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Local First Arizona Foundation
Local First Arizona Foundation reported $10.5 million in revenue and $10.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $90.72 went to program services, $7.27 to management and general costs and $2.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.5% of the total. Government grants made up 54.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $230,716 (FOUNDER AND CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 709% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $10MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.7% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.5% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 54.5% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.1% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $230,716 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.25% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.9 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLOCAL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:Local First Arizona Foundation is on a mission to build equitable systems for Arizonas local businesses and communities that create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Arizona economy. Our small business programs are designed to incubate, accelerate and celebrate entrepreneurship, with a focus on developing entrepreneurship in low-income or under-resourced communities. We support aspiring entrepreneurs and established independently owned local businesses alike. For businesses in search of opportunities to strengthen and grow their operations, we provided…
SUSTAINABILITY: To increase environmental responsibility locally, the Green Business Bootcamp equipped 49 small businesses with a plan and funding in place to implement projects that will conserve their energy, water, or waste and reduce operational costs. The program has served the Greater Phoenix and Tucson metro areas as well as in the Verde Valley, which is a rural area. As a green nonprofit, Local First signature events diverted 70% of waste from the landfill to reuse, compost and recycle. This included the Arizona Fall Festival, which attracted 20,000 attendees, as well as Devour, a…
FOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY GARDENS: In 2024 more than 135 food business startups were incubated in our community kitchens across Mesa, South Phoenix, and Maryvale, and 85 additional food businesses began operations from participating in our restaurant start-up boot camp. Due to the demand for these services, another kitchen incubator opened in early 2025. In addition, Local First provided weekly childrens cooking classes to more than 68 low-income students of color who learned about nutrition as well as cooking skills. Each participant has the opportunity to take home 5 meals for…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDER AND CEO Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $224,532 | $0 | $6,184 | $230,716 |
| CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $124,976 | $0 | $5,855 | $130,831 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Local First Arizona Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $362K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 573
- Volunteers Part I, line 6294
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Local First Arizona Foundation totaling $203K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Local First Arizona Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Local First Arizona Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Local First Arizona Foundation spent in 2024, $90.72 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Arizona
Questions people ask
How much of Local First Arizona Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Local First Arizona Foundation reported that 90.7% of its $10.2 million in expenses went to program services, 7.3% to management and general and 2.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Local First Arizona Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Local First Arizona Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $230,716, for the role of FOUNDER AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Local First Arizona Foundation get its money?
Of $10.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 96.5% came from contributions and grants (including 54.5% from government grants) and 3.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Local First Arizona Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-1657951 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502419349301310 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349312122 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323149349303147 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213119349303811 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113129349302156 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002339349301405 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-1657951: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.