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FIRST PLACE AZ

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 461722227 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE L80 · Housing & Shelter · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.firstplaceaz.org
revenue
$6.1M
expenses
$4.7M
net assets
$11.1M
employees
40
volunteers
28
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

SETS THE STANDARD FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES THAT INTEGRATE ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND SPECIAL ABILITIES INTO THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY THROUGH HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS, & CULTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

FIRST PLACE AZ provides supportive housing and a two-year independent living program for adults with autism and other neurodiversities in Phoenix, AZ. The organization focuses on building life skills, career readiness, and fostering community through a range of daily activities and amenities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

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

  1. #1 primary $834K
    TRANSITION ACADEMY: FIRST PLACE TRANSITION ACADEMY INCLUDES 16 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN OUR FIRST PLACE PHOENIX PROPERTY, AND IS A STRUCTURED, TWO-YEAR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO HELP ADULTS WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER BUILD CRUCIAL INDEPENDENT LIVING AND CAREER-READINESS SKILLS. OPERATED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTHWEST AUTISM RESEARCH & RESOURCE CENTER (SARRC, PROGRAM OPERATOR) AND GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 2021 WAS THE FIFTH GRADUATING CLASS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO MAXIMIZE THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH LEARN4INDEPENDENCE, A COMPREHENSIVE TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM OF 32 SEMESTER-LENGTH COURSES OF 17 WEEKS EACH. COURSES RANGE IN TOPIC FROM WORK, FINANCES AND NUTRITION TO HEALTH, SAFETY AND RELATIONSHIPS. PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN THEIR OWN PRIVATE BEDROOM, ALSO KNOWN AS THEIR "INDEPENDENT LIVING CLASSROOM," IN ONE OF THE FOUR FOUR-BEDROOM UNITS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF FIRST PLACE PHOENIX. THEY RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE IN LIFE SKILLS AT COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.
  2. #2 $1.00M
    GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: THE FIRST PLACE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER NEURODIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP LEADERS ADVANCING BEST PRACTICES. THE INSTITUTE IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY AND RESEARCH, AND HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR THOSE SEEKING SUPPORT-STAFF CAREERS WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE INSTITUTE COLLABORATES WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS THROUGH ITS FIVE CENTERS: MARICOPA COUNTY IDA CENTER FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT; CENTER FOR REAL ESTATE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH; MULZET CENTER FOR EXPRESSION/COMMUNICATION; AND THE DANIEL JORDAN FIDDLE FOUNDATION CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY. THE INSTITUTE HOSTED ITS 10TH SYMPOSIUM IN OCTOBER 2021, BRINGING TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF PIONEERS FROM MOST STATES ACROSS THE U.S. AND VARIOUS COUNTRIES REPRESENTING PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PHILANTHROPIC AND NONPROFIT SECTORS FOCUSED ON FUELING A NEW WAVE OF REAL ESTATE FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND COLLABORATING TO ADDRESS AND REMOVE ROADBLOCKS TO MORE AFFORDABLE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPTIONS. THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HAS LICENSEDTHE LEARN4INDEPENDENCE CURRICULUM TO TEN NONPROFIT AND HIGHER-EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS FROM ARIZONA, COLORADO, FLORIDA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, TEXAS AND UTAH ALLOWING OTHERS TO BENEFIT FROM THE MANY YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INCURRED IN DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM. THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE'S CENTER FOR EDUCATION,TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT EXPANDED ITS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRECISIONISTS, INC. (TPI), A WILMINGTON, DELAWARE-BASED COMPANY THAT CREATES JOBS FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS A BROAD RANGE OF DISABILITIES. DURING 2021, TPI OPENED A NEW TRAINING AND INNOVATION CENTER IN PHOENIX. THIS UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP HAS CREATED SEVERAL JOBS FOR LOCAL ADULTS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER NEURO-DIVERSITIES, INCLUDING FIRST PLACE RESIDENTS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Life Plan
A program guiding daily activities and fostering a sense of community among residents, rooted in values of kindness, wellness, personal growth, and fun, with over 1,600 annual activities focusing on health, arts, recreation, and connection.
First Place Transition Academy
A two-year residential program for adults with autism that helps build independent living and career-readiness skills through the Learn4Independence® curriculum, taught by Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) instructors.
Individual Nutrition and Fitness Goal Planning
Personalized education sessions to explore healthy habits and identify steps to achieve nutrition and fitness goals.
Learn4Independence® curriculum
A 32-course curriculum covering safety, work, etiquette, health, relationships, solutions, organization, finances, identity, transportation, community, nutrition, and living on my own, designed to guide individuals to build greater life and work skills.
activities · 12 clusters

what they do

  • Memorial and Honorary Scholarship Funds 4 activities
    • Baylee Barradas Scholarship Fund
      Established the Baylee Barradas Scholarship Fund to honor a former Transition Academy student and provide financial support to other participants in the program.
    • Scholarship Fund
      Administers the Baylee Barradas Scholarship Fund to support students in the Transition Academy program, established in honor of a former participant.
    • Scholarship Fund Management
      Established the Baylee Barradas Scholarship Fund to honor a former Transition Academy student and support others in the program.
    • Scholarship Fund for Transition Academy
      Established the Baylee Barradas Scholarship Fund to honor a former Transition Academy student and support others in the program.
  • Resident Club & Activity Programming 4 activities
    • Community Life Activities
      Organizes and manages over 1,600 annual community activities for residents, offered seven days a week, including monthly Adventure Club events, social gatherings in the Cox Community Room, and access to various recreational spaces like a LEGO® Lounge, reading lounges, and an Arizona Cardinals Game Room.
    • Community Life Activities and Engagement
      Provides a dynamic schedule of over 1,600 annual community life activities offered seven days a week to support resident engagement, including monthly Adventure Club events, and offers various communal spaces such as the Cox Community Room, an outdoor patio, LEGO® Lounge, reading lounges, a "Space to Create," a Zen Room, and an Arizona Cardinals Game Room.
    • Community Life Activities and Engagement
      Provides a dynamic schedule of over 1,600 annual community life activities seven days a week to support resident engagement, including monthly Adventure Club events (e.g., indoor skydiving, pickleball), and access to various communal spaces like the Cox Community Room, an outdoor patio with a sports pool, and a LEGO® Lounge.
    • Community Life and Recreational Activities
      Organizes over 1,600 annual community activities, including weekly group events, monthly Adventure Club outings (e.g., indoor skydiving, pickleball), and access to recreational spaces such as a LEGO Lounge, game room, reading lounges, art space, and outdoor patio with garden and sports pool.
  • Resident Wellness Center Services 4 activities
    • Health and Wellness Programming
      Offers comprehensive health and wellness support including weekly nutrition and fitness events, cooking classes in the Culinary Teaching Kitchen, exercise classes, and access to the Goodlife Fitness Room. Also operates the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Spot with telehealth and medical exam services.
    • Health and Wellness Programs
      Provides health and wellness support to residents, focusing on nutrition and exercise through weekly group nutrition and fitness events, cooking classes in Sonia's Culinary Teaching Kitchen, guest chef events, nutrition education activities, exercise classes, and access to a health & wellness center with telehealth services and a medical exam room.
    • Health and Wellness Programs
      Provides health and wellness support to residents, focusing on nutrition and exercise through weekly group nutrition and fitness events, including cooking classes in Sonia's Culinary Teaching Kitchen, Guest Chef events, nutrition education activities, and exercise classes, and maintains a health & wellness center with telehealth services and a medical exam room.
    • Health and Wellness Support
      Offers health and wellness support to residents, including weekly group nutrition and fitness events, cooking classes in Sonia's Culinary Teaching Kitchen, and access to the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Spot and a Goodlife Fitness Room.
  • Independent Living Skills Training 4 activities
    • Life Skills Training and Support
      Provides personalized assistance and training to residents in developing daily living skills, including transportation navigation, meal planning, social integration, and career development, with individualized goal setting at move-in.
    • Life Skills and Daily Living Support
      Provides personalized life skills training and daily living support, including transportation navigation, meal planning, social integration, and career development. Each resident participates in a discovery session pre-move-in and a planning session at move-in to support transition and goal setting.
    • Life Skills and Daily Living Support
      Provides personalized assistance and training to residents in developing daily living skills, including transportation navigation, meal planning, social integration, and career development, with individualized goal setting at move-in.
    • Life Skills and Workforce Development Training
      Provides personalized assistance and training to residents in daily living skills, including transportation navigation, meal planning, social integration, and career development, along with employment and workforce development services to identify skills and access job opportunities.
  • Autism & Neurodiversity Research and Support Services 4 activities
    • Longitudinal and Translational Research
      Conducts longitudinal and translational research studies in collaboration with Arizona State University to support education initiatives for individuals with autism and/or I/DD.
    • Longitudinal and Translational Research
      Conducts longitudinal and translational research studies in collaboration with Arizona State University to support education initiatives for individuals with autism and/or I/DD.
    • Longitudinal and Translational Research
      Conducts longitudinal and translational research studies in collaboration with Arizona State University to support education initiatives for individuals with autism and/or I/DD.
    • Research Collaboration
      Conducts longitudinal and translational research studies in collaboration with Arizona State University to support education initiatives for individuals with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
  • Clinical Training for Health Students 4 activities
    • Medical Student Engagement Program
      Offers service learning programs and an elective, Minding the Gap, which connects medical students with First Place–Phoenix residents for one-on-one engagement focused on healthcare and lifestyle independence.
    • Medical Student Engagement Programs
      Offers service learning programs and the Minding the Gap elective that connect medical students with First Place–Phoenix residents for one-on-one engagement focused on healthcare and lifestyle independence.
    • Medical Student Engagement Programs
      Offers service learning programs and the Minding the Gap elective that connect medical students with First Place–Phoenix residents for one-on-one engagement focused on healthcare and lifestyle independence.
    • Service Learning and Academic Partnerships
      Offers service learning programs and the Minding the Gap elective that connect medical students with First Place–Phoenix residents for one-on-one engagement focused on healthcare and lifestyle independence.
  • Residential Support for IDD Adults 4 activities
    • Residential Housing Program
      Operates a residential housing program in Phoenix, First Place–Phoenix Apartments, designed for adults with autism and other neurodiversities, featuring smart-home environments and various floorplan options, including 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units.
    • Residential Housing Program for Adults with Autism and Neurodiversities
      Operates a residential housing program in Phoenix, First Place–Phoenix Apartments, designed for adults with autism and other neurodiversities, featuring smart-home environments tailored to sensory sensitivity and offering various independent living apartment units (1-bedroom, 1-bathroom and 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom options).
    • Residential Housing Program for Adults with Autism and Neurodiversities
      Operates a residential housing program in Phoenix featuring smart-home environments tailored to sensory sensitivity, offering 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartment units for adults with autism and other neurodiversities. Units are available at $4,600–$4,800 per month, with independent living supports and 24/7 concierge service.
    • Residential Housing Program for Adults with Neurodiversities
      Operates a residential housing program in Phoenix, First Place–Phoenix Apartments, designed for adults with autism and other neurodiversities, offering independent living apartment units with smart-home environments tailored to sensory sensitivity and various floorplan options (1-bedroom, 1-bathroom for $4,600/month; 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom for single occupancy at $4,800/month).
  • Disability-Specific Career & Independence Training 4 activities
    • Transition Academy Program
      Operates a two-year Transition Academy program in Phoenix for adults with autism, where participants live in shared apartments and receive instruction, employment readiness, and clinical services to build independent living and career-readiness skills, culminating in a certificate in life skills upon completion of the Learn4Independence program at GateWay Community College.
    • Transition Academy Program
      Operates a two-year Transition Academy program in Phoenix that provides structured instruction in independent living and career readiness for adults with autism. The program includes residential living, a 32-course Learn4Independence curriculum, and clinical services, culminating in a life skills certificate from GateWay Community College.
    • Transition Academy Program
      Operates a two-year Transition Academy program in Phoenix for adults with autism, where participants live in shared apartments and receive instruction, employment readiness, and clinical services to build independent living and career-readiness skills, culminating in a certificate in life skills upon completion of the program at GateWay Community College.
    • Transition Academy Program
      Operates the First Place Transition Academy, a two-year, 32-course program in Phoenix that provides residential living, instruction, employment readiness, and clinical services to adults with autism to build independent living and career-readiness skills, culminating in a life skills certificate from GateWay Community College.
  • Employment Readiness for Vulnerable Adults 3 activities
    • Employment and Workforce Development
      Provides employment readiness services and workforce development support, helping residents identify skills and interests and connect with volunteer and job opportunities.
    • Employment and Workforce Development Services
      Offers services that help residents identify skills and interests and access volunteer and job opportunities.
    • Employment and Workforce Development Services
      Offers employment and workforce development services to help residents identify skills and interests and access volunteer and job opportunities.
  • Resident Support and Security Services 2 activities
    • Concierge Services
      Provides a 24/7 concierge service for residents.
    • Resident Support Services
      Provides a 24/7 concierge service for residents.
  • Facility Tours for Senior and Sober Living 2 activities
    • Prospective Resident Engagement and Onboarding
      Offers in-person tours of the First Place–Phoenix Apartments, conducts discovery sessions for prospective residents to assess fit and support transition planning, and provides a program orientation for new students upon move-in.
    • Prospective Resident Engagement and Onboarding
      Offers in-person tours of the First Place–Phoenix Apartments, conducts discovery sessions for prospective residents to assess fit and support transition planning, and provides a program orientation for new students to meet staff, review schedules, and learn about community life.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Student Recruitment and Onboarding
      Conducts in-person tours for prospective students, requires a registration form and fee for application, and provides a program orientation for new students to meet staff, review schedules, and learn about community life.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$6.14M
Contributions & grants$3.18M52%
Program service revenue$2.76M45%
Investment income$193K3%
Other revenue$642
expenses
Total expenses$4.65M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$2.03M
Grants paid out$40K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.66M
Cash$3.15M
Investments$1.59M
Liabilities$5.58M
Net assets$11.08M
Liquid reserves12.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -14.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DENISE RESNIK FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO 36 $260K
NANCY OTTMANN COO 54 $186K
WILLIAM HEIMERDINGER CFO (THRU 6/22) 15 $42K
board members · 12
  • AMY PAWLOWSKI — DIRECTOR
  • BRUCE SCHWARTZ — TREASURER
  • GREG WELLS — DIRECTOR
  • HOWARD SOBELMAN — CHAIR
  • JACK HENRY — DIRECTOR (THRU 7/22)
  • JOYCE MILLARD HOIE — VICE CHAIR
  • JUAN SALGADO — DIRECTOR
  • KATHY HANCOCK — SECRETARY
  • MICHAEL TRAILOR — DIRECTOR
  • NANCY WHITE — DIRECTOR
  • TESS BURLESON — DIRECTOR
  • TOM ORTEGA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Arizona State University Partner — Partners on research initiatives including the First Place Transition Academy’s longitudinal study and the Global Leadership Institute’s translational research.
  • Artful Giving Partner — Supported the creation of the LEGO® Lounge.
  • Creighton University Partner — Collaborates on service learning programs and the Minding the Gap elective to train medical students through direct engagement with First Place–Phoenix residents.
  • Dignity Health Partner — Partners with Dignity Health for telehealth and medical exam room services at the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Health Spot.
  • Judy Ackerman and Richard Epstein Partner — Provided funding for a special fund that supports resident outings and exploratory experiences.
  • Nancy Ottmann Partner — Chief Operating Officer of First Place–Phoenix, quoted on community impact
  • Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center Partner — Conducts clinical determination and assessment processes for applicants to the Transition Academy.
  • Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) Partner — Provides clinical services and instructors for the First Place Transition Academy.
  • Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation Partner — The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation Garden offers seasonal produce for culinary creations.