named programs · 6 · from sources
what they call their work
Arizona Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Core program enabling individuals and corporations to redirect their Arizona state tax payments to fund tuition scholarships for underserved students attending Catholic schools
Corporate Tax Credit Program
Enables Arizona corporations to redirect a portion of their state tax liability to provide tuition scholarships for students attending Catholic schools.
Creating Future Leaders Podcast & Vodcast
Media program featuring interviews with business, education, and faith leaders to promote Catholic education and tax credit participation
Diocesan Employee Payroll Deduction Benefit
Allows employees of the Diocese of Phoenix to redirect state taxes already being withheld from their paychecks to Catholic Education Arizona to support Catholic schools.
Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program
Program discussed by leadership to provide educational funding options for students, likely related to Arizona's ESA initiative allowing public funds to be used for private education
Individual Tax Credit Program
Allows individual Arizona taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state tax liability to provide tuition scholarships for students attending Catholic schools.
activities · 5 groups
what they do
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Private School Tuition Tax Credit Scholarships 9 activities
- Administer tax credit scholarship programs for Catholic school studentsEnables Arizona families to access academically challenging and faith-based education by facilitating tax credit contributions, including up to $1,571 for single filers and $3,131 for married filers in 2026, through both individual and corporate tax credit programs. Administers payroll deduction options for Diocese of Phoenix employees to redirect state tax withholdings to support Catholic schools.
- Administer tax credit scholarship programs for Catholic school studentsEnables Arizona families to access academically challenging and faith-based education through tax credit contributions, facilitating individual donations up to $1,571 for single filers and $3,131 for married filers (2026 tax year). The program has granted over 161,000 tuition scholarships and distributed over $383 million in tuition assistance to students across 38 schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Administer tax credit scholarship programs for Catholic school studentsEnables Arizona families to access academically challenging and faith-based education by facilitating tax credit contributions, including up to $1,571 for single filers and $3,131 for married filers in 2026, through both individual and corporate tax credit programs. Administers payroll deduction for Diocese of Phoenix employees to redirect state tax withholdings to support Catholic schools.
- Administers tax credit scholarship programs for Catholic school studentsEnables Arizona families to access academically challenging and faith-based education by facilitating tax credit contributions, including up to $1,535 for single filers and $3,062 for married filers in 2025, and $1,571/$3,131 in 2026. The program supports students across 38 schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Advocate for and inform about public school choice programsDiscusses and supports access to the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which expands educational options for Arizona families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.
- Facilitate corporate and payroll-based tax credit givingFacilitates corporate tax credit contributions that support student scholarships at Catholic schools, including Seton Catholic Preparatory, and offers a payroll deduction program for employees of the Diocese of Phoenix to redirect state tax withholdings to support Catholic education.
- Promote Educational Access ProgramsThe organization discusses and promotes various programs, including the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, to support broader educational access for students.
- Provides payroll deduction program for Diocese of Phoenix employeesOffers a payroll deduction option for employees of the Diocese of Phoenix to redirect state tax withholdings to support Catholic schools, increasing access to tuition assistance.
- Support educational access through Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) programDiscusses and supports access to the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program as part of efforts to expand educational opportunities for students.
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College Preparation with Civic Engagement 7 activities
- Educational outcomes and student success trackingTracks and highlights strong student outcomes, including a 99% graduation rate among scholarship recipients, 96% matriculation to higher education or military service, high college scholarship receipt, growing numbers of first-generation college graduates, and top civic engagement rates among alumni.
- Promote civic engagement among graduatesCatholic school graduates rank first in civic and community engagement, including voting, volunteering, and charitable giving.
- Promote civic engagement among graduatesCatholic school graduates rank first in civic and community participation, including voting, volunteering, and charitable giving.
- Promote civic engagement among graduatesGraduates rank first in civic and community engagement, including voting, volunteering, and charitable giving, reflecting the program’s emphasis on faith-based service and leadership development.
- Support student academic and post-secondary success99% of scholarship recipients graduate, and 96% enroll in higher education or military service; Catholic school graduates are top recipients of college scholarships and include high and increasing numbers of first-generation college students.
- Support student academic and post-secondary success99% of scholarship recipients graduate, and 96% go on to higher education or military service. Catholic school graduates are among the highest recipients of college scholarships and include high and increasing numbers of first-generation college students.
- Support student outcomes and post-secondary success99% of scholarship recipients graduate, and 96% go on to higher education or military service. Catholic school graduates are among the highest recipients of college scholarships, with high and increasing numbers of first-generation college students successfully completing high school and enrolling in college.
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School-Based Community Fundraising Programs 5 activities
- Conducts digital outreach campaigns to support school enrollment and awarenessRuns sponsored Facebook campaigns to increase enrollment and visibility for Catholic schools, including Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary School and St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
- Engage in outreach and enrollment support via digital campaignsConducts sponsored Facebook campaigns to support enrollment and awareness at Catholic schools, including Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary School and St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
- Produce annual impact reporting and communicationsProduces an annual impact report documenting activities and outcomes, and conducts sponsored Facebook campaigns to support enrollment and awareness at specific Catholic schools such as Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary and St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
- Run digital enrollment and awareness campaigns for Catholic schoolsConducts sponsored Facebook campaigns to support enrollment and awareness at specific Catholic schools, including Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary School and St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
- Support Catholic School Enrollment and AwarenessCatholic Education Arizona conducts sponsored social media campaigns, such as on Facebook, to support enrollment and raise awareness for specific Catholic elementary and high schools.
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Organizational Transparency Reporting 4 activities
- Documents and reports organizational impact annuallyProduces an annual impact report that documents scholarship distribution, student outcomes, and program reach to communicate results and support transparency.
- Produce Annual Impact ReportsThe organization produces an annual impact report to document its activities and outcomes related to supporting Catholic education.
- Produce annual impact reportingProduces an annual impact report that documents organizational activities and outcomes.
- Produce organizational impact reportingProduces an annual impact report that documents program activities, scholarship distribution, and student outcomes to communicate organizational effectiveness.
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Distribute tuition scholarships to students in the Diocese of PhoenixHas granted over 161,000 tuition scholarships and distributed more than $383 million in tuition assistance to students attending 38 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Facilitate K-12 Tuition ScholarshipsCatholic Education Arizona facilitates tuition scholarships for K-12 students attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix by enabling individuals and corporations to contribute through Arizona's tax credit programs. To date, the organization has granted over 161,000 tuition scholarships, distributing over $383 million in tuition assistance to students across 38 schools.
- Provide tuition scholarships to students in the Diocese of PhoenixHas granted over 161,000 tuition scholarships and distributed more than $383 million in tuition assistance to students attending 38 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.
- Supports student scholarship funding through corporate tax credit programsFacilitates scholarship funding for students at specific Catholic schools, such as Seton Catholic Preparatory, using Arizona’s corporate tax credit programs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$24.53M
Contributions & grants$24.49M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$31K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$23.92M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$946K
Grants paid out$22.02M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$32.38M
Cash$32.08M
Investments$0
Liabilities$29.65M
Net assets$2.72M
Liquid reserves16.1 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +14.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY PADBERG | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $168K |
| CAITLIN WOOTEN | DIR. OF FINANCE AND COMPLI | 40 | $67K |
board members · 11
- CARLOS SUGICH — VICE CHAIR
- CAROL TRUEG — DIRECTOR
- DJ COLE — TREASURER
- DOMONIC SALCE — DIRECTOR
- FR PAUL YBARRA — DIRECTOR
- NANCY DOUGHERTY — DIRECTOR
- REV EDUARDO NEVARES — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT VENBERG — SECRETARY
- RODRIGO VELA — DIRECTOR
- TODD BANKOFIER — CHAIRMAN
- VICTOR SERNA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
who they work with
- Arizona Government — Participates in Arizona's tax credit contribution program to fund student access to Catholic education.
- Arizona Public Service Partner — Corporate partner supporting Catholic Education Arizona
- Arizona taxpayers Partner — Collaborates with individual and corporate Arizona taxpayers to fund scholarships through tax credit contributions.
- Bank 34 Partner — Financial institution participating in Arizona Corporate Tax Credits to support Catholic education
- Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona Partner — Partner organization providing academic support to students
- Catholic Charities Partner — Partner in directing Arizona state tax credits to support Catholic education
- Diocese of Phoenix Partner — Administers the Employee Payroll Deduction benefit that redirects state tax withholdings to support Catholic Education Arizona.
- FT Media Partner — Corporate partner supporting Catholic Education Arizona
- Grand Canyon University Partner — Corporate partner supporting Catholic Education Arizona
- Seton Catholic Preparatory Partner — Partner school benefiting from CEA-facilitated tax credit scholarships.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Partner — Organization with aligned mission to serve families in need
- Ss. Simon and Jude Elementary School Partner — Partner school that received a CEA-sponsored Facebook campaign.
- St. Mary’s Catholic High School Partner — Partner school that received a CEA-sponsored Facebook campaign.
- Star Worldwide Networks Partner — Platform featuring the Creating Future Leaders vodcast
- State of Arizona Department of Revenue Government — Complies with statutory requirements and publishes financial summary reports through the Arizona Department of Revenue.