↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

THE ARIZONA SPORTS FOUNDATION
SCOTTSDALE, AZ · EIN 860253821 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Large ($10M-$50M) · www.fiestabowl.org
revenue
$28.6M
expenses
$22.0M
net assets
$84.1M
employees
69
volunteers
3,000
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

SEE SCHEDULE O.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arizona Sports Foundation is an operational organization that hosts the Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, and related events in Arizona. It uses the proceeds from these events to support community initiatives and other non-profit organizations through its Fiesta Bowl Charities program, focusing on youth, sports, and education.

named programs · 8 · from sources

what they call their work

Ambassadors
A group of volunteers who represent the organization at events and in the community.
Fiesta Bowl
A major college football bowl game held annually in Arizona.
Fiesta Bowl Charities
The charitable arm of the Fiesta Bowl organization, which distributes grants to non-profit organizations in Arizona focusing on youth, sports, and education.
Fiesta Bowl Fan Fest
A fan engagement event associated with the Fiesta Bowl.
Fiesta Bowl Parade
An annual parade held in conjunction with the Fiesta Bowl events.
Fiesta Bowl Pregame Party
A pre-game event for attendees of the Fiesta Bowl.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
An annual college football bowl game held in Arizona.
Yellow Jacket Committee
A volunteer committee that supports the organization's events and community engagement.
activities · 12 groups

what they do

  • Fan Engagement and Game-Day Events 7 activities
    • Community Engagement and Event Management
      Organizes and manages various public events and activities related to its sporting events, including a Fan Fest Pregame Party, engaging volunteers, hosting marching bands, and providing child safety wristbands.
    • Event Management and Fan Engagement
      Organizes and manages various fan engagement activities and events surrounding collegiate sports, including a non-ticketed Fan Fest Pregame Party, hosting marching bands, engaging volunteers, and providing child safety wristbands at events.
    • Hosting Fan Events and Experiences
      Organizes and hosts various fan engagement events, including a non-ticketed Fan Fest Pregame Party, and provides amenities like child safety wristbands and volunteer opportunities for gameday events and parades.
    • Hosting Fan Events and Experiences
      Organizes various fan engagement activities around bowl games, such as the non-ticketed Fan Fest Pregame Party, hosting university marching bands, and providing child safety wristbands at events.
    • Hosting Fan Fest and gameday events
      Organizes and hosts a non-ticketed Fan Fest Pregame Party for all ages and other gameday events, including performances by university marching bands and pep bands, to enhance the experience for attendees of bowl games.
    • Hosting Fan Fest events
      Organizes a non-ticketed Fan Fest Pregame Party for fans of all ages, featuring marching bands and other entertainment.
    • Hosting Marching Bands
      Hosts marching bands from participating universities, providing performance opportunities during opening ceremonies, halftime shows, and pep bands at Fan Fest events.
  • Teacher & Classroom Support Grants 6 activities
    • Classroom funding for Arizona teachers
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, providing grants to Arizona teachers for classroom needs. This includes $2,500 grants through DonorsChoose and larger $50,000 grants for school room or space renovations, having granted $9.7 million to over 3,100 teachers over 10 years.
    • Granting classroom wishes to teachers
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, providing grants to Arizona teachers for classroom needs. This includes $2,500 grants through DonorsChoose and larger $50,000 grants for school room or space renovations, having granted $9.7 million to over 3,100 teachers over 10 years.
    • Grantmaking for Arizona Teachers (Wishes for Teachers)
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, providing grants to Arizona teachers for classroom needs. This includes $2,500 grants through DonorsChoose and larger $50,000 grants for school renovations, having granted $9.7 million to over 3,100 teachers over 10 years.
    • Teacher Classroom Funding Program
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, which provides grants to Arizona teachers for classroom needs. This includes $2,500 grants through DonorsChoose and larger $50,000 grants for school campus renovations, having granted $9.7 million to over 3,100 teachers.
    • Teacher Classroom Grant Program (Wishes for Teachers)
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, granting classroom wishes and providing $2,500 grants to over 3,100 Arizona teachers, totaling $9.7 million over 10 years, impacting over one million students. The program also grants three $50,000 school wishes for campus renovations.
    • Teacher Classroom Grants (Wishes for Teachers)
      Operates the "Wishes for Teachers" program, which grants classroom wishes to teachers, providing $2,500 grants through DonorsChoose and larger $50,000 grants for school renovations. Over 10 years, the program has granted $9.7 million to over 3,100 Arizona teachers, impacting more than one million students.
  • State-Level Fire Service Advocacy 6 activities
    • Collegiate Flag Football Tournament
      Hosts a two-day national collegiate flag football tournament for women's programs, with games telecast nationally on ESPNU and the ESPN App, and livestreamed on its website.
    • Collegiate Flag Football Tournament
      Hosts a two-day national collegiate flag football tournament, the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, featuring eight women's programs, with games telecast nationally on ESPNU and livestreamed on its website.
    • Hosting Collegiate Flag Football Tournaments
      Hosts national collegiate flag football tournaments, including a two-day event featuring eight women's programs, and telecasts/livestreams games nationally on platforms like ESPNU and the ESPN App.
    • Hosting collegiate flag football tournaments
      Hosts a national collegiate flag football tournament for women's programs, with games telecast nationally on ESPNU and the ESPN App, and livestreamed on its website.
    • Organizing Collegiate Flag Football Tournaments
      Hosts national collegiate flag football tournaments, including the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, featuring women's programs, with games telecast nationally and livestreamed.
    • Organizing collegiate flag football tournaments
      Hosts national collegiate flag football tournaments, including the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, featuring women's programs, and provides national telecasts and livestreams of the games.
  • College Football Bowl Game Management 6 activities
    • Hosting Collegiate Football Bowl Games
      Organizes and hosts major collegiate football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the annual Rate Bowl featuring Big 12 vs. Big Ten matchups, and will host a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
    • Hosting Collegiate Football Bowl Games
      Organizes and hosts major collegiate football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the annual Rate Bowl featuring Big 12 vs. Big Ten conference matchups, as well as College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
    • Organizing College Football Bowl Games
      Organizes and hosts major college football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl, which features a Big 12 vs. Big Ten conference matchup. This includes hosting College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
    • Organizing College Football Bowl Games
      Organizes and hosts major college football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl, featuring matchups between Big 12 and Big Ten conferences, and a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
    • Organizing college football bowl games
      Organizes and hosts annual college football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl, featuring matchups between major conferences. This includes hosting College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
    • Organizing college football bowl games
      Organizes and hosts major college football bowl games, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl, featuring matchups between prominent conferences like the Big 12 and Big Ten. This includes hosting College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.
  • Arts Event Ticketing & Access Programs 5 activities
    • Fundraising for Nonprofits through Ticket Sales
      Offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by providing group discounts on tickets and returning a portion of ticket sales to participating nonprofits.
    • Fundraising for Nonprofits through Ticket Sales
      Offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by providing group discounts on tickets and returning a portion of ticket sales to participating nonprofits.
    • Fundraising opportunities for nonprofits
      Offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by providing group discounts on tickets and returning a portion of ticket sales to participating nonprofits.
    • Nonprofit Fundraising Support
      Offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by providing group discounts on tickets and returning a portion of ticket sales to participating nonprofits.
    • Providing fundraising opportunities for nonprofits
      Offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by providing group discounts on tickets and returning a portion of ticket sales to participating nonprofits.
  • Specialized Historical & Genealogical Collections 5 activities
    • Operating the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum
      Maintains and offers free admission to the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, which features memorabilia from past games, displays of FBS team helmets, and major college football awards like the Heisman Trophy.
    • Operating the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum
      Maintains and offers free admission to the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, which features memorabilia from past games, displays of FBS team helmets, and major college football awards like the Heisman Trophy.
    • Operating the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum
      Maintains and offers free admission to the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, which features memorabilia from past games, displays of FBS team helmets, and major college football awards like the Heisman Trophy.
    • Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum Operation
      Maintains and offers free admission to the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, which features memorabilia from past games, displays FBS team helmets, and showcases major college football awards like the Heisman Trophy.
    • Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum Operation
      Operates the Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, which features memorabilia from past Fiesta Bowl games, displays all 130 FBS team helmets, and exhibits major college football awards like the Heisman Trophy, offering free admission to the public.
  • Local Community Grantmaking 4 activities
    • Community Grantmaking to Nonprofits
      Provides funding to selected Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle, with 22 organizations receiving funding in the 2024-25 cycle.
    • Community Grantmaking to Nonprofits
      Selects and provides funding to Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle, with 22 organizations selected for the 2024-25 cycle.
    • Funding Arizona nonprofits
      Provides funding to Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle, selecting organizations to receive financial support.
    • Grantmaking for Arizona Nonprofits
      Provides funding to selected Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle, supporting various community initiatives.
  • Discounted and Incentivized Event Access 2 activities
    • Legacy Membership Program
      Offers a legacy membership program for individuals who purchase tickets to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl or Rate Bowl for two consecutive years.
    • Offering a legacy membership program
      Offers a legacy membership program for individuals who purchase tickets to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl or Rate Bowl for two consecutive years.
  • Youth Sports Tournaments & Showcases 1 activity
    • Engaging volunteers for events
      Engages volunteers to support gameday events and parades, enhancing community experiences.
  • Native Community Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Grantmaking for Arizona Nonprofits
      Provides funding to selected Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle and offers fundraising opportunities for 501(c)(3) organizations by returning a portion of ticket sales from events.
  • Child Safety & Engagement at Community Events 1 activity
    • Providing child safety wristbands
      Provides Child Safety Wristbands at Guest Services Booths, allowing parents to record contact or seating information for children during events.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Conducting 50/50 Raffles
      Conducts 50/50 raffles during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, with sales staff and kiosks available on the main concourse.
    • Conducting 50/50 raffles
      Conducts 50/50 raffles during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl with sales staff and kiosks on the main concourse.
    • Grantmaking to Arizona nonprofits
      Provides funding to selected Arizona nonprofits through an annual grant cycle, supporting various community initiatives.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$28.62M
Contributions & grants$5000%
Program service revenue$27.48M96%
Investment income$787K3%
Other revenue$355K
expenses
Total expenses$22.04M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.64M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$85.60M
Cash$7.40M
Investments$20.91M
Liabilities$1.55M
Net assets$84.06M
Liquid reserves15.4 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +93.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 17
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHAEL NEALY FORMER EXEC. DIRECTOR (THRU 3/7/22) 30 $1.07M
JOSE MORENO CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 30 $356K
CURT KRIZAN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 30 $352K
BOB WHITEHOUSE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 30 $310K
JAMES HATFIELD DIRECTOR / INTERIM EXEC. DIRECTOR 2 $197K
SCOTT LEIGHTMAN SR. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 30 $176K
ROSEMARY JAMES CONTROLLER 30 $154K
EDDIE EIXENBERGER VICE PRESIDENT OF TICKET SALES 30 $126K
KRISTINA CHUMPOL SR. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS 30 $120K
JULIE ATHERTON SR. DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION 30 $107K
PATRICK BARKLEY CHAIR EMERITUS 5 $3K
JUDY BERNAS CHAIR-ELECT 2 $1K
RAY ARTIGUE DIRECTOR 2 $875
BRYCE HANCOCK TREASURER 2 $830
DAVE DORWARD DIRECTOR 2 $645
MARCHELLE FRANKLIN DIRECTOR 2 $630
BRETT BENTON DIRECTOR (THRU 3/31/22) 2 $605
board members · 7
  • BRIAN BEDNAR — DIRECTOR
  • DAWN ROGERS — DIRECTOR
  • DENISE SEOMIN — DIRECTOR
  • DON REESE — DIRECTOR
  • DR JAVIER CARDENAS — DIRECTOR (THRU 3/31/22)
  • ED ERHARDT — DIRECTOR
  • GARY HANSON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • Big 12 Conference Partner — Hosts a postseason college football matchup featuring teams from the Big 12 Conference.
  • Big Ten Conference Partner — Hosts a postseason college football matchup featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference.
  • Chase Field Partner — Holds the Rate Bowl event at Chase Field, an MLB stadium.
  • City of Scottsdale Partner — Partner organization featured in the museum's partner spotlight.
  • Craft Culinary Concepts Partner — Exclusive food service provider for concessions at State Farm Stadium during the event.
  • DonorsChoose Partner — Provides grants to teachers through DonorsChoose.
  • ESPN Partner — Collaborated to broadcast the championship game and a semifinal of the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic nationally on ESPNU and the ESPN App.
  • Grand Canyon University Partner — Listed as an "Honor Roll" school partner.
  • HomeTeam Network Partner — Partnered to produce all games of the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, with 17 games livestreamed on the Foundation's website.
  • Oakley Partner — Presenting sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, supporting the advancement of flag football and athlete opportunities.
  • Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers Partner — Program providing direct funding to teachers and classrooms across Arizona.
  • Palo Verde Generating Station Partner — Title partner of Wishes for Teachers.
  • Rate Bowl Partner — Annual bowl game that supports fundraising and community engagement efforts.
  • Rate Bowl Partner — Co-hosts events and shares legacy membership benefits with the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
  • SRP Partner — Presents the Wishes for Teachers Draft Day.
  • State Farm Stadium Partner — Host venue for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, providing facilities and operational support.
  • Valley Metro Partner — Provides public bus transportation access to the event via stops near the stadium.
  • Vrbo Partner — Title sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl, reflected in the event name and branding.
  • Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Partner — Annual bowl game that supports fundraising and community engagement efforts.
  • Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Partner — Co-hosts events and shares legacy membership benefits with the Rate Bowl.