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Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented

Gilbert, AZ · EIN 860310052 · Form 990EZ · FY2021 · Small ($100K-$1M) · arizonagifted.org
revenue
$174K
expenses
$179K
net assets
$320K
employees
mission · from form 990

Advocate for gifted and talented students in AZ

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT) is an advocacy and infrastructure organization that supports gifted education in Arizona. It provides scholarships and grants for gifted students and teachers, offers professional development for educators and parents, and advocates for policies that benefit gifted learners at local, state, and national levels.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

AAGT Advocacy Task Force
Works to monitor state and national legislative efforts and advocates at the district level for gifted education.
AAGT Classroom
Offers self-paced online professional learning experiences, including conference bundles, learning lab webinars, and specialty courses, for educators, parents, and advocates.
Annual Conference Scholarship
Funds first-time attendees to the AAGT Annual Conference, with up to 10 scholarships issued, half designated for educators from Title I schools.
Community Action Network (CAN)
A coalition of citizens organized through AAGT that advocates for equitable gifted education in Arizona by attending meetings, writing letters, and contacting policymakers.
Needs Based Student Enrichment Scholarship
Provides tuition up to $200 for K-12 students from Title 1 schools to attend enrichment activities, with up to 20 scholarships awarded per year (5 per quarter).
Student Academic Team Competitions Scholarship
Provides funds for student teams (2-10+ members) to travel to academic competitions, with up to $500 per team. Four teams are sponsored per school year, with preference for Title 1 schools.
Student Enrichment Scholarship
Provides tuition up to $200 for K-12 students to attend enrichment activities, with up to 40 scholarships awarded per year (10 per quarter, up to 5 needs-based).
Teacher Classroom Mini-Grant
Funds K-12 classroom projects and activities that align with AAGT's vision, up to $500 per grant. Two grants are funded per year.
Teacher Gifted Endorsement Tuition Scholarship
Reimburses teachers for tuition toward gifted endorsement courses or conference registration fees up to $500 (lifetime amount). Up to four scholarships are granted each calendar year.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Gifted Education Resource Development 8 activities
    • Centralized online resource hub for gifted education
      Provides a centralized online platform with resources, webinars, presentations, and expert information to support families and educators in understanding and navigating gifted education in Arizona.
    • Develop educational toolkits and resources
      Works with the Arizona Department of Education to build a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit and provides members with access to various resources including webinars, presentations, and an online platform with recorded sessions.
    • Developing Best Practices Toolkits
      Collaborates with the Arizona Department of Education to build a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit.
    • Developing resources and toolkits
      Works with the Arizona Department of Education to build a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit.
    • Development of best practices resources
      Collaborates with the Arizona Department of Education to develop a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit to support educators and schools in implementing effective programming.
    • Provide resources and support for families
      Offers an online resource hub, webinars, community events, a parent handbook, and tip sheets to support families of gifted children in Arizona, including specific events like "Play in the Park" and an annual fall family event.
    • Providing an Online Resource Hub for Gifted Education
      Maintains a centralized online resource hub that offers information, webinars, presentations, and practical guidance for families and educators navigating gifted education in Arizona.
    • Providing an online resource hub for gifted education
      Maintains a centralized online resource hub that offers information, webinars, presentations, and practical guidance for families and educators navigating gifted education in Arizona.
  • State and Local Legislative Advocacy 4 activities
    • Advocacy and policy engagement
      Leads advocacy efforts through the Community Action Network (CAN), monitors legislative activity via the Advocacy Task Force, conducts candidate surveys, and collaborates with the Governor's Office to advance equitable gifted education policies, including promoting local norms in identification.
    • Advocate for gifted education policies
      Monitors legislative efforts related to gifted education at state, national, and district levels, organizes a Community Action Network (CAN) for advocacy, and collaborates with the Governor's Office to strengthen Arizona's gifted education policies.
    • Advocating for Gifted Education Policies
      Advocates for equitable gifted education in Arizona by organizing a Community Action Network, monitoring legislative efforts, collaborating with the Governor's Office, and conducting surveys of political candidates.
    • Advocating for gifted education policies
      Engages in advocacy efforts by organizing a Community Action Network, monitoring legislative efforts, collaborating with the Governor's Office on policy strengthening, and surveying political candidates on gifted education issues.
  • Education Conference & Research Dissemination 4 activities
    • Facilitate networking and community building
      Facilitates connections among families and educators through local groups across Arizona, provides continuous support to local affiliate chapters, and organizes events for community members to connect.
    • Facilitating Connections and Support for Local Groups
      Facilitates connections among families and educators through local groups across Arizona and provides continuous support to local affiliate chapters.
    • Facilitating community connections and support
      Facilitates connections among families and educators through local groups across Arizona, supports local affiliate chapters, and leads the Arizona Rural Gifted Network.
    • Local chapter and network support
      Facilitates local affiliate chapters and specialized networks such as the Arizona Rural Gifted Network, providing continuous support and connection opportunities for families and educators across the state.
  • Teacher & Classroom Support Grants 4 activities
    • Offer grants and scholarships
      Provides various grants and scholarships, including student enrichment scholarships (up to 40 per year, up to $200 each), teacher gifted endorsement tuition scholarships (up to 4 per year, up to $500 each), teacher classroom mini-grants (up to 2 per year, up to $500 each), and academic team sponsorships (up to 4 per year, up to $500 each), as well as annual conference scholarships.
    • Offering Scholarships and Grants
      Provides various scholarships and grants for gifted students, parents, and teachers, including student enrichment scholarships, teacher gifted endorsement tuition scholarships, teacher classroom mini-grants, and annual conference scholarships.
    • Offering scholarships and grants
      Provides various scholarships and grants for gifted students (enrichment activities, academic teams), teachers (gifted endorsement tuition, classroom mini-grants), and conference attendees, with specific allocations for needs-based and Title I school recipients.
    • Teacher and educator support programs
      Offers scholarships for gifted endorsement coursework, teacher classroom mini-grants (up to $500), and professional development opportunities, including conference scholarships for educators from Title I schools.
  • Curriculum-Specific Teacher Training 4 activities
    • Professional development for educators
      Delivers annual in-person and on-demand professional development opportunities, including two full days of training, virtual series (e.g., "Odyssey of Discovery"), self-paced courses (e.g., "Coloring Outside the Lines"), and access to 33+ hours of conference recordings covering gifted identification, differentiation, social-emotional needs, and inclusive practices.
    • Provide professional development for educators
      Offers annual professional development sessions, virtual courses, and on-demand conference packages covering topics such as differentiation, technology integration, social-emotional needs, and gifted identification, providing professional development hours for educators.
    • Providing Professional Development for Educators
      Offers professional development opportunities for educators through annual conferences, on-demand conference packages, virtual courses, and workshops covering topics like differentiation, technology integration, and social-emotional needs of gifted individuals.
    • Providing professional development for educators
      Offers professional development opportunities for educators through annual conferences, on-demand course packages, virtual series, and self-paced courses covering topics such as differentiation, gifted identification, and social-emotional needs of gifted individuals.
  • Advanced & Dual Enrollment Course Offerings 1 activity
    • Grants and scholarships for students and families
      Administers multiple scholarship programs including up to 40 Student Enrichment Scholarships and up to 20 Needs-Based Enrichment Scholarships annually (up to $200 each), and sponsors academic competition teams with travel funding of up to $500 per team.
  • Member Networking & Communication Services 1 activity
    • Publishing News and Member Benefits
      Provides members with a subscription to the AAGT News Brief, offers discounts on events and from vendors, and allows member organizations to post career opportunities and events on the website.
  • Uncategorized 7 activities
    • Annual conferences and institutes
      Hosts an annual conference and a Parent Institute for educators, parents, and community members, featuring expert speakers and professional development, with scholarship support available for first-time attendees.
    • Host annual conferences and events
      Organizes an annual conference and an annual Parent Institute for parents, educators, and community members, offering discounts on registration for members.
    • Membership benefits and community engagement
      Provides members with access to newsletters (AAGT News Brief), event discounts, vendor and publisher discounts, and opportunities to post career openings and events; includes directory listing and announcements for member organizations.
    • Organizing Community Events and Learning Opportunities
      Organizes various events such as "Play in the Park" gatherings, webinars, and an annual fall family event to connect gifted children and their families, and provides learning opportunities for families and educators.
    • Organizing educational and community events
      Organizes and hosts various events including webinars, an annual conference, a Parent Institute, "Play in the Park" gatherings, and a signature family event to connect and educate families and educators of gifted learners.
    • Parent education and support programs
      Offers webinars, tip sheets, a parent handbook, and family events—including "Play in the Park" and an annual fall family event—to provide practical guidance, advocacy tools, and social connection opportunities for parents of gifted children.
    • Providing member benefits
      Offers member-exclusive benefits including a subscription to the AAGT News Brief, vendor and publisher discounts, and opportunities for member organizations to post career opportunities and events on the AAGT website.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$174K
Contributions & grants$25K14%
Program service revenue$135K78%
Investment income$250%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$179K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$30K
Grants paid out$500
balance sheet
Total assets$320K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$320K
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +73.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Heather Pace Executive Director 30 $30K
board members · 10
  • Cindy Brown — Director
  • Helen Freeman — Director since 2/10/22
  • Julie Gunnigle — Director until 4/28/22
  • Kathie Bailey — Director
  • Kathy Thorpe — Director until 1/12/22
  • Laura Dorrell — Director
  • Mai-Lon Wong — Director
  • Michele Thelen — Director
  • Ramya Turaga — Director
  • Rebekah West Keur — Director since 2/10/22
relationships · 14

who they work with

  • AAGT Partners Partner — Collaborates with partner organizations to contribute articles and insights for families of gifted children.
  • Arizona Department of Education Partner — Working together to build a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit.
  • College Board Partner — Refers to the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) program.
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Partner — Jointly developed the Teacher Preparation Standards in Gifted Education with NAGC and CEC-TAG.
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Partner — CAEP approved new Teacher Preparation Standards in Gifted Education, which were developed jointly by NAGC, CEC, and CEC-TAG.
  • Governor’s Office Partner — Ongoing collaboration to strengthen Arizona’s gifted education policies.
  • Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration Partner — Refers to the Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration's report "A Nation Deceived".
  • NAGC Partner — Refers to NAGC's position on ability grouping, acceleration, accountability for gifted student learning, and affective needs.
  • National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Partner — References NAGC's "State of the States in Gifted Education report" as a valuable historical reference.
  • National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Partner — Utilizes NAGC's Pre-K — Grade 12 Gifted Programming Standards to assist school districts in examining the quality of their programming for gifted learners.
  • Riverside Insights Partner — Collaborated on a webinar about evaluating, interpreting, and applying local norms.
  • Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG) Partner — Refers to Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted (SENG) for information on affective curriculum.
  • The Association for the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC-TAG) Partner — NAGC Programming Standards have been endorsed by CEC-TAG.
  • local groups Partner — Collaborates with local groups to connect families and educators of gifted learners across Arizona.