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VETSFORWARD CIVIC ACTION

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 872161830 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.vetsforward.us
revenue
$225K
expenses
$210K
net assets
$62K
employees
2
volunteers
4
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

ADVOCATE FOR INTEREST OF TROOPS, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN ARIZONA

profile · synthesized from sources

VETSFORWARD CIVIC ACTION is a veteran-led advocacy organization focused on empowering veterans and voters in Arizona to influence policy on clean energy, environmental security, and reproductive rights. The group operates as a civic watchdog, providing information and mobilizing action around legislative issues they view as critical to public health, national security, and social justice. Their work centers on holding elected officials and utilities accountable while advancing equity in climate and healthcare policy.

named programs · 3 · from sources

what they call their work

2025 Arizona Legislative Watchdog Campaign
Monitors and advocates on key environmental and energy legislation, including opposition to utility rate hikes and bills that reduce regulatory oversight. Focuses on clean energy policy, water security, and climate resilience during the 2025 legislative session.
Environmental Security Advocacy
Promotes clean energy and climate action as national security imperatives, emphasizing the impact of climate change on military readiness, public health, and veteran well-being in Arizona.
Operation Desert Rose
A veteran-led initiative advocating for women's reproductive rights, launched in response to Arizona's 1864 abortion ban. Mobilizes veterans and military-connected individuals to defend access to abortion and contraception through civic engagement and public advocacy.
activities · 5 groups

what they do

  • Clean Energy & Climate Resilience Advocacy 12 activities
    • Advocating for Environmental and Clean Energy Policies
      Engages in public education and advocacy on environmental issues, including endorsing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor, and informing veterans and voters about decisions impacting clean energy and the environment.
    • Climate and national security policy research
      Conducts and publishes research on climate-driven risks to Arizona’s military installations and economy, producing policy briefs that inform advocacy for clean energy and infrastructure resilience.
    • Environmental and Clean Energy Advocacy
      Engages in public education and advocacy on environmental issues, including endorsing environmental priorities for the Arizona Legislature, opposing utility rate increases, and highlighting climate change as a national security threat.
    • Environmental and Climate Change Advocacy
      Engages in public education and advocacy on environmental issues, highlights climate change as a national security threat, and endorses environmental priorities for the Arizona Legislature.
    • Environmental and energy policy advocacy
      Advocates for clean energy, water security, and infrastructure resilience in Arizona, including opposing rate hikes by utility companies like Southwest Gas and Arizona Public Service. Participates in coalition efforts to shape state environmental priorities and informs the public about legislative impacts on energy and the environment.
    • Environmental policy advocacy and coalition building
      Advocates for clean energy, water security, and climate resilience in Arizona by publishing policy research, informing the public about legislative impacts, and endorsing state environmental priorities through coalitions of over 35 organizations.
    • Environmental policy advocacy and coalition engagement
      Advocates for clean energy, water security, and climate resilience in Arizona by publishing policy research, informing the public on legislative impacts, and endorsing state environmental priorities through coalitions, including opposition to utility rate hikes that harm consumers and the environment.
    • Informing Veterans and Voters on Legislative Issues
      Informs veterans and voters about the 2025 Arizona State Legislative session, specifically regarding decisions impacting clean energy and the environment.
    • Policy Research on Climate Risks
      Publishes policy briefs outlining climate-driven risks to Arizona's military installations and economy, advocating for action on clean energy, water security, and infrastructure resilience.
    • Policy Research on Climate-Driven Risks
      Publishes policy briefs outlining climate-driven risks to Arizona's military installations and economy, advocating for action on clean energy, water security, and infrastructure resilience.
    • Researching Climate-Driven Risks
      Publishes policy briefs outlining climate-driven risks to Arizona's military installations and economy, advocating for action on clean energy, water security, and infrastructure resilience, and highlights climate change as a national security threat multiplier.
    • Veteran and Voter Information on Legislative Sessions
      Informs veterans and voters about the 2025 Arizona State Legislative session, specifically regarding decisions impacting clean energy and the environment.
  • Abortion Rights Ballot Advocacy 6 activities
    • Advocacy for Reproductive Rights
      Advocates for access to safe and legal abortion services and contraception, and works to place the constitutional right to abortion on Arizona's November 2024 ballot.
    • Advocacy for reproductive rights and access to abortion
      Leads public advocacy efforts to protect and expand access to safe and legal abortion services in Arizona, including through the Operation Desert Rose campaign and participation in a petition drive to enshrine the constitutional right to abortion on the 2024 ballot.
    • Advocating for Reproductive Rights
      Advocates for access to safe and legal abortion services and contraception, including participating in efforts to place the constitutional right to abortion on Arizona's November 2024 ballot and launching Operation Desert Rose to defend individual freedoms in Arizona.
    • Advocating for Reproductive Rights
      Advocates for access to safe and legal abortion services and contraception, including participating in efforts to place the constitutional right to abortion on Arizona's 2024 ballot through initiatives like Operation Desert Rose.
    • Public policy advocacy for social welfare and reproductive rights
      Engages in advocacy and public education to advance reproductive rights, including access to safe and legal abortion and contraception, exemplified by Operation Desert Rose and efforts to enshrine abortion rights in Arizona's constitution via ballot initiative in 2024.
    • Public policy advocacy on social welfare and reproductive rights
      Engages in advocacy to promote social welfare, including defending access to safe and legal abortion services and advancing gender equity in VA healthcare. Launched Operation Desert Rose to protect abortion and contraception access in Arizona and participated in efforts to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution via the 2024 ballot.
  • Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 5 activities
    • Advocacy for Criminal Justice Reform
      Advocates for criminal justice reforms focused on rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and implementing restorative justice policies.
    • Advocating for Criminal Justice Reform
      Advocates for criminal justice reforms focused on rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and implementing restorative justice policies to create a more just and compassionate system.
    • Criminal justice and restorative justice reform advocacy
      Advocates for criminal justice reforms that emphasize rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and promote restorative justice policies to build a more just and compassionate system.
    • Criminal justice reform advocacy
      Advocates for restorative justice and criminal justice reforms focused on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through policy engagement and public campaigns.
    • Criminal justice reform and restorative justice advocacy
      Advocates for systemic criminal justice reforms that emphasize rehabilitation, restorative justice practices, and reducing recidivism to build a more just and compassionate system.
  • Utility Rate Case Advocacy 4 activities
    • Advocating Against Utility Rate Increases
      Advocates against proposed utility rate increases by companies like Arizona Public Service (APS) and Southwest Gas, arguing they prioritize utility profits over public accountability and consumer protection.
    • Utility Rate and Consumer Protection Advocacy
      Advocates against proposed utility rate increases by Arizona Public Service (APS) and Southwest Gas, and opposes legislation that prioritizes utility company profits over public accountability and consumer protection.
    • Utility rate advocacy and consumer protection
      Challenges proposed utility rate increases by Arizona Public Service (APS) and Southwest Gas, advocating against hikes that would significantly raise energy costs for Arizona families and prioritizing public accountability over corporate profits.
    • Utility rate oversight and consumer protection advocacy
      Opposes proposed rate increases by utility companies such as Arizona Public Service (APS) and Southwest Gas, mobilizing public testimony and advocacy to protect Arizona families from excessive cost burdens.
  • Uncategorized 11 activities
    • Advocacy for Gender Equity and Healthcare for Veterans
      Works to ensure gender equity and comprehensive, gender-specific healthcare at VA facilities for veterans.
    • Advocacy for gender equity and veteran healthcare reform
      Advocates for gender-specific, comprehensive healthcare services for veterans within the VA system, with a focus on equity and access for all genders.
    • Advocacy for gender equity in VA healthcare
      Advocates for comprehensive, gender-specific healthcare services and gender equity within Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
    • Advocating for Gender Equity and Healthcare for Veterans
      Works to ensure gender equity and comprehensive, gender-specific healthcare at VA facilities for women veterans.
    • Advocating for Gender Equity and Healthcare for Veterans
      Works to ensure gender equity and comprehensive, gender-specific healthcare at VA facilities for veterans.
    • Advocating for Gun Safety Laws
      Advocates for common-sense gun safety laws.
    • Advocating for Gun Safety Laws
      Advocates for the implementation of common-sense gun safety laws.
    • Gun Safety Advocacy
      Advocates for common-sense gun safety laws.
    • Gun safety law advocacy
      Advocates for the implementation of common-sense gun safety laws to promote public safety.
    • Gun safety policy advocacy
      Advocates for the implementation of common-sense gun safety laws as part of broader public safety and policy reform efforts.
    • Public education on public policy issues
      Engages in public education initiatives to inform veterans and voters about key policy issues affecting social welfare, including reproductive rights, environmental policy, and utility regulation.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$225K
Contributions & grants$220K98%
Program service revenue$5K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$210K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$178K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$63K
Cash$63K
Investments$0
Liabilities$307
Net assets$62K
Liquid reserves3.6 mo
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
AARON MARTINEZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $120K
board members · 4
  • BRETT HUNT — DIRECTOR
  • JOANNA MENDOZA — DIRECTOR
  • SIGNA OLIVER — DIRECTOR
  • TIM STRINGHAM — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders for Equity Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.
  • Arizona Interfaith Power and Light Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.
  • Arizona Youth Climate Coalition Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.
  • Chispa Arizona Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.
  • Governor Katie Hobbs Partner — Collaborated with Governor Hobbs during a petition signing event for abortion rights in Arizona.
  • JoAnna Mendoza Partner — US Marine Corps Veteran, Board Member, and Co-Founder of Operation Desert Rose
  • Sierra Club - Grand Canyon Chapter Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.
  • Signa Oliver Partner — US Army Veteran, Judge Advocate, and Board Member of VetsForward
  • Vote Solar Partner — Coalition partner in advancing the 2025 Environmental Priorities for Arizona.