact Report, such as the 2024–2025 edition, which details program growth, new initiatives like the Mia and Opioid Toolkit chatbots, and expansion of Impact Teams.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • General Leadership Development Programs
      Conducts leadership development programs that include eleven virtual sessions and three in-person sessions, plus an optional in-person social event, expanding access to leadership development opportunities across Arizona.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$667K
Contributions & grants$573K86%
Program service revenue$85K13%
Investment income$9K1%
Other revenue$133
expenses
Total expenses$1.06M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$497K
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$356K
Cash$57K
Investments$88K
Liabilities$58K
Net assets$298K
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +66.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAVID BROWN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $171K
board members · 8
  • ERIN HART — DIRECTOR
  • GINGER SYKES TORRES — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN MEZA — DIRECTOR
  • JOSHUA SHADE — TREASURER
  • KORAN HARDIMON — VICE CHAIR/RACIAL JUSTICE LEAD
  • NANCY BALDWIN — SECRETARY
  • PAUL KOMADINA — CHAIR
  • SHERRY MCFADDEN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 30

who they work with

  • ARINAC Partner — Eleazar Coronado of ARINAC welcomed Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 and provided an overview of the maquiladora industry.
  • ARSOBO Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited ARSOBO to learn about their work providing prosthetics and hearing devices.
  • ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy Partner — Sarah Porter provided an overview of Arizona's water policy landscape.
  • Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network Partner — Organization represented by board member John Meza
  • Arizona Head Start Association Partner — Organization represented by board member Jessica Rivera-García
  • Arizona Western College Partner — Collaborates to prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders through hands-on learning and innovation.
  • BoxieGo Partner — Partners with BoxieGo to manage return logistics and receive returned items.
  • Central Arizona Project Partner — Strategic Learning Partner
  • Central Arizona Project Partner — Terry Goddard shared insights on water governance in Arizona.
  • Chamberlain Distributing Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited Chamberlain Distributing to observe produce flow.
  • Change Labs Partner — Supported Change Labs's Pitch Your Hustle competition for Native entrepreneurs through its Explore alumni.
  • Chicano Art Collective Partner — Engages with local artists to shape the cultural identity of San Luis.
  • Frame Consulting Partner — Organization led by board member Kate Stuart
  • Ginkgo Consulting Partner — Organization led by Board President Koran Hardimon
  • Greater Nogales Port Authority Partner — Local leaders from the Greater Nogales Port Authority met with Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
  • Impact Maker™ Partner — Participants make a plan for how they'll make a difference as part of Impact Maker™ work.
  • Local First Arizona Partner — Organization led by Board Secretary Ginger Sykes Torres
  • Maricopa County Community College District Partner — Organization represented by board member Janice Falkenberg
  • Neighborhood Comedy Theatre Partner — Led an interactive team-building session using improv games.
  • San Juan Bosco Shelter Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited the San Juan Bosco Shelter to learn about migration and asylum seekers.
  • South Mountain Community College Partner — Dr. Summer Cherland provided a presentation on Arizona history.
  • South32 Partner — Simon Charter of South32 shared insights on the mine's Community Benefits Plan with Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
  • Startup Unidos Partner — Featured founder Stephanie Bermudez in honor of Women's History Month, highlighting her work in building cross-border innovation ecosystems.
  • Startup Unidos Partner — Stephanie Bermudez of Startup Unidos presented to Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
  • The Sagrado Galleria Partner — Featured Executive Director Sam Gomez in a National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight.
  • U.S. Bank Partner — Organization led by Board Treasurer Joshua Shade
  • University of Arizona’s Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture Partner — Engages in research and exploration of agricultural practices along the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • WellBeings Partner — Organization led by Board Vice President Greg Lim
  • Wittner Museum Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited the Wittner Museum.
  • Yuma Port Authority Partner — Provides insights into regional trade and infrastructure development.