SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRITY
Promoting Ethical Profits and Responsible Commerce
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The extreme economic divide in our country, and the public policies that encourage it, will not change unless and until we challenge head on those policies and the powerful industries that profit excessively on the backs of workers, consumers, children and families.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
High Cost Small Loans
The Southwest Center for Economic Integrity engages in research, outreach education, public policy and industry reform as it relates to our mission.
Maintain Arizona's Small Loan Law
• Support Arizona's 36% or LESS interest rate cap for all small loans
• Require Auto Title Lending to comply with 36% APR limits
• Resist special interests and corporate efforts to obtain special exemptions to current law
• Monitor and report coporate actions intended to circumvent the law
• Encourage innovative approaches to meeting consumer's cash flow & savings needs
• Research current and emerging trends within the informal economy
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To create substantive changes within our society that will eliminate the causes and conditions that allow poverty to continue to exist in our communities.
CEI creates change from the ground up. Sustainable systemic change goals, strategies and tactics must be defined by people directly impacted, and outcomes must be achieved through diverse community coalitions that share a stake in success.
CEI’s goals coalesce around its initiatives. These initiatives are driven by our overarching vision and mission to build economically strong communities for all and oppose unfair corporate practices.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CEI identifies egregious corporate practices and public polices that allow those practices to thrive: negatively impacting workers, consumers, children and families. We work as a facilitator for systemic economic change through partnerships with existing nonprofits, military and political entities, faith-based and business organizations in the following ways:
• Community Organizing
• Community Based Research & Education
• Public Policy and Corporate Reforms
• Social Enterprise Development
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since CEI’s founding in late 2001, our capacity has been dependent upon our unique partnership approach. As a facilitator for change, CEI brings together individuals and organizations around initiatives with wide-ranging impacts. This range allows CEI to engage with diverse interests and ideologies around a common cause. The projects that arise as a result of our community based research and coalition building give depth and longevity to our work. We remain since our inception, a small nimble organization with minimal operational overhead, even as we continue to evolve to take advantage of emerging technologies that enhance our overall effectiveness and efficiency.
CEI capabilities are directly correlated to our capacity. The diversity and richness of the coalitions and partners CEI engages in this work results in a tremendous amount of collective expertise, skill, energy, compassion and wisdom.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Grandparent and Kinship Families
Huge progress was made from 2017 to 2018 in increasing the number of eligible families who applied for, and received the grandparent raising grandchildren stipend ($75/m), by working with the Governor’s office and state agency administrators (Dept. of Children and Families – DCS). Expansion of eligibility and outreach by DCS is a direct result of AZGA advocacy efforts and a significant public policy victory.
Payday Lending Reform
CEI won a first and only victory banning payday lenders in AZ saving vulnerable consumers 35 million dollars per year in usurious interest rates and fees. CEI now helps communities across the country combat similar 400% interest rate payday loans.
Reform of Labor Brokers
CEI pushed through legislation holding for-profit day labor companies accountable in AZ and NM and helped three nonprofits in the Gulf Coast region launch nonprofit labor brokering enterprises to better meet the needs of workers and employers.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRITY
Board of directorsas of 01/31/2024
Penelope Jacks
Children's Advocate
Prof. Jamie Ratner
Professor Emeritus of Law, University of Arizona
Term: 2023 -
Mary J Ryan
Civil Law Private Practice
Russ Miller
Philanthropist
Lowell Jones
Jones Innovations LLC
Elsa Peterson
Educator
Jamie Ratner
Professor Emeritus of Law
Kimberley Braxton Anekwe
Child & Family Resources
Catherine Nichols
Public policy
Liz Rabago
LR Bilingual Services
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data