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PILOT PARENTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 860699630 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · pilotparents.org
revenue
$284K
expenses
$284K
net assets
$281K
employees
5
volunteers
15
program ratio
84%
filing since
2020
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL WITHIN THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona provides support and resources to families who have children with special needs. The organization connects parents with experienced volunteers, offers leadership training, and facilitates support groups for siblings and grandparents. It primarily serves Southern Arizona and is largely funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

AZ Partners in Leadership
An innovative leadership training program that teaches individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities to be community leaders and to affect systems and policy change at local, state, and national levels.
Grandparents Support Group
Support group for grandparents of children with special needs.
LEAP (Leadership Education Advocacy Partnership)
A self-advocacy development project that provides reimbursement for registration fees and accommodations for individuals to attend trainings, conferences, and workshops.
New Parent Support Group
Support group for parents of infants staying long term in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
S.A.P.P.H.l.R.E. Project
Provides information and referral services for families in Southern Arizona, with an office in Nogales, AZ.
Sibshop
A workshop providing information and support to siblings (ages 7-14) of children with special needs, based on a national model.
Spanish-speaking parent support group for families with children with Down syndrome
A support group for Spanish-speaking families with children with Down syndrome, which published a book about personal experiences.
Special Needs Adoption Program
Program in conjunction with the Arizona's Children Association.
Welcome Parent Program
Provides individual support and informational materials from community resources to new parents of children with special needs.
activities · 14

what they do

direct service · 9
  • Deliver information, referral, and advocacy resources to families Community Resource Directory Development
    Collects, organizes, and distributes information to help families advocate for their needs, including through the S.A.P.P.H.I.R.E. Project which funded an office in Nogales, AZ to serve Southern Arizona families.
  • Facilitate peer support networks for families of children with special needs
    Identifies parents of children with special needs and connects them with trained, experienced parent volunteers to build supportive relationships; also supports specialized groups such as New Parent Support Groups, Grandparents Support groups, and Spanish-speaking parent groups.
  • Operate Sibshop support program for siblings of children with special needs Sibling and Family Support Networks for Special Needs Communities
    Runs Sibshop, a workshop and support group that provides information, peer connection, and emotional support to siblings of children with special needs, extended throughout Southern Arizona via local staff.
  • Operate Sibshop support program for siblings of children with special needs Sibling and Family Support Networks for Special Needs Communities
    Runs Sibshop, a workshop and support group that provides information, peer connection, and support to siblings of children with special needs, extended throughout Southern Arizona via local staff.
  • Provide educational support and training across Southern Arizona
    Contracts with state and local agencies to deliver education coordination services, trainings, and workshops; serves families in clinics and schools, and operates as part of the Arizona Parent Training and Information Center network across nine counties.
  • Provide information, referral, and educational support services
    Collects, organizes, and distributes information to help families advocate for their children; offers educational support, workshops, and resources through staff positions in clinics and contracts across nine counties in Southern Arizona, including the S.A.P.P.H.I.R.E. Project and Arizona Parent Training and Information Center network.
  • Provide parent-to-parent support and mentorship
    Identifies parents of children with special needs and connects them with trained, experienced parent volunteers to build supportive relationships, including through the "Welcome Parent" program and specialized groups such as Spanish-speaking and grandparents' support groups.
  • Support families through life transitions
    Provides direct assistance to children, young adults, and family members as they navigate key life transitions.
  • Support families through life transitions and specialized programs Foster Care Support for Tribal and Special Needs Youth
    Assists children, young adults, and families during critical life transitions through targeted programs such as NICU parent support groups, special needs adoption services, and outreach initiatives for Native American and underserved communities.
capacity building · 5
  • Collaborate with professionals across sectors to improve systems Trauma-Informed Care Training for IDD Providers
    Engages professionals in education, healthcare, child protection, law enforcement, and public policy to enhance their understanding and effectiveness in supporting children with special needs and their families.
  • Deliver leadership and advocacy training programs Youth Civic Leadership Training
    Offers leadership development programs such as "Partners in Leadership" and LEAP, which train individuals—including parents and self-advocates—to become community leaders and effect systems and policy change at local, state, and national levels, including financial support for training participation.
  • Provide leadership and self-advocacy training for community members
    Offers leadership development programs including "Partners in Leadership" and the LEAP project, which trains individuals to become community leaders, affect systems and policy change, and supports self-advocacy through training reimbursements.
  • Train and deploy parent leaders for community service Parent & Family Training for Special Needs
    Trains experienced parents to serve as mentors and support providers, equipping them to offer friendship, information, and compassionate service to other families navigating special needs systems.
  • Train parents and professionals to support children with special needs Parent & Family Training for Special Needs
    Trains experienced parents to provide peer support and also engages professionals in education, healthcare, child protection, law enforcement, and public policy to improve their effectiveness in serving children with special needs and their families.
strategies · 8

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.

  • Family-Centered Support for Child Development family support unique to this org
    Provides holistic encouragement and support to families of children with special needs to strengthen family capacity and enable children to reach their maximum potential.
  • Leadership Development and Advocacy Training leadership_development unique to this org
    The organization uses leadership development and targeted training for individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities to build community advocacy. This approach aims to foster partnerships between service users and policymakers to achieve long-term systemic and public policy change.
  • Leadership Development for Systemic Change leadership_development unique to this org
    Uses leadership development programs targeted at individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities to build advocacy capacity and drive long-term systems and policy change through empowered community leaders.
  • Peer Support Across Family Roles peer_support unique to this org
    Facilitates peer-based support networks—between parents, siblings, and experienced families—to foster emotional support, shared learning, and community resilience, leveraging lived experience as a core mechanism for empowerment.
  • Peer-based Support and Education peer_support unique to this org
    The organization provides peer-based support groups and utilizes trained parent volunteers to deliver information, emotional support, and opportunities for connection to families and siblings of children with disabilities. This approach aims to build community, strength, and confidence, and help individuals understand and cope with the implications of their sibling's or child's special needs.
  • Professional Education and Awareness professional_education unique to this org
    The organization aims to increase the knowledge and awareness of professionals and agencies to improve service utilization and avoid duplication, thereby enhancing the support system for families with children with special needs.
  • Professional and Systems-Level Education professional_education unique to this org
    Improves service coordination and systems effectiveness by increasing awareness and knowledge among professionals and agencies, reducing duplication and enhancing service utilization for families of children with disabilities.
  • Replication of National Best Practices national model replication unique to this org
    Implements evidence-based programs like Sibshop using established national models to ensure fidelity and effectiveness in serving siblings of children with disabilities.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$284K
Contributions & grants$284K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$284K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$167K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$283K
Cash$282K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$281K
Liquid reserves11.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -12.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LENIA KALLIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $64K
board members · 8
  • ANA NYGREN — TREASURER
  • ANNABEL RATLEY — SECRETARY
  • BILL ALLAIRE — PRESIDENT
  • IRENE MACLEAN — DIRECTOR
  • JILL MARTINDALE — DIRECTOR
  • MJ DEMETRAS — VICE-PRESIDENT
  • NELLIE SPRUNT — DIRECTOR
  • PATSY CONKLIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 17

who they work with

  • AZ Department of Health Services Funder — Received funding for a Parent Resource Specialist at the Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services.
  • AZ Partners in Leadership Partner — Collaborative program providing leadership training for community advocacy and systems change.
  • Arizona Center for Disability Law Partner — Collaborated with Arizona Center for Disability Law on a grant from The Arizona Coalition for Family Support and Self-Determination.
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities Funder — Primary funding source for parent-to-parent support since the program's beginning.
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Division of Developmental Disabilities Funder — Receives support through a contract.
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Became a contractor for the Arizona Department of Education to implement the State Improvement Grant.
  • Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health, Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs Funder — Receives support through the Title V Block Grant (B04MC21387).
  • Arizona Developmental Disability Planning Council Funder — Awarded a contract for the LEAP (Leadership Education Advocacy Partnership) self-advocacy development project.
  • Arizona Early Intervention Programs Partner — Conducted a "Welcome Parent" Program in conjunction with Arizona Early Intervention Programs.
  • Arizona’s Children Association Partner — Provided a "Special Needs Adoption Program" in conjunction with the Arizona’s Children Association.
  • Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services Partner — Housed at the Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services and contracted with them for an Education Coordinator.
  • Enhancing Arizona’s Parent Networks group Partner — Involved with this statewide group that provides trainings for families on special education.
  • Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA Funder — Receives support through the Title V Block Grant (B04MC21387).
  • People First of Arizona Partner — Collaborated with People First of Arizona on a grant from The Arizona Coalition for Family Support and Self-Determination.
  • Raising Special Kids Partner — Received federal funding through a sub-contract with Raising Special Kids to fund an Education Coordinator.
  • The Arizona Coalition for Family Support and Self-Determination Funder — Received funding from this grant in collaboration with other organizations.
  • U of A Partner — Collaborated with U of A on a grant from The Arizona Coalition for Family Support and Self-Determination.