GROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA
Meeting you where you are, helping you get to where you want to be.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Growth Partners Arizona is on a mission to tackle one of Arizona's most pressing challenges: fostering economic growth and prosperity across the state. With a commitment to empowering underserved businesses and communities, we aim to bridge the gaps, unlock opportunities, and create a thriving ecosystem where every entrepreneur, regardless of their background or location, has a fair shot at success. Our focus is to facilitate access to capital, provide strategic guidance, and build strong partnerships to fuel sustainable growth and build a brighter future for Arizona."
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Nonprofit Loans and Technical Assistance
GPAz helps ensure financially strong and sustainable nonprofits so they may successfully fulfill their missions of serving local communities. GPAz loans are used to meet a temporary cash flow crunch, create expanded services to constituents, obtain LIHTC financing, purchase foreclosed property, and myriad other purposes. GPAz technical assistance helps build operational capacity and long-term sustainability. Outcomes are measured by improved knowledge and skills of management and boards, as well as improved financial stability.
Small Business Loans & Technical Assistance
GPAz structures operational loans and provides guidance to small business owners who lack access to traditional sources of capital, create positive change in underserved Arizona communities, and who value working with a nonprofit partner. These loans provide businesses an on-ramp to the financial mainstream and bankability.
Small Business Lending
We support economic development by providing affordable and flexible financing to small businesses that currently don’t have access to traditional sources of loan capital. By focusing on underserved areas, we can help drive positive change through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to community development.
Nonprofit Loans
We help strengthen the financial capacity of nonprofits through affordable and flexible loans and provide business guidance for staff and boards of directors.
KIVA Tucson Hub
Through the Kiva Tucson Hub, we’re providing zero percent interest, no fee, and no collateral loans to our local small businesses and nonprofits. We leverage Kiva’s global online platform to facilitate community-backed loans to help you reach your financial goals. Kiva loans range from $1,000 to $15,000 for up to three years.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of loaned made to businesses
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Small Business Lending
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Loans include small business loan, nonprofit loan, and KIVA Loan programs.
Total dollars loaned to businesses
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Small Business Lending
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Loan include all small business, nonprofit, and KIVA loan programs.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
The long-term goal for Growth Partners Arizona is to become a catalyst for sustainable economic growth and development throughout the state of Arizona. This includes:
1. Expanding Access to Capital: Continuously increasing the availability of funding for small businesses, nonprofits, and underserved communities, fostering entrepreneurship and job creation.
2. Building Strong Partnerships: Forming enduring partnerships with local organizations, financial institutions, and government agencies to create a robust support network for economic development.
3. Empowering Entrepreneurs: Providing ongoing resources, mentorship, and educational programs to empower entrepreneurs and enhance their long-term success.
4. Community Development: Contributing to the overall improvement of communities across Arizona, with a focus on underserved areas, by investing in local businesses and projects.
5. Measurable Impact: Regularly assessing and measuring the impact of Growth Partners Arizona's initiatives and programs on the economic well-being of the state, with the aim of achieving meaningful, sustainable results.
6. Advocacy and Policy: Engaging in advocacy efforts to influence policies and regulations that positively affect small businesses and underserved communities.
Ultimately, Growth Partners Arizona seeks to leave a lasting legacy of economic prosperity, entrepreneurship, and community development that benefits Arizona residents for generations to come.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Growth Partners Arizona has a comprehensive strategy aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address various aspects of economic development, social inclusion, and sustainability in Arizona:
1. No Poverty (SDG 1): By providing access to capital and financial resources, we aim to alleviate poverty in the state. This includes offering loans, grants, and financial education programs to underserved individuals and communities.
2. Affordable Clean Energy (SDG 7): We support the transition to clean energy by offering financial assistance to businesses and organizations involved in sustainable energy projects.
3. Decent Work and Economic Development (SDG 8): We are dedicated to fostering economic growth and creating decent work opportunities in Arizona. This involves providing loans and mentorship to small businesses, startups, and nonprofits, helping them thrive and generate employment.
4. Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10): We actively work to reduce economic disparities by focusing on underserved communities and minority-owned businesses. Our programs aim to level the playing field, providing equal access to financial resources and opportunities for all.
5. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16): We contribute to building strong institutions by collaborating with local organizations, financial institutions, and government agencies to create a robust support network for economic development. We also advocate for policies that promote economic justice and fairness.
6. Partnerships for Goals (SDG 17): We recognize the importance of collaboration. We actively seek partnerships with other organizations, both within and outside Arizona, to amplify our impact. These partnerships help mobilize resources, share best practices, and work collectively toward achieving the SDGs.
Through these strategic initiatives, we not only supports the specific SDGs but also contributes to the overall well-being and sustainable development of Arizona, fostering a more inclusive, prosperous, and environmentally responsible future for the state.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We possess several key capabilities that enable our organization to effectively pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mentioned earlier. We have the financial expertise and experience team members. We have the capacity and capability to evaluate financial needs, structure loans, and provide tailored financial solutions to businesses and nonprofits.
We have actively built strong partnerships across the state to support collaboration. Our ability to establish and maintain partnerships with local organizations, financial institutions, government agencies, and other stakeholders enhances our capacity to leverage resources, share knowledge, and collectively work towards our goals. Over the years we have continue to expand our focus on advocacy, financial literacy training, and deploying more responsible capital to underserved communities.
By leveraging these our experience and partnerships we can effectively contribute to the advancement of the specified SDGs, playing a vital role in driving sustainable economic development, reducing inequalities, promoting clean energy, and fostering strong partnerships for the benefit of Arizona's communities and businesses.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have made significant progress in towards these goals having deployed over $7M in loans to underserved communities, provided over 1500 hours of technical assistance, and provided over a $20M economic impact to Arizona communities. We have established partnerships with small business and nonprofit advocacy organizations to ensure local small businesses and nonprofits have a voice. We have partnered with local organizations to expand alternative lending opportunities to underserved communities.
We will continue to move aggressively towards our goals to ensure our economy works for everyone and underserved communities have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
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
- 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.
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.
GROWTH PARTNERS ARIZONA
Board of directorsas of 09/22/2023
Mrs. Evelyn Casuga
Center for the Future of Arizona
Term: 2021 - 2024
Gary Molenda
Arizona Capita
Evelyn Casuga
Certified Economic Developer
Peggy Hutchison
Primavera Foundation
Mike Hammond
Founder Cushman & Wakefield/PICOR Commercial Real Estate Services
Roxanne Veliz
Snell & Wilmer
Judie Scalise
Founder & Principal ESI Corporation
Magdalena Verdugo
CEO YWCA Southern Arizona
Gary Molenda
President Arizona Capital Source
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
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
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/16/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.