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CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 820538372 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE S05 · Community Improvement · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.arizonafuture.org
revenue
$4.5M
expenses
$5.0M
net assets
$1.1M
employees
0
volunteers
11
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

BRINGING ARIZONANS TOGETHER TO CREATE A STRONGER AND BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR STATE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for the Future of Arizona is a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing civic engagement, workforce development, and educational innovation across Arizona. They serve various communities through initiatives that promote collaboration and data-driven strategies to address systemic challenges. Their work emphasizes building a stronger future for all Arizonans.

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. #1 primary $215K
    CIVIC HEALTHARIZONA CIVIC LIFE PARTNERSHIP: CFA PARTNERED WITH THE ARIZONA CENTER FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP AT THE FLINN FOUNDATION TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC LIFE IN ARIZONA. A KEY MILESTONE WAS THE CREATION OF A CIVIC HEALTH STEERING COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF 15 LEADING ARIZONA CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO COMPLETE A PLAN FOR SET OF STRATEGIES, OBJECTIVES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR A COORDINATED APPROACH TO CIVIC RENEWAL STATEWIDE. THIS WORK IS PIVOTAL TO THE PARTNERSHIP'S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT CIVIC HEALTH SHARED PUBLIC VALUE AND ESSENTIAL TO OUR ABILITY TO REALIZE THE ARIZONA WE WANT. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)SCHOOL PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING: CFA CONTINUED TO EXPAND HIGH-IMPACT CIVIC EDUCATION IN K-12 SCHOOLS, WHERE STUDENTS "LEARN DEMOCRACY BY DOING" BY PARTICIPATING IN SPB STEERING COMMITTEES, DEVELOPING PROPOSALS, AND VOTING TO FUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT BUILD STRONGER SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. INNOVATIONS THIS YEAR INCLUDED COLLABORATING WITH THE SUNNYSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (SUSD) AND THE ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE'S COMMUNICATIONS STAFF TO PRESENT A NEW VOTER EDUCATION MODULE FOR STUDENTS, FEATURING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE ELECTIONS PROCESS WORKS, HOW TO BECOME A REGISTERED VOTER, AND WHERE TO ACCESS TRUSTED INFORMATION.
  2. #2 $676K
    WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTRETAILWORKS AZ: CFA EXPANDED BEYOND MARICOPA COUNTY TO LAUNCH NEW RETAIL EMPLOYER NETWORKS IN YUMA AND SAHUARITA TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF RETAILERS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHILE BRINGING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO RETAIL WORKERS. THE EXPANSION INTO THESE COMMUNITIES IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE RETAIL IS A LEADING INDUSTRY IN MANY RURAL AND REMOTE PARTS OF THE STATE. WITHIN MARICOPA COUNTY, CFA IMPLEMENTED INNOVATIVE UPSKILLING PROJECTS, INCLUDING A PARTNERSHIP WITH BASHAS AND THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM TO PILOT A SIX-WEEK ESL CURRICULUM CONTEXTUALIZED TO RETAIL FOR EMPLOYEES. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASPEN INSTITUTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (EOP) AND WALMART'S SUPPORT, CFA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED OUR FIRST-EVER WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA, FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE LEADERS WHO GUIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN ARIZONA. ACADEMY FELLOWS COLLECTIVELY DEVELOPED A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGES IN ARIZONA, INCLUDING IMPROVING JOB QUALITY AND INCREASING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE, THAT THEY ARE NOW WORKING TO IMPLEMENT THROUGH THEIR OWN ROLES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE BROADER WORKFORCE SYSTEM.
named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Arizona Media Institute
Provides online resources and programming to support newsrooms across Arizona.
School Participatory Budgeting
Engages students in democratic decision-making by allowing them to vote on school budget allocations.
Southern Arizona Workforce Leadership Academy
A year-long professional development program aimed at strengthening the workforce system in Southern Arizona.
Virtual Internship Program
Empowers Navajo County teens to research mental health issues and propose solutions through a paid internship.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Education Leadership Development Programs 9 activities
    • Education Case Study Publication
      Published a case study on Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVSchools) highlighting lessons for academic recovery, teacher retention, and student-focused innovation.
    • Education Leadership Training
      Offers the "Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy" to provide executive leadership training for principals and school system leaders, and manages the "Arizona Personalized Learning Network" to help educators, schools, and districts implement personalized, competency-based learning.
    • Education Leadership and Implementation Support
      Manages the Arizona Personalized Learning Network to help educators, schools, and districts implement personalized, competency-based learning, and offers the Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy to provide executive leadership training for principals and school system leaders. The organization also implements "Move On When Ready," a mastery-based pathway for high school graduation.
    • Education Leadership and Implementation Support
      Manages the Arizona Personalized Learning Network to help educators, schools, and districts implement personalized, competency-based learning. It also offers the Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy for executive leadership training for principals and school system leaders, and implements "Move On When Ready" for mastery-based high school graduation.
    • High School Graduation Pathway Implementation
      Implements "Move On When Ready," a mastery-based pathway for high school graduation in Arizona.
    • High School Graduation Pathways
      Implements "Move On When Ready," a mastery-based pathway for high school graduation in Arizona.
    • Personalized Learning Network
      Manages the "Arizona Personalized Learning Network" to help educators, schools, and districts implement personalized, competency-based learning.
    • School Leadership Training
      Offers the "Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy" to provide executive leadership training for principals and school system leaders.
    • Supports personalized and competency-based learning initiatives
      Manages the Arizona Personalized Learning Network to support educators, schools, and districts in implementing personalized, competency-based learning models, including mastery-based graduation pathways like "Move On When Ready."
  • Statewide Public Opinion and Market Research Studies 7 activities
    • Arizona Progress Meters
      Provides analysis of data, updates, and creates visualizations for Arizona's Progress Meters to support awareness building and community engagement regarding the state's performance in priority areas.
    • Conducts nonpartisan public opinion research and data analysis
      Conducts statewide listening activities and nonpartisan survey research to identify Arizona voters' priorities, produces the Arizona Voters' Agenda, and analyzes economic implications of public priorities. Shares trusted data through reports and analyses to inform public discourse and policy solutions.
    • Manages Arizona Progress Meters and public data visualization
      Tracks and updates Arizona’s Progress Meters by analyzing key performance data and creating visualizations to support awareness building, community engagement, and progress toward long-term state goals.
    • Public Priorities Research and Analysis
      Conducts listening activities and statewide nonpartisan survey research with Arizonans to understand public priorities, elections, and economic benefits, using this data to inform impartial analyses and collaborative leadership on long-term solutions for key state issues. This includes developing the Arizona Voters' Agenda and providing data for Arizona's Progress Meters.
    • Public Priorities Research and Analysis
      Conducts listening activities and statewide nonpartisan survey research with Arizonans to understand public priorities, elections, and economic benefits, using this data to inform impartial analyses and collaborative leadership on long-term solutions for key state issues. This includes developing the Arizona Voters' Agenda and providing analysis for Arizona's Progress Meters.
    • Public Priorities Research and Analysis
      Conducts listening activities with Arizonans to understand public priorities, using this data to inform impartial analyses and collaborative leadership on long-term solutions to key state issues. This includes providing analysis for Arizona's Progress Meters, updating them, and creating visualizations to build awareness and community engagement.
    • Public Priorities Research and Analysis
      Conducts listening activities and statewide nonpartisan survey research with Arizonans to understand public priorities, elections, and economic benefits of voter priorities. This data informs impartial analyses and collaborative leadership on long-term solutions to key state issues, and is used to develop the Arizona Voters' Agenda.
  • Career Pathways & Workforce Training 6 activities
    • Educational Externship Programs
      Welcomes educators to externship days, such as the Palo Verde Teacher Externship Day, to connect classrooms to careers.
    • Operates Arizona Pathways to Prosperity
      Unites industry and education leaders to create college and career pathways for young people, enabling them to earn degrees and credentials in high-demand industries. The initiative includes expanded Career and Technical Education programs, such as in Peoria.
    • Teacher Externship Program
      Welcomed 35 educators to the Palo Verde Teacher Externship Day to connect classrooms to careers.
    • Teacher Externship Program
      Welcomed educators to the Palo Verde Teacher Externship Day to connect classrooms to careers.
    • Workforce Development Programs
      Manages programs like RetailWorks AZ, which offers education and training for retail workers' advancement, and Arizona Pathways to Prosperity, which unites industry and education to establish college and career pathways for young people in high-demand industries. This also includes operating a paid, virtual internship program for Navajo County teens focused on peer mental health.
    • Workforce Development Programs
      Manages and operates programs like RetailWorks AZ and Arizona Pathways to Prosperity, which combine education and training to offer retail workers opportunities for advancement, establish college and career pathways for young people in high-demand industries, and empower students in Career and Technical Education.
  • Youth Civic Leadership Development 6 activities
    • Operates youth workforce and civic engagement programs
      Runs RetailWorks AZ to provide retail workers with education and advancement opportunities; operates a paid virtual internship program for Navajo County teens focused on mental health research; and implements School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona to engage students in civic decision-making through project proposals and voting.
    • School Participatory Budgeting
      Runs "School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona" to engage young people in civic life by having them develop proposals and vote on funding school improvement projects.
    • Youth Civic Engagement Programs
      Runs "School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona" to engage young people in civic life by having them develop proposals and vote on funding school improvement projects.
    • Youth Civic Engagement Programs
      Runs "School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona" to engage young people in civic life by having them develop proposals and vote on funding school improvement projects, and operated a paid, virtual internship program for Navajo County teens focused on peer mental health solutions.
    • Youth Civic Engagement Programs
      Runs "School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona" to engage young people in civic life by having them develop proposals and vote on funding school improvement projects. It also operated a paid, virtual internship program for Navajo County teens focused on researching peer mental health struggles and proposing youth-centered solutions.
    • Youth Internship Program
      Operated a paid, virtual internship program for Navajo County teens, where participants researched peer mental health struggles and proposed a youth-centered solution.
  • Local Journalism Support Initiatives 5 activities
    • Arizona Media Institute
      Will launch the Arizona Media Institute, providing online resources and year-round programming at no cost to newsrooms across Arizona.
    • Launches and supports media and community engagement capacity initiatives
      Facilitates community engagement strategy sharing among local leaders and will launch the Arizona Media Institute to provide free online resources and programming to newsrooms across Arizona, strengthening local journalism and civic information ecosystems.
    • Media Institute Development
      Will launch the Arizona Media Institute, providing online resources and year-round programming at no cost to newsrooms across Arizona.
    • Media Support and Resources
      Will launch the Arizona Media Institute, providing online resources and year-round programming at no cost to newsrooms across Arizona.
    • Media and Community Engagement Initiatives
      Will launch the Arizona Media Institute to provide online resources and year-round programming at no cost to newsrooms across Arizona, and facilitates sessions for local leaders to share community engagement strategies.
  • Young Professional & Leadership Development 5 activities
    • Leadership and Professional Development for Workforce Leaders
      Runs the Workforce Leadership Academy, offering professional development to Arizona workforce development leaders to enhance economic mobility and address challenges for workers and businesses. This includes selecting fellows for a year-long professional development program.
    • Runs workforce and education leadership development programs
      Offers professional development and leadership training for workforce development leaders (Workforce Leadership Academy), school leaders (Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy), and educators (Palo Verde Teacher Externship Day) to strengthen systems supporting economic mobility and student success.
    • Workforce Development Leadership Training
      Runs the Workforce Leadership Academy, offering professional development to Arizona workforce development leaders to enhance economic mobility and address challenges for workers and businesses. This includes a year-long professional development program for Southern Arizona leaders.
    • Workforce Leadership Development
      Runs the Workforce Leadership Academy, offering professional development to Arizona workforce development leaders to enhance economic mobility and address challenges for workers and businesses. This includes selecting fellows for year-long professional development programs.
    • Workforce Leadership Development
      Runs the Workforce Leadership Academy, offering professional development to Arizona workforce development leaders to enhance economic mobility and address challenges for workers and businesses. This includes selecting fellows for a year-long professional development program.
  • Business Networking Events 2 activities
    • Community Engagement Strategy Facilitation
      Facilitated a pre-conference session where over 100 local leaders shared community engagement strategies.
    • Community Engagement Strategy Facilitation
      Facilitated a pre-conference session where local leaders shared community engagement strategies.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Arizona Pathways to Prosperity
      Manages Arizona Pathways to Prosperity, a program that unites industry and education to establish college and career pathways for young people, including Peoria students, to obtain degrees and credentials in high-demand industries.
    • Community Engagement and Convenings
      Facilitates pre-conference sessions and other events where local leaders share community engagement strategies and connect classrooms to careers, aiming to advance a shared vision for Arizona's future.
    • Degree-Based Apprenticeship Research
      Explored degree-based apprenticeships as innovative pathways blending work and education to strengthen local workforce development in Southern Arizona.
    • Educational Research and Case Studies
      Explores innovative pathways like degree-based apprenticeships to strengthen local workforce development and publishes case studies on school districts to highlight lessons for academic recovery, teacher retention, and student-focused innovation.
    • Retail Worker Advancement Program
      Operates RetailWorks AZ, a program that combines education and training to offer retail workers opportunities for advancement and growth.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$4.50M
Contributions & grants$4.26M95%
Program service revenue$242K5%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$5.04M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$2.44M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.76M
Cash$848K
Investments$0
Liabilities$692K
Net assets$1.07M
Liquid reserves2.0 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -15.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 7
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SYBIL FRANCIS PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $255K
AMANDA BURKE MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $197K
AARON BALL COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS, 40 $132K
HOLLY KURTZ WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 40 $129K
CYNTHIA ERWIN-HOGBERG COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS 40 $119K
PETER BOYLE EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION 40 $114K
ROBERT LUSTER IT DIRECTOR 40 $108K
board members · 11
  • BILL POST — DIRECTOR
  • CARMEN HEREDIA — DIRECTOR
  • DON SMITH — DIRECTOR
  • GEORGE DEAN — SECRETARY/TREASURER
  • JILL HARRISON — DIRECTOR
  • JOSE CARDENAS — DIRECTOR
  • KATOSHA NAKAI — DIRECTOR
  • LATTIE F COOR — CHAIR
  • PAUL LUNA — DIRECTOR
  • RON SHOOPMAN — DIRECTOR
  • RUTH MCGREGOR — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 55

who they work with

  • Alerus Financial Partner — Stanton Shields, Senior Wealth Management Advisor at Alerus Financial, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Arizona Center for Civic Leadership Partner — Collaborates on the Arizona Civic Life Partnership to strengthen civic life in Arizona.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Adam Lopez-Falk, Community Program Officer at Arizona Community Foundation, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University Partner — Collaborates on the "Permission Granted" program to help Arizona schools use policy flexibilities.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Jacob Moore, Vice President and Special Advisor to the President on American Indian Affairs at Arizona State University, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Key partner in many facets of the organization's work.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Lisa S. Loo, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel at Arizona State University, serves on the board of directors of the Center for the Future of Arizona.
  • Arizona State University (ASU) Partner — Seeks student workers from ASU for GIS and Data Analyst roles.
  • Arizona State University Media Enterprise Partner — Mi-Ai Parrish, Managing Director of Arizona State University Media Enterprise, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Arizona Technology Council Partner — Steven Zylstra, President and CEO of Arizona Technology Council, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Arizona Western College Partner — Reetika Dhawan, Chief Executive Officer of Entrepreneurial College and Vice President of Workforce and Healthcare at Arizona Western College, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Carvana Partner — Zach Charnell, Group Product Manager at Carvana, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • City of Buckeye Partner — Suzie Boyles, Economic Development Director for the City of Buckeye, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • City of Flagstaff Partner — Khara House, City Council Member for the City of Flagstaff, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Colliers Partner — Jerry LoCoco, Vice President at Colliers, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • CopperPoint Mutual Partner — Rick DeGraw, former Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President of CopperPoint Mutual, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Flinn Foundation Partner — Tammy McLeod, President and CEO of Flinn Foundation, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Freeport-McMoRan Partner — Tracy Bame, Director of Social Performance at Freeport-McMoRan, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Partner — Tracy Bame, President of Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Gallup Partner — Partnered to conduct the Gallup Arizona Poll, building a citizens’ agenda for the state.
  • Good Dirt Farming Company Partner — Kirk Dunn, Founder of Good Dirt Farming Company, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Grand Canyon University Partner — Noah Wolfe, Director of Development at Grand Canyon University, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Partner — Julie Pastrick, President and CEO of Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, serves as an Arizona Future Maker.
  • Greater Phoenix Leadership Partner — Collaborated on the Peirce Report, which examines changes in Greater Phoenix since 1987.
  • Greater Phoenix Urban League Partner — George Dean, President and CEO of Greater Phoenix Urban League, serves on the board of directors of the Center for the Future of Arizona.
  • Greater Yuma Port Authority Partner — Buna George, Executive Director of the Greater Yuma Port Authority, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Helios Education Foundation Partner — Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, serves on the board of directors of the Center for the Future of Arizona.
  • Helios Education Foundation Partner — Supported research on challenges faced by Arizona students in the education system.
  • IBM Partner — Luke Amargo, an IBM AI Operations, Financial Operations, Integration for Arizona, Nevada, & New Mexico, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
  • Jasmine Snipes Consulting Partner — Jasmine Snipes, CEO of Jasmine Snipes Consulting, is a Young Talent Advisor for CFA.
+ 25 more