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RUSS LYON FOUNDATION INC

FLAGSTAFF, AZ · EIN 465743236 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE S20 · Community Improvement · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.russlyonfoundation.org
revenue
$151K
expenses
$138K
net assets
$81K
employees
mission · from form 990

THE RUSS LYON FOUNDATION STRIVES TO ORGANIZE AND WORK AS A COLLECTIVE FORCE, MORE POWERFUL THAN THE SUM OF THE INDIVIDUALS, TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES OF THOSE IN NEED, WHILE SPREADING COMPASSION AND KINDNESS WITHIN OUR STATE AND ACROSS OUR BORDERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Russ Lyon Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on community service and charitable giving, primarily in Arizona and northern Mexico. It supports a rotating set of featured nonprofit partners through financial contributions, volunteer efforts, and in-kind donations. The foundation is closely tied to Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, whose employees and leadership drive its philanthropic activities, including home construction, food distribution, and scholarship funding.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

College Scholarship Support
Funds scholarships for low-income, first-generation college students through community college foundations in Arizona
Community Vehicle Donation
Donates transportation vehicles to local nonprofits, such as the van provided to FIBCO Family Services in Phoenix
Food Distribution Program
Organizes and participates in food bag distribution for families in extreme poverty in Agua Prieta, Mexico
Foster Alliance Support
Provides funding and volunteer support to organizations serving foster youth in Arizona
Rancho Feliz Partnership
Supports home construction, food distribution, and education initiatives in Agua Prieta, Mexico, including building homes and funding scholarships for children
activities · 9 clusters

what they do

  • FAFSA & Scholarship Application Support 4 activities
    • Education and scholarship funding
      Funds scholarships for underserved populations, including over 2,000 scholarships in Mexico and support for low-income, first-generation college students through the Maricopa Community College Foundation.
    • Educational Support and Scholarships
      Provides scholarships to low-income, first-generation college students through the Maricopa Community College Foundation and funds over 2,000 scholarships for underserved populations in Mexico, including dedicated support for Rancho Feliz education programs.
    • Educational Support and Scholarships
      Provides scholarships to low-income, first-generation college students through the Maricopa Community College Foundation and funds over 2,000 scholarships for underserved populations in Mexico, including dedicated support for Rancho Feliz education programs.
    • Support for 501(c)(3) Organizations and Educational Scholarships
      Offers V-Corps support to selected 501(c)(3) organizations and provides scholarships to low-income, first-generation college students through the Maricopa Community College Foundation.
  • Integrated Community Housing Development 3 activities
    • Construction and development of community infrastructure
      Invested over $10 million to construct homes, education centers, childcare centers, orphanages, and volunteer dormitories along Arizona's southern border. Also assisted in the construction of two homes in Agua Prieta, Mexico, including pouring footings, drywall prep, and painting.
    • Humanitarian Aid and Infrastructure Development in Mexico
      Distributes food and medical supplies, constructs homes, education centers, childcare centers, orphanages, and volunteer dormitories, and provides humanitarian aid to communities, including the Tarahumara tribe, along the Arizona/Mexico border, with over $10 million invested since inception.
    • Humanitarian Aid and Infrastructure Development in Mexico
      Distributes food and medical supplies, constructs homes, education centers, childcare centers, orphanages, and volunteer dormitories, and provides humanitarian aid to communities, including the Tarahumara tribe, along the Arizona/Mexico border, with over $10 million invested since inception.
  • Organized Volunteer Hour Mobilization 2 activities
    • Community Service and Volunteer Engagement
      Engages agents and employees in community service and charitable activities across Arizona, contributing 2,350 hours of local volunteer work in 2024 and involving approximately 1,000 U.S. volunteers annually in service activities along the Arizona/Mexico border.
    • Community Service and Volunteer Engagement
      Engages agents and employees in community service and charitable activities across Arizona, contributing 2,350 hours of local volunteer work in 2024 and involving approximately 1,000 U.S. volunteers annually in service activities along the Arizona/Mexico border.
  • Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance 2 activities
    • Direct Family and Individual Support
      Provides direct support to families facing medical emergencies and donates vehicles to organizations like FIBCO Family Services, INC. to assist with transportation needs for serving individuals in downtown Phoenix.
    • Support for Families and Non-Profits
      Provides direct support to families in medical emergencies and donates resources, such as a van to FIBCO Family Services, INC., to assist other 501(c)(3) organizations with their operational needs.
  • Debit Card Donation Programs 1 activity
    • Organizational capacity building and governance
      Builds foundation capacity through the establishment and rebranding of the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation (2014) into the Russ Lyon Foundation (2021), operating through all company offices in Arizona and engaging 14 offices via an Advisory Council.
  • Fiscal Sponsorship & Administrative Back-Office Support 1 activity
    • Support for 501(c)(3) Organizations
      Offers V-Corps support to selected 501(c)(3) organizations.
  • Capacity Building Grants & Technical Support 1 activity
    • V-Corps support for nonprofits
      Offers V-Corps support to selected 501(c)(3) organizations, providing capacity-building assistance through volunteer and operational engagement.
  • Youth Cross-Border Service Programs 1 activity
    • Volunteer mobilization for cross-border service
      Organizes and engages U.S. volunteers in service projects along the Arizona/Mexico border, with approximately 1,000 volunteers participating annually and over 20,000 volunteers served since inception.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Community Service and Humanitarian Aid in Arizona and Mexico
      Engages agents and employees in community service and charitable activities in Arizona, including providing direct support to families in medical emergencies, distributing food, assisting with home construction, and donating vehicles to support local service organizations. The foundation also provides humanitarian aid along the Arizona/Mexico border, including distributing food and medical supplies, funding scholarships for underserved populations, and supporting education programs and child sponsorships.
    • Family crisis assistance
      Provides direct support to families facing medical emergencies, such as assistance to the Chambers family following a medical crisis involving their son.
    • Financial and in-kind support to nonprofit partners
      Provides financial donations and in-kind gifts to nonprofit organizations, including a van donation to FIBCO Family Services, INC. and $38,000 in support to Rancho Feliz for education, child sponsorships, and food programs since 2016.
    • Humanitarian aid distribution along Arizona/Mexico border
      Distributes food and medical supplies to communities in need along the Arizona/Mexico border, including 300 bags of food to families in Agua Prieta, Mexico, each feeding a family of five for one week. Has distributed tons of food and medical supplies over time as part of ongoing humanitarian efforts.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$151K
Contributions & grants$151K100%
Program service revenue
Investment income
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$138K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out$131K
balance sheet
Total assets$84K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$81K
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

board members · 6
  • BETSY DICKINSON — Director
  • CAMDEN STEEL — Director
  • CHRISTION DOCKERY — Director
  • DAWN JACOBS — Director
  • JOY DORVINEN — Director
  • STEPHANIE STEWART — Director
relationships · 149

who they work with

  • 1 Mission Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • A Dream and a Pencil Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • A New Leaf Ohana Arizona Partner — Connected with in 2023.
  • AZ Friends of Foster Children Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • AZCEND Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • Amado Food Bank Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • American Cancer Society Partner — Partnered with in 2025.
  • American Legion Partner — Connected with in 2020.
  • American Red Cross Partner — Partnered with for VCorps events in 2019.
  • American Service Animal Society Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Amphi Foundation Partner — Partnered with in 2025.
  • Arizona Animal Welfare League Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • Arizona Animal Welfare League SPCA Partner — Partnered with for VCorps events in 2019.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • Arizona Helping Hands Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Arizona Helping Hands/The Foster Alliance Partner — Connected with in 2023.
  • Arizona Housing Fund Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • Arizona Humane Society Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Arizona Together Partner — Connected with in 2020.
  • Arizona Trail Association Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Assistance League Tucson Partner — Connected with in 2018.
  • Autism Speaks Partner — Connected with in 2018.
  • Booker T Wahington Head Start Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Brylan's Feat Partner — Connected with in 2022.
  • Brylan's Feat Foundation Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • CARE Partner — Connected with in 2020.
  • CHD Families of Tucson Partner — Connected with in 2021.
  • CJD Foundation Partner — Partnered with in 2025.
  • Casa De Los Ninos Partner — Partnered with for VCorps events in 2019.
  • Childhelp USA Partner — Connected with in 2022.
+ 119 more