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 primary $159KDURING THE 2021 TAX YEAR, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED GRANTS TO SIX NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, INCLUDING FLAGSTAFF MEDICAL CENTER, TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN INTERPRETERS, NURSE NAVIGATORS, AND NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS. THESE GRANTS ALSO SUPPORTED THE PURCHASE OF PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR TUBA CITY REGIONAL HEALTH CARE CORPORATION, EMERGENCY FIREWOOD FOR HOPI AND NAVAJO FAMILIES FACING EXTREME RISK FROM EXPOSURE THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS, AND VITAL SUPPLIES FOR HAVASUPAI FAMILIES FORCED TO QUARANTINE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES. THESE GRANTS IMPACTED ABOUT 14,758 LIVES.
- #2 $126KDURING THE 2021 TAX YEAR, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING TO OR ON BEHALF OF NORTHERN ARIZONA HEALTHCARE, FLAGSTAFF MEDICAL CENTER, AND VERDE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR VARIOUS DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING CANCER CARE, CHILDREN'S HEALTH, CLINICAL SERVICES, COLLEAGUE SUPPORT, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE, PATIENT AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE, AND RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. THIS FUNDING IMPACTED 6,691 LIVES.
named programs · 15 · from sources
what they call their work
"Every Brilliant Thing" Performance Sponsorship
Sponsors performances of a one-man show to raise mental health awareness among 11th and 12th-grade students in Flagstaff and Sedona.
Annual Grant Cycle
Awards grants to nonprofits focused on projects and services benefiting youth (infants to age 18) in northern Arizona, addressing mental health, food distribution, homelessness, and holistic health education.
Arizona's Children Association Grant
Awarded a grant to Arizona’s Children Association to establish outpatient and in-home behavioral and mental health services for children and their families in and around Lake Havasu City.
Creek Valley Health Clinic SNACC Program Funding
Funds the Strengthening Nutrition and Activities in our Connected Community (SNACC) program, which provides nutrition classes, recipes, incentives like produce vouchers, and distributes nutritious food to rural residents in Colorado City and Hildale.
Dental Days
Mobile, no-cost dental clinics providing screenings and treatments to adults in Flagstaff who face income, insurance, or provider access barriers
Dental Days Program Support
Provides funding for mobile, no-cost dental clinics for adults in northern Arizona who lack access to necessary dental care due to income, insurance, or lack of providers.
Griffith Blue Heart AED and Resuscitation Training
Training law enforcement and equipping patrol vehicles with AEDs to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Flagstaff
Griffith Blue Heart Program Grant
Provided a grant to Griffith Blue Heart Nonprofit to train Flagstaff Police Department officers in high-performance resuscitation and equip patrol vehicles with AEDs to increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Health First Foundation Grants Program
Annual grant cycle distributing funds to nonprofits in northern Arizona focused on youth health, mental health, food security, homelessness, and holistic health education
Lullaby Project
Partnership with Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and The Guidance Center to pair expecting or new mothers with musicians to compose personalized lullabies, strengthening maternal-infant bonding
Lullaby Project Funding
Funds the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra to employ songwriters who work with expecting or recent mothers, particularly underserved populations, to compose custom lullabies for their newborns, enhancing maternal health and bonding.
North Country HealthCare Family Residency Program Funding
Funded the establishment of team-based care in North Country HealthCare’s family residency program to teach new physicians a coordinated approach to patient care and improve health outcomes, particularly for HIV/AIDS patients.
Outpatient and In-Home Behavioral Health Services for Children
Grant-funded program by Arizona’s Children Association providing mental health services to children and families in Lake Havasu City, addressing a critical provider shortage
Strengthening Nutrition and Activities in our Connected Community (SNACC)
Nutrition education and food distribution program in rural Colorado City, AZ, offering cooking classes, produce vouchers, and 113,000 pounds of food to residents
Team-Based Care in Family Residency Program
Initiative at North Country HealthCare to train resident physicians in collaborative, patient-centered care models, including daily huddles and interdisciplinary case conferencing
activities · 8 groups
what they do
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CPR and AED Training Programs 1 activity
- Cardiac Emergency Response InitiativesTrains and equips Flagstaff police officers to deliver life-saving interventions during cardiac emergencies, including equipping 54 patrol vehicles with AEDs, which has contributed to saving at least seven lives.
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Clean Water Well Development 1 activity
- Clean Water and Hygiene SolutionsSupports clean water access and hygiene solutions for Hopi and Navajo households that lack running water.
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School-Based Oral Health Outreach 1 activity
- Free Dental Care ClinicsProvides free dental care to individuals through clinic events, such as a December 2024 event that served 89 individuals, and supports the Dental Days program with funding for supplies, equipment, and a mobile trailer.
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Local Community Grantmaking 1 activity
- Grantmaking for Community Health ProjectsAwards grant funding to nonprofit organizations for community health projects in northern Arizona, with over $550,000 awarded for general community health and an additional $550,000 specifically for youth-focused services.
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Youth Performing Arts Camps & Classes 1 activity
- Mental Health Awareness PerformancesSponsors performances of the mental health awareness play "Every Brilliant Thing" for youth audiences in Flagstaff and Sedona.
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Community Health Needs Assessment 1 activity
- Regional Health Needs Assessment and Program EvaluationCommissions comprehensive regional health needs assessments and evaluates them to identify priority needs and measure the impact of funded programs.
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Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Care 1 activity
- Team-Based Care Model ImplementationImplemented a team-based care model in a family medicine residency clinic, focusing on wellness, prevention, and care coordination for high-need patients.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Food Remedy ProgramEstablished a food remedy program in Colorado City to improve access to healthy foods and nutrition education for individuals at risk of chronic diseases.
- Health Professional Scholarships and Education FundingProvides scholarships to health professionals and invests in their education, with 148 scholarships awarded and over $149,000 invested.
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financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$17.58M
Contributions & grants$166K1%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$17.42M99%
Other revenue$-821
expenses
Total expenses$5.40M
Program expenses13%
Admin / overhead76%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$877K
Grants paid out$587K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$43.32M
Cash$1.02M
Investments$39.59M
Liabilities$3.08M
Net assets$40.24M
Liquid reserves90.2 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +232.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD A SMITH EDD | PRES./CEO/DIR. (THRU 07/2021) | 40 | $413K |
| MATTHEW BRASMER | VP DEVELOPMENT (THRU 9/21) | 40 | $264K |
| SANDRA KOWALSKI | OPS MGR/PRES/CEO/DIR (FROM 8/21) | 40 | $163K |
| KARLA JACOBSEN CPA | MANAGER OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS | 40 | $137K |
board members · 10
- ALICE GAGNAIRE — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS BAVASI — CHAIR(TO 9/21)/DIRECTOR (FROM 10/21)
- CHUCK MARR — DIRECTOR
- DEIRDRE MELDRUM PHD — VICE CHAIR/CHAIR/DIRECTOR
- JAMES OUSLEY — SECRETARY/DIRECTOR
- OLIVER HARPER MD — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD KRUSE CPA — VICE CHAIR/TREASURER/DIRECTOR
- WAYNE FOX CPA — TREASURER/DIRECTOR (THRU 5/22)
- WILLIAM HICKS III ESQ — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM RILEY PHD — DIRECTOR (THRU 09/2021)
relationships · 39
who they work with
- Arizona Food Bank Network Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Arizona Food Bank Network Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Center for Health Equity Research at NAU Partner — Commissioned to conduct a comprehensive regional health needs assessment.
- Creek Valley Health Clinic Partner — Funded to establish a food remedy program in Colorado City.
- Creek Valley Health Clinic Partner — Funded to integrate oral health into whole-person coordinated care for low-income individuals in a remote area of Mohave County.
- Flagstaff Police Department Partner — Supported through a grant-funded initiative to equip officers with AEDs and training for emergency medical response.
- Flagstaff Shelter Services Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Flagstaff Shelter Services Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra Partner — Collaborated on the Lullaby Project by providing musicians to work with new and expecting mothers.
- Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Griffith Blue Heart Partner — Funded to equip Coconino County Sheriff’s Office first responders with automated external defibrillators and high-performance resuscitation training to respond to cardiac emergencies.
- Griffith Blue Heart Partner — Funded to train and equip Flagstaff police officers for cardiac emergency response.
- Griffith Blue Heart Nonprofit Partner — Provided grant funding to support police training and AED deployment for cardiac arrest response.
- Griffith Blue Heart Nonprofit Partner — Recipient of Health First Foundation grant funding for community health initiatives in Flagstaff.
- Guardian Medical Transport Partner — Assisted with training, registration, deployment, and maintenance of AEDs in a cardiac arrest response initiative.
- Health First Foundation Northern Arizona Network — Independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving northern Arizona
- Kingman Regional Medical Center Partner — Funded to provide patient education, self-management supplies, and healthcare services for uninsured and underinsured individuals with diabetes in Mohave County.
- NARBHA Institute Partner — Co-commissioned a regional health needs assessment.
- North Country HealthCare Partner — Funded to establish a team care model in a family medicine residency clinic.
- Northern Arizona Community Dental Days Collaborative Partner — Funded to provide access to oral health care for underinsured and uninsured adults in Coconino County to improve overall well-being.
- Northland Family Help Center Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Northland Family Help Center Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Polara Health Partner — Funded to improve access to behavioral and physical healthcare for uninsured and underinsured individuals in Yavapai County.
- Polara Health Partner — Received a 2025 grant to support youth-focused health programs in northern Arizona.
- Polara Health Partner — Recipient of a grant from Health First Foundation-Northern Arizona for youth-focused programs.
- Red Feather Development Group Partner — Funded to support clean water access and hygiene solutions in Hopi and Navajo homes.
- The Guidance Center Partner — Received grant funding and partnered on the Lullaby Project to support maternal and infant mental health.
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