Arizona Sustainability Alliance
Advancing Sustainability for a Better Arizona
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Bringing in enough funds to pay wages to the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Programs Director, Program Managers, and Marketing and Communications Manager while funding key programs in our key priority areas.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Renewable Energy
Mission:
Arizona Sustainability Alliance approaches the Renewable Energy Priority in a hands-on manner. Instead of pure advocacy, we are applying sound research to the projects we focus on. Our objectives communicate our need to increase the use of renewable energy in Arizona in ways that make our organization stand out. In a state where a majority of energy is produced by non-renewable resources, it is our goal to demonstrate successful applications of renewable energy in the community.
Objectives:
Promote sustainable energy by strategically implementing renewable energy projects in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Educate the public about renewable energy in creative, innovative, and interactive ways through projects that also incorporate community health and beautification.
Create regular community events aimed at demystifying renewable energy and promoting the overall growth of sustainable energy.
Partners:
City of Phoenix
CrossFit Tempe
Sustainable Food Systems
Mission:
We are dedicated to creating and supporting regenerative local food systems. Through community engagement, education and project-based assistance, we intend on empowering low-income communities and creating equitable, affordable food access throughout Arizona.
Objectives:
Increase food security in low income communities and mitigate food deserts by creating and supporting projects that provide low-income communities with equitable, affordable, convenient access to healthy foods.
Provide education to Arizonans on best practices for growing, eating and recycling healthy foods
Provide support to local farmers, distributors and vendors to strengthen the local food economy by increasing the amount of food that is grown and consumed locally
Partners:
Maricopa County Food System Coalition (MARCO)
Fowler Elementary School District, Phoenix
Los Ninos Elementary, Tempe
Kyrene del Norte Elementary, Tempe
Net Impact
Microsoft
CVSHealth
City of Tempe
FIGG Community Gardens
Conservation
Mission:
By working to maintain clean and beautiful parks we are promoting sustainable communities and providing valuable outdoor spaces for native plants and animals and supporting the well-being of those living within the community.
Objectives:
Preserve and protect parks and park ecosystems for current and future generations to enjoy
Promote native plants and animals in parks through invasive species removal
Help to maintain the beauty and functionality of our parks
Give back to our local communities by supporting beautiful parks for the well-being of community members
Provide environmental education and public outreach at cleanup events to create greater awareness of AZSA and our mission (including other priorities)
Partners:
City of Tempe
City of Phoenix
Keep Phoenix Beautiful
Urban Forestry
Mission:
To engage our volunteers in projects that sustainably contribute to increasing urban forestry in Arizona and to educate the public on the benefits of urban forestry, including carbon capture, decreasing the heat island effect, and cleaning the air.
Objectives:
Increase the tree canopy in low income, low canopy areas throughout Arizona
Provide education to Arizonans on best practices for tree maintenance and the benefits of urban forestry
Provide a model for cities on how to work with private residents
Partners:
Trees Matter
City of Tempe
Audubon Arizona
National Forest Foundation
Arizona Department of Fire and Forest Management
Education
Objectives:
To provide sustainability resource information to Arizona citizens
To develop educational programming for K-12
To engage youth in sustainability practices
To showcase and support education efforts of AZSA
Where we work
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children who have been exposed to sustainability programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Education
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
K-8 Students provided with direct access to garden education and healthy, fresh food through planting of food plants. Steam educational concepts are included. See our website for more information.
Number of trees planted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Urban Forestry
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Targeting low-shade canopy areas, we address the economic value of ecosystem services from trees. $6,600 annually in ecosystem service benefits are realized from the planting of 44 trees.
Number of groups brought together in a coalition/alliance/partnership
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Valuing community partnerships, AZSA relies on and contributes to strategic partnerships to further existing programs/projects and to develop new innovative programs/projects.
Number of innovative programs initiated
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
From shade-canopy increases & educational programs to renewable energy recreational outreach projects, our vision is to empower Arizonans to ensure a sustainable future for our communities.
Number of teachers trained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Teachers
Related Program
Sustainable Food Systems
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
AZSA has implemented a teacher training program to expand its' work in three programs: Sow It Forward, Food Tech for the Future, and the Urban Forestry Education Initiative.
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?
To raise 1,000,000 a year in funds available to pay the above wages and related taxes and benefits. To extend products and services to youth and underserved communities while supporting Sustainability in the Phoenix Metro area and surrounding areas.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
- Restructured the board of directors to those aligned with the actions needed to raise needed funds.
- Creating a plan to address large corporate interests in sustainability
- Creating a monthly giving program
- Continuing with the effective and meaningful work done in the community and elevating the communication of our activities/contributions.
- Implementation and monitoring on new strategic plan
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
- A board of directors that has a proficient skill-set and willingness to be a working board in order to take the organization to the next level
- Connections within the nonprofit and sustainability communities
- Great relationships with corporations with strong CSR goals
-Maintain strong working relationships with Cities and build upon those relationships.
-Expand Sustainability Programs and offer more education opportunities in our key areas of conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable food systems.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
- The Board has grown and diversified
- The strategic plan has been completed, approved, and is being implemented
- New staff have been brought on to allow the Executive Director to focus more on fundraising
- A Development Director has been hired to assist with all fundraising opportunities
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?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
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.
Arizona Sustainability Alliance
Board of directorsas of 08/21/2024
John Pombier
Amazon
Term: 2023 - 2026
Cameron Tall
North Light Construction, LLC
Sara Cook
Wildlife Habitat Council
Varun Thakkar
CLEAResult Consulting
Nicholas McDonald
Arizona Public Service
John Pombier
Amazon
Mark Orzabal
Edward Jones
Kaitlyn Libby
Salt River Project
Josiane Bonneau
Freeport-McMoRan
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? No
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: