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COSANTI FOUNDATION

MAYER, AZ · EIN 860208931 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE B300 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · arcosanti.org
revenue
$1.7M
expenses
$2.2M
net assets
$5.2M
employees
45
volunteers
40
program ratio
54%
mission · from form 990

TO INSPIRE A REIMAGINED URBANISM THAT BUILDS RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABLY INTEGRATED WITH THE NATURAL WORLD

profile · synthesized from sources

The Cosanti Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates Arcosanti, a prototype arcology and urban laboratory in Arizona. It aims to inspire reimagined urbanism that integrates resilient and equitable communities with the natural world through experimentation and application of arcology principles. The site offers tours, overnight stays, and educational programs to engage the public with its unique architecture and ecological approach.

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 $239K
    COSANTI FOUNDATION CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO HELP INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY, RESPONSIBLE BUILDING PRACTICES,ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OTHER PRINCIPLES CONSISTENT WITH CREATING URBAN HABITAT WHILE PROTECTING NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. WE FOCUS UPON DEMONSTRATING HOW TO BALANCE EXPERIENTIALLY RICH LIFESTYLES WITH EARTH'S CARRYING CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY AS POPULATION DENSITIES INCREASE. EDUCATION METHODS INCLUDE HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS ONSITE, IN SCHOOLS, AND IN OTHER COMMUNITY VENUES. WORKSHOPS RANGE FROM SINGLE DAY TO MULTI-WEEK PROGRAMS, DRAWING PARTICIPANTS FROM LOCAL K-12 SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD, AND INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ROOTED IN THE CONCEPT OF ARCOLOGY. WE HAVE BEGUN TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE USE OF 3D VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS.
named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Cosanti Originals
Handmaking and selling bronze and ceramic windbells, with proceeds supporting Arcosanti and The Cosanti Foundation's mission.
Guided Tours
Daily site tours focusing on sustainability, architecture, and archives, including tailored tours for K-12 school groups.
Hiking Trails
Maintained trails on the 860-acre property for visitors and overnight guests to explore the natural desert environment.
Overnight Guestrooms
Provides an immersive experience of life at Arcosanti with simple-but-elegant guestrooms and freedom to explore the grounds.
The Archives at Arcosanti
Collection of archival materials documenting the organization's history, including Soleri's writings, photos, and digital models, accessible through in-person tours and online partnerships.
Workshops
Immersive educational programs focused on learning by doing in an inspiring landscape, currently being reworked.
activities · 7 clusters

what they do

  • Experimental Arcology Development 12 activities
    • Building Experimental Dwellings
      Built experimental dwellings using unique and innovative building techniques at Cosanti, which is now recognized as an Arizona Historic Site.
    • Building Experimental Dwellings at Cosanti
      Built experimental dwellings using unique and innovative building techniques at Cosanti, which is now recognized as an Arizona Historic Site.
    • Building Experimental Dwellings at Cosanti
      Built experimental dwellings using unique and innovative building techniques at Cosanti, which is now recognized as an Arizona Historic Site.
    • Constructing and Maintaining Arcosanti
      Constructed Arcosanti, an experimental town in Arizona, starting in 1970, engaging close to 8,000 volunteers over 50 years through intensive six-week-long workshops. The organization continues to maintain the 860-acre property, including its unique architectural features and riparian habitat.
    • Constructing and Maintaining Arcosanti
      Constructs and maintains Arcosanti, an experimental town in Arizona, which began in 1970 and has involved close to 8,000 volunteers over 50 years in building its iconic architecture and structures.
    • Constructing and Maintaining Arcosanti
      Constructed Arcosanti, an experimental town and prototype arcology in Arizona, starting in 1970, engaging close to 8,000 volunteers over 50 years in its development and ongoing maintenance of its 860-acre property.
    • Construction and operation of Arcosanti as an experimental arcology
      Since 1970, the Cosanti Foundation has constructed and maintained Arcosanti, an experimental town in Arizona designed as a prototype arcology to test urban planning concepts and sustainable living. The project has engaged close to 8,000 volunteers over 50 years through intensive six-week workshops focused on hands-on building using innovative techniques.
    • Development and preservation of experimental architecture at Cosanti
      Built experimental dwellings at Cosanti using unique and innovative construction techniques, which is now recognized as an Arizona Historic Site.
    • Publishing Research on Arcology
      Published "Arcology: The City in the Image of Man" in 1969, contributing to the field of urban planning concepts.
    • Publishing Research on Arcology
      Published "Arcology: The City in the Image of Man" in 1969, contributing to the field of urban planning concepts.
    • Publishing Research on Arcology
      Published "Arcology: The City in the Image of Man" in 1969, contributing to the field of urban planning concepts.
    • Research and publication on arcology and urban design
      Authored and published foundational research including "Arcology: The City in the Image of Man" in 1969, which articulates the theoretical framework for arcology—the fusion of architecture and ecology—as a model for sustainable urban living.
  • Hands-On Sustainable Building Workshops 10 activities
    • Conducting Educational Workshops and Cultural Programming
      Offers immersive educational workshops based on the principle of learning by doing, integrating Arizona's landscape and unique architecture into skill-building and community development. The organization also facilitates performances, workshops, and cultural programming within the multi-use structures at Arcosanti.
    • Cultural programming and performances at Arcosanti
      Facilitates performances, workshops, and cultural events within the multi-use structures of Arcosanti, contributing to its role as a living laboratory for art, architecture, and community life.
    • Hosting visitors and overnight guests at Arcosanti
      Hosts tens of thousands of visitors annually and provides overnight guestrooms for an immersive experience within the arcology, featuring canyon views and integration with nature. Guests have access to 860+ acres of property including architectural landmarks, gardens, hiking trails, and performance spaces.
    • Offering Immersive Educational Workshops
      Offers immersive educational workshops that integrate Arizona's landscape and unique architecture into skill-building and community development, based on the principle of learning by doing.
    • Offering Overnight Stays
      Provides overnight guestrooms at Arcosanti for an immersive experience of life within the arcology, allowing guests to explore the 860+ acre property and its architectural features and hiking trails.
    • Operating Arcosanti as a Visitor Destination
      Operates Arcosanti as a public destination, hosting tens of thousands of visitors annually and offering daily public tours, specialty tours (including sustainability, architecture, and archives), live artisan demonstrations, workshops, and cultural events.
    • Operating Educational Workshops
      Offers immersive educational workshops that integrate Arizona's landscape and unique architecture into skill-building and community development, including intensive six-week-long workshops that historically engaged volunteers in Arcosanti's construction.
    • Operating Visitor Programs at Arcosanti
      Hosts tens of thousands of visitors annually at Arcosanti, offering multiple daily public tours, specialty tours focusing on sustainability, architecture, and archives, and tours tailored to K-12 school groups. The organization also provides overnight guestrooms for an immersive experience and maintains hiking trails for visitors.
    • Providing Overnight Guest Accommodations
      Provides overnight guestrooms at Arcosanti for an immersive experience, allowing guests to explore the 860+ acre property, including architectural features and hiking trails.
    • Providing Public Tours and Events
      Hosts tens of thousands of visitors annually at Arcosanti, offering daily public tours, specialty tours focusing on sustainability, architecture, and archives, and cultural programming including performances and workshops.
  • Historical Collections & Archives Management 4 activities
    • Archival preservation and digital access to organizational history
      Maintains a comprehensive archive of nearly a century of organizational history, including Soleri’s writings, drawings, construction photos, and digital 3D models. Recreated original sketches and scrolls as super-high-resolution digital images and provides public access through the Arizona Memory Project partnership.
    • Archiving and Disseminating Historical Materials
      Maintains an extensive collection of archival materials documenting nearly a century of organizational history, including Soleri’s writings and drawings, and provides public access to these materials through digital recreation and partnerships with projects like the Arizona Memory Project.
    • Archiving and Disseminating Historical Materials
      Maintains an extensive collection of archival materials documenting nearly a century of organizational history, including Soleri’s writings and drawings, photos of construction, and digital 3D models. The organization recreates original sketches as high-resolution digital images and provides a special collection of multimedia archival materials to the public through a partnership with the Arizona Memory Project.
    • Archiving and Sharing Historical Materials
      Maintains an extensive collection of archival materials documenting nearly a century of organizational history, including Soleri’s writings and drawings, and provides a special collection of multimedia archival materials to the public through a partnership with the Arizona Memory Project.
  • Soleri Windbell Production 4 activities
    • Producing Handmade Windbells
      Produces handmade bronze and ceramic windbells at Arcosanti and Cosanti through resident artisans, using original Soleri bell patterns and a bronze foundry built with Paolo Soleri's cast-in-place silt-casting method.
    • Producing Handmade Windbells
      Produces handmade bronze and ceramic windbells at Arcosanti and Cosanti through resident artisans, utilizing a bronze foundry built with Paolo Soleri's cast-in-place silt-casting method and using original Soleri bell patterns.
    • Producing Handmade Windbells
      Produces handmade bronze and ceramic windbells at Arcosanti and Cosanti, utilizing resident artisans and a bronze foundry built with Paolo Soleri's cast-in-place silt-casting method, based on original Soleri bell patterns.
    • Production of handmade windbells by resident artisans
      Produces Cosanti Originals Bronze Windbells using one of thirty-two original Soleri bell patterns at the Arcosanti Foundry Apse, a bronze foundry built with Paolo Soleri's cast-in-place silt-casting method. Year-round production also includes ceramic windbells made at Cosanti.
  • Architectural Site Tours and Educational Programs 1 activity
    • Immersive educational programming and public engagement at Arcosanti
      Offers immersive educational workshops, daily public tours, specialty tours (including sustainability, architecture, and archives), and K-12 school group tours led by community members. Programming integrates Arizona’s landscape and unique architecture into experiential learning and community development.
  • Riparian Habitat & Waterbody Management 1 activity
    • Maintaining the Arcosanti Property and Habitat
      Maintains an 860-acre property at Arcosanti, including two miles of the Agua Fria River, to support a riparian habitat for over 200 bird species and Mediterranean olive and cypress trees.
  • Desert & Native Plant Garden Management 1 activity
    • Stewardship of natural and architectural environment at Arcosanti
      Maintains an 860-acre property traversed by two miles of the Agua Fria River, supporting a riparian habitat and over 200 bird species through native vegetation including Mediterranean olive and cypress trees. Also maintains architectural features such as Vaults, Colly Garden, Amphitheater, Music Center, Minds Garden, Swimming Pool, Hiking Trails, and Sky Theater.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$1.74M
Contributions & grants$107K6%
Program service revenue$1.60M92%
Investment income$10K1%
Other revenue$28K
expenses
Total expenses$2.15M
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead46%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.36M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.05M
Cash$283K
Investments$1.19M
Liabilities$808K
Net assets$5.24M
Liquid reserves8.2 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -5.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LIZ MARTIN-MALIKIAN CEO & EXEC DIRECTOR 40 $125K
board members · 9
  • CAROLYN LUKENSMEYER — DIRECTOR
  • IVAN FRITZ — DIRECTOR
  • JEFF STEIN — SECRETARY
  • JEFFREY ZUCKER — DIRECTOR
  • KELLI HUTH — VICE CHAIR
  • MATTEO DI MICHELE — BOARD CHAIR
  • SARAH MARINO — DIRECTOR
  • STEPHEN OSTWINKLE — TREASURER
  • YOUNGSOO KIM — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Agua Fria River Partner — Two miles of the river flow through the property, providing riparian habitat.
  • Arizona Memory Project Partner — Partnered to provide a special collection of multimedia archival materials to the public.
  • Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records Partner — Received assistance from Ryan Ehrfurth (Digital Project Manager at Arizona Memory Project | Special Maps Collection) in curating and creating the collection.
  • Ceramica Artistica Solimene Partner — Designed a ceramics factory in Italy, which is considered a significant architectural work.
  • Cosanti Partner — Sister site where Cosanti Originals windbells are also produced alongside Arcosanti.
  • EventBrite Partner — Ticketing platform used for public programs and performances.
  • Institute of American Indian Arts Partner — Commissioned to build an outdoor amphitheater in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
  • New York Times Government — Famed architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable of the New York Times described Arcosanti as "the urban laboratory" in 1970.
  • Second Canvas Partner — Collaborated to recreate original sketches and scrolls as super-high-resolution digital images.