BROPHY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Brophy Community Foundation (BCF) is a certified school tuition organization and as such raises funds, through corporate and individual tax credit contributions, for low income and working poor families as and for private school tuition financial aid. BCF's goal is to make private school education accessible and affordable for all Arizona families regardless of financial limitations. BCF's tuition aid provides families with more schooling options than ever before when financial barriers are removed. Quality k-12 education is the cornerstone to success in life providing the building blocks and foundation for college and beyond. Graduation from high school college and career bound is the ultimate goal.

Since 1999, BCF's mission has consistently been focused on low income and working poor families. Despite a provision in AZ law allowing individual donors to designate particular students (as long as not a dependent) to receive their donation, BCF has never accepted donor designated funds believing the tax credit donations should be given to students with documented and verifies financial need. BCF contracts with an independent company to analyze each families financial data, including tax returns and W-2's, to determine financial need. BCF uses the federal free and reduced lunch program family income guidelines to determine need. The average income for the families BCF assists is $40,000.
Brophy Community Foundation levels the playing field when it comes to equal access to private k-12 education in Arizona. A quality education creates bright futures for our students and also provides Arizona with the capable workforce necessary to meet the demands of Arizona's future economy. The best way to combat poverty is to expand opportunity.

BCF has been recognized with the highest 5-star rating by an independent study conducted by the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO) two years in a row. HCREO analyzed Arizona school tuition organizations and ranked them based on the following criteria:
1. Percent of annual revenue awarded in the form of scholarships;
2. Percent of scholarships awarded to students from low-income families;
3. Percent of scholarships awarded to students from low-income and working-class families;
4. Number of schools that a student using a scholarship can choose from based on an STO's rules;
5. And whether or not an STO awards scholarships based on a family's need or the recommendations of donors.

BCF keeps its administrative costs at 5%, well below the statutory 10% allowance. 95% of revenue goes to low income and working poor families. 34 qualified schools are supported. Donor designated funds have never been accepted.

Quality education is the right of every K-12 child and critical to their success in life. Families with no or limited economic means should have the same educational options as wealthier families. Students need to have immediate access to quality options and the opportunity to achieve their academic goals. Academic success is critical for students to become college and career ready. The best way to demonstrate progress towards BCF's goal is sharing one of BCF's many success stories:

In 4th grade, Carlos decided to change his life. He watched his best friend walk across the stage at an awards ceremony to receive recognition for straight A's, and Carlos was jealous. He could be a good student, he thought, even though he was developing a reputation as a troublemaker. As he watched the school principal honor his friend, he decided there was more to life than petty theft and trespassing.
Making the decision was the easy part. Following through on his promise to himself would be a challenge. His family had moved nearly every year of his young life, from Washington state, to Phoenix, and then to locations around the valley. The regular uprooting made it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork, but by 8th grade, Carlos had pulled his grades up and a friendly teacher suggested he apply to a private school. At that time, his parents had to move once again. Despite the potential for another transition for Carlos, the Brophy Community Foundation, an Arizona school tuition organization (STO), provided financial aid for Carlos to attend Brophy College Preparatory and receive the education he worked so hard to qualify for.

Earlier this year, Carlos won first place in the Arizona district speech and debate tournament. He will represent Brophy in June at the national competition. He is proud of his accomplishments and knows his scholarship to Brophy has given him excellent opportunities. “The way they challenge you academically is important," Carlos said. “The college preparatory mission was really important to me." This fall, Carlos will become the first person from his family to attend college when he
attends American University on a full scholarship.
(reprinted in part from HCREO report 2014)