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LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 261657951 · Form 990 · FY2020 · NTEE S31 · Community Improvement · Large ($10M-$50M) · localfirstazfoundation.org
revenue
$14.5M
expenses
$13.6M
net assets
$1.3M
employees
31
volunteers
14
program ratio
98%
mission · from form 990

LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION LFAF PROVIDES COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ARIZONA.

profile · synthesized from sources

Local First Arizona Foundation supports local entrepreneurs and small businesses across Arizona through business development programs, resource access, and community engagement initiatives. It operates incubators for food-based startups, promotes local economic development, and connects consumers with local businesses through directories and events. The organization focuses on inclusive economic growth in urban, rural, and Tribal communities statewide.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Kitchen program
Two-year incubation program providing access to commercial kitchen facilities and permitting support for food-based businesses
Devour Culinary Classic
Annual culinary event celebrating Arizona’s local food culture and honoring outstanding food entrepreneurs
Explore #RuralAZ
Initiative to promote and support businesses in rural Arizona communities through visibility and resource access
Good Food Boot Camp
Six-week program designed to help food entrepreneurs scale their business from ideation to marketplace
Local Learning Lab
On-demand business resources and consulting for entrepreneurs, including marketing, financial planning, and operational scaling
activities · 7 groups

what they do

  • Culinary Job Training & Workforce Development 2 activities
    • Community Kitchen Program
      Operates a two-year Community Kitchen program that permits food entrepreneurs to use commercial kitchen facilities.
    • Operates a commercial kitchen program for food entrepreneurs
      Runs a two-year Community Kitchen program that provides food entrepreneurs with access to licensed commercial kitchen facilities, enabling them to legally produce and scale their food products.
  • Garden-Based Education Programs 2 activities
    • Connects consumers with local Arizona food producers
      Operates a digital platform that helps consumers discover, buy, and support local food across Arizona, including a local food directory, stories, and resources that celebrate the state’s food community.
    • Local Food Promotion and Discovery
      Operates a platform to help consumers discover, buy, and support local food across Arizona, and shares stories, resources, and a local food directory to celebrate Arizona's food community.
  • Destination Marketing & Visitor Information Services 2 activities
    • Economic Development and Resource Delivery
      Delivers resources to rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities across Arizona to support economic opportunity and provides information about rural Arizona destinations, including activities, accommodations, and cultural and historic details.
    • Promotes rural Arizona destinations
      Provides information about rural Arizona destinations, including details on activities, accommodations, and cultural and historic sites, to support local economies through visitation and engagement.
  • Entrepreneurship Accelerator & Training Programs 2 activities
    • Provides business incubation and training for food entrepreneurs
      Offers a six-week Good Food Boot Camp and longer-term incubator programs that provide expert support, best practices, and business consulting to help new food entrepreneurs scale from ideation to market. Participants receive quarterly goal-setting meetings with business consultants.
    • Support for Food Entrepreneurs
      Offers a six-week Good Food Boot Camp to help new food entrepreneurs scale their businesses from ideation to marketplace, and provides access to business consultants for entrepreneurs in the incubation program.
  • Cultural Heritage Festivals & Celebrations 1 activity
    • Organizing Culinary and Business Events
      Hosts the Devour Culinary Classic event, organizes Devour Week, the Good Food Forum, the Arizona Fall Festival, and the Good Business Resource Fair.
  • Local Food Systems Advocacy & Network Building 1 activity
    • Supports inclusive economic development across Arizona
      Drives inclusive community and economic development in Arizona by delivering resources to rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities to expand economic opportunity. This includes targeted support for local entrepreneurs and food producers.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Advocacy for Entrepreneurship
      Advocates for entrepreneurship as central to Arizona's lasting economy.
    • Advocates for entrepreneurship as key to Arizona's economy
      Positions entrepreneurship as central to building a lasting and resilient Arizona economy through advocacy efforts that elevate the role of local businesses in regional development.
financials · form 990 · fy2020
revenue
Total revenue$14.52M
Contributions & grants$14.00M96%
Program service revenue$485K3%
Investment income$1500%
Other revenue$33K
expenses
Total expenses$13.65M
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$1.13M
Grants paid out$12.09M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.58M
Cash$1.41M
Investments$0
Liabilities$275K
Net assets$1.30M
Liquid reserves1.2 mo
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KIMBER LANNING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 60 $106K
board members · 14
  • AMY BIRD — VICE CHAIR
  • CYMONE BOLDING — DIRECTOR
  • ELIZABETH GOODMAN — DIRECTOR
  • EVELYN CASUGA — DIRECTOR
  • JEFFREY BRODIN — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
  • JENNA ROWELL — DIRECTOR
  • JON FORD — DIRECTOR
  • KELLY DALY — DIRECTOR
  • KERWIN BROWN — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN YOUNGBLOOD — BOARD CHAIR
  • LEVI ESQUERRA — DIRECTOR
  • RAFAEL TAPIA — DIRECTOR
  • ROBIN ROMANO — TREASURER
  • WILL MANDEVILLE — SECRETARY
relationships · 3

who they work with

  • Good Food Finder AZ Partner — Co-branded program delivery and referral pathway for food entrepreneurship resources.
  • Local First Partner — Collaborates with Local First on boot camps and incubators for food entrepreneurs and farmers.
  • Local First Arizona Coalition — Operates the Business Coalition for members to join and support local businesses.