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ARIZONA LOCAL POST

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 872217945 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE A30 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · azluminaria.org
revenue
$267K
expenses
$245K
net assets
$127K
employees
6
volunteers
1
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN ARIZONA THROUGH LOCAL, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM

profile · synthesized from sources

Arizona Luminaria is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to community-centered journalism and truly local news in Arizona. It focuses on holding government and power accountable, particularly for vulnerable and underrepresented communities, including Indigenous and borderlands populations. The organization produces in-depth, accessible reporting while adhering to strong ethical standards and donor transparency.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Community-Centered Journalism Initiative
Grassroots reporting model that listens to, learns from, and unites Arizona communities through local storytelling
Education Solutions Reporting
Bilingual education reporting supported by a grant from the Arizona Local News Fund, focusing on public and charter school issues in Arizona
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Transgender People Reporting
Investigative reporting supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Fund for Indigenous Journalists, focusing on justice and equity for Indigenous communities
ProPublica Local Reporting Network
Collaborative investigative reporting initiative with ProPublica, focusing on border and immigration issues in Arizona
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • MMIWG2ST+ Case Mapping and Database Development 6 activities
    • Database Development and Research on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      ARIZONA LOCAL POST developed a database dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender People in Arizona, compiling data from public records, existing databases, news reports, social media, and family accounts. Initial findings from this database highlight demographics and circumstances surrounding these cases.
    • Database development on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      Developed and maintains a first-of-its-kind database tracking cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender People in Arizona, compiling data from public records, NamUs, news, social media, and family accounts since late 2023.
    • Database development on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      Developed and maintains a first-of-its-kind database tracking cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender People in Arizona, compiling data from public records, NamUs, news reports, social media, and family accounts since late 2023.
    • Database on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      Developed and maintains a first-of-its-kind database documenting cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender People in Arizona, compiling data from public records, law enforcement, NamUs, news reports, social media, and family accounts since late 2023.
    • Maintaining a Database of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      Developed and maintains a database dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender People in Arizona. This database, compiled from public records, existing databases, news reports, social media, and family accounts, reflects nearly 100 cases and provides insights into demographics and circumstances.
    • Maintaining a Database of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People
      Developed and maintains a database dedicated to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and Transgender People in Arizona, compiling data from public records, existing databases, news reports, social media, and family accounts since late 2023.
  • Local Cultural & Business News Publishing 5 activities
    • Investigative Journalism and Reporting
      ARIZONA LOCAL POST conducts investigative reporting on local issues, such as identifying the company behind a major data center proposal in Tucson, and produces a weekly newsletter featuring stories on culture, education, and community issues in Arizona.
    • Publishing a Weekly Newsletter
      Produces and distributes a free weekly email newsletter featuring in-depth stories on culture, education, and community issues in Arizona, specifically covering Tucson and Arizona news without paywalls.
    • Publishing a Weekly Newsletter
      Produces and distributes a free weekly email newsletter featuring in-depth stories on culture, education, and community issues in Arizona, specifically covering Tucson and Arizona news without paywalls.
    • Weekly digital newsletter publication
      Produces and distributes a free weekly email newsletter featuring in-depth stories on Arizona culture, education, and community issues, accessible without paywalls.
    • Weekly newsletter publication
      Produces and distributes a free weekly email newsletter featuring in-depth stories on Arizona culture, education, community issues, and local news, accessible without paywalls.
  • Code of Conduct Enforcement & Ethics Oversight 4 activities
    • Community Content Moderation
      ARIZONA LOCAL POST establishes and enforces a Code of Conduct policy to ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for its readers, with a zero-tolerance policy for uncivil behavior including hate speech, abusive content, and denigration of communities of color.
    • Community moderation and conduct enforcement
      Enforces a Code of Conduct policy that bans uncivil behavior, including hate speech, name-calling, abusive content, denigration of communities of color, and self-promotion, to maintain a respectful environment for readers.
    • Community moderation and conduct policy enforcement
      Enforces a Code of Conduct with a zero-tolerance policy for uncivil behavior, including banning users who engage in hate speech, name-calling, abusive content, denigration of communities of color, or self-promotion.
    • Fostering an Inclusive Online Environment
      Establishes and enforces a Code of Conduct policy with a zero-tolerance approach to uncivil behavior, banning users who engage in name-calling, hate speech, abusive content, denigrating communities of color, or self-promotion to ensure a welcoming environment for readers.
  • Uncategorized 10 activities
    • Conducting Investigative Reporting
      Engages in investigative journalism, such as identifying the company behind a significant data center proposal in Tucson.
    • Editorial and advertising operations
      Offers digital and political advertising on its website while maintaining editorial independence from sponsors and funders; political ads are not published in newsletters or on social media.
    • Editorial and funding independence
      Maintains editorial independence by ensuring sponsors and funders do not influence content, while offering digital advertising space on its website and in its opt-in email newsletter.
    • Investigative Journalism
      Conducts investigative reporting on local issues, such as identifying companies behind significant development proposals.
    • Investigative reporting on local development
      Conducted investigative reporting that identified Amazon as the entity behind a major data center proposal in Tucson, contributing to public transparency on significant local projects.
    • Investigative reporting on local development projects
      Conducted investigative reporting that identified Amazon as the entity behind a major data center proposal in Tucson.
    • Non-endorsement of political candidates or issues
      Does not endorse political candidates or issues, maintaining a neutral editorial stance on political matters.
    • Offering Digital Advertising Services
      Provides digital advertising opportunities on its website for candidates, campaigns, and advocacy groups, while maintaining editorial independence and not publishing political ads in its newsletter or social media channels.
    • Political advertising policy
      Accepts political advertising from candidates, campaigns, and advocacy groups for publication on its website but does not publish such ads in its newsletter or on social media channels.
    • Providing Digital Advertising Opportunities
      Offers digital advertising space on its website and in its opt-in email newsletter, including political advertising from candidates, campaigns, and advocacy groups on its website, while maintaining editorial independence.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$267K
Contributions & grants$267K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$245K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$187K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$137K
Cash$104K
Investments$0
Liabilities$10K
Net assets$127K
Liquid reserves5.1 mo
2 years on record · 2021–2022 · YoY revenue +53.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
IRENE C MCKISSON PRESIDENT 40 $50K
DIANNA NANEZ EXECUTIVE EDITOR 40 $50K
REBECCA S PALLACK OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE 40 $34K
board members · 4
  • ADAM LOPEZ FALK — DIRECTOR
  • DANNY HERNANDEZ — DIRECTOR
  • NICHOLAS HILTON — DIRECTOR
  • VERONICA CRUZ MERCADO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 83

who they work with

  • Amazon Partner — Identified as the company behind a significant data center proposal in Tucson.
  • American Society of News Editors Partner — Guided by the commitment of the American Society of News Editors to achieve racial and ethnic parity in newsrooms.
  • American Society of News Editors Partner — Holds itself accountable to the American Society of News Editors' commitment to achieving racial/ethnic parity in newsrooms.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Adam Lopez Falk joined the foundation as Community Program Officer.
  • Arizona Local News Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Arizona Local News Fund Funder — Provides grant support for education reporting.
  • Arizona Student Media Advisory Board Partner — Veronica Cruz Mercado previously volunteered for the board.
  • Arnold Ventures Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Arnold Ventures Funder — Received contributions of over $5,000.
  • Becky Pallack Partner — Operations Executive responsible for sponsorship and advertising inquiries.
  • Burton Family Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Funder — Received contributions of over $5,000 from The Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona Fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.
  • Data Driven Reporting Project Funder — Supported the investigative project.
  • Data-Driven Reporting Project Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Education Writers Association Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • El Rio Vecinos Partner — Veronica Cruz Mercado volunteers as a member.
  • Emerson Collective Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Emerson Collective Funder — Received contributions of over $5,000 with support from Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
  • Fund for Nonprofit News (NewsMatch) at The Miami Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Google News Initiative Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Google News Initiative Partner — Supported the organization through various innovation challenges and programs.
  • HS Lopez Family Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Inasmuch Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • Inasmuch Foundation Funder — Received contributions of over $5,000.
  • Institute for Nonprofit News Partner — Adheres to the ethical and editorial independence standards adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News.
  • Institute for Nonprofit News Partner — Follows the ethics and standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News.
  • International Women’s Media Foundation Funder — Received contributions of more than $5,000.
  • International Women’s Media Foundation’s Fund for Indigenous Journalists Funder — Supported the investigative project.
+ 53 more