Arizona Foundation for Women Inc

We believe SHE Counts!

aka AFW   |   Phoenix, AZ   |  www.azfw.org

Mission

Advancing the status of Arizona's women through research, advocacy and philanthropy. When a women's power and potential are respected, children and families are healthier, economies are stronger and communities prosper. At Arizona Foundation for Women, we amplify every woman's safety, health and financial needs so she can break free from the challenges, fear and bias that confine her.

Ruling year info

1995

CEO

Ms. Mesha Davis

Main address

2201 E Camelback Road Suite 405B

Phoenix, AZ 85016 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

86-0789956

NTEE code info

Women's Rights (R24)

Research Institutes and/or Public Policy Analysis (R05)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (R12)

IRS filing requirement

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

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We help women in Arizona achieve safety, health, and financial independence. We bring women’s needs to the forefront and ensure those unique needs of every woman in Arizona are met so she can break free from the challenges, fear, and bias that confine her power and potential. We do this through comprehensive research, advocacy, and philanthropy.

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?

Research

We conduct regular, in-depth research studies to inform community leaders and legislative decision-makers on the critical challenges that are holding women back from realizing their power and potential.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Adults

We are a voice for women on issues that uniquely impact them. From domestic violence and sex trafficking to housing, healthcare and equitable pay, we're amplifying women's needs through community events and conversations.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Adults

Through strategic grantmaking informed by our research, we invest in organizations who have solutions for the diverse challenges Arizona women face so that they can maximize their tremendous impact.

In the past 20 years, we have contributed more than $2.5 million community dollars to help thousands of women and their families break the cycle of poverty, eliminate abuse and gain economic self-sufficiency.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Adults

Where we work

Awards

Best Medium Sized Nonprofit Organization of the Year 2008

Arizona Business Magazine

Affiliations & memberships

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 1993

Videos

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 new grants received

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Women, Economically disadvantaged people, Victims of crime and abuse

Related Program

Advocacy & Awareness

Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total dollar amount of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Victims of crime and abuse, Women

Related Program

Philanthropy

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

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.

Arizona Foundation for Women is leading the fight to ensure the unique needs of every woman in Arizona are met so she can change what is possible for her, her community, and future generations. We want to amplify every woman’s safety, health, and financial needs so she can break free from the challenges, fear, and bias that confine her.

Through comprehensive research, advocacy, and philanthropy, we bring women’s needs to the forefront to help them overcome the barriers that confine their power and potential.

○ Research - We conduct regular, in-depth research studies to inform community leaders and legislative decision-makers on the critical challenges that are holding women back from realizing their power and potential.

○ Advocacy - We are a voice for women on issues that uniquely impact them. From domestic violence and sex trafficking to housing, healthcare, and equitable pay, we’re amplifying women’s needs through community events and conversations.

○ Philanthropy - Through strategic grant-making informed by our research, we invest in organizations who have solutions for the diverse challenges Arizona women face so that they can maximize their tremendous impact. In the past 20 years, the Foundation has contributed more than $2.5 million community dollars to help thousands of women and their families break the cycle of poverty, eliminate abuse, and gain economic self-sufficiency.

Arizona Foundation for women has a robust and stellar Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and key stakeholders invested in the success of our mission. Our foundation has a 24-year history and commendable reputable for the work and progress made around research advocating and grant-making. We are fortunate to have our dedicated and passionate founder still actively engaged.

Arizona Foundation for Women has made tremendous strides over the last 20 years. We have helped change laws that protected minors arrested during prostitution stings to see them as victims and not criminals. Additionally, changed laws enforcing stringent and stricter punishments for their offenders. We have had movements led by male community leaders who through major statewide marketing and ad campaigns stood behind ending domestic violence. We are thrusting forward to build our endowment to $5 million over the next three year. We will build out our new membership campaign for more statewide reach and implement a new leadership development program dedicated to professional women.

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 shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Implememented a new membership campaign via survey input. In the planning stages of obtaining the rights to a new leadership program for women. Board evaluation.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board,

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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time,

Financials

Arizona Foundation for Women Inc
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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 Foundation for Women Inc

Board of directors
as of 4/5/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Jon Eliason

Maricopa County Attorney's Office

Marilyn Seymann, Ph.D., Emeritus

M One

Maureen Bussoletti

Consultant

Elisa De La Vara

Arizona Community Foundation

Jon Eliason

Maricopa County Attorney's Office

Brenda Holt

AARP

Erin Kelly

Vanta Education

Monica Lindstrom

MK Lindstrom Law, PLLC

Yvette Roeder

City of Phoenix

Stephanie Roldan

Rosendin Electric, Inc.

Nandini Srinivasan

Cactus Semiconductor

Michael Strati

Consultant

Laurie Taylor

Ernst & Young

Susan Thrasher, MD, PhD

Retired, Physician, Medical Director

Mary Wheeler

MS Wheeler Financial Services, LLC

Andrea Whitsett

ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy

Cynthia Wrasman

KefiCatalyst

Jacalyn Askin

Askin Consulting

Heather Hill

Mobile Mini

Shawna Reed

Benefit Commerce Group

Barbara Schifano

University of Phoenix

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? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 04/05/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American/African
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/13/2019

GuideStar 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

Data
  • 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 analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • 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 disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.