GOLD2024

Arizona Sustainability Alliance

Advancing Sustainability for a Better Arizona

Mission

To create and support cutting-edge, project-based sustainability solutions in Arizona.

Ruling year info

2017

Chief Executive Officer

Orlando Cazarez

Main address

8205 S. Priest Dr. #11962

Tempe, AZ 85284 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

82-1664765

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (C01)

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Ethnic and racial groups

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

Population(s) Served
Adults
Economically disadvantaged people

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

Population(s) Served
Adults

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

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Children and youth

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

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

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.

- 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

- 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.

- 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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

Financials

Arizona Sustainability Alliance
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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 directors
as of 08/21/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/21/2023

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
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability