Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Education Forward Arizona

EIN 20-2366755 · Phoenix, AZ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT ALIGNS WITH CAREER AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL ARIZONANS.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
38
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$323,071, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $6.4 million spent. EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND EQUITY ACROSS ARIZONA. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL ARIZONANS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT ALIGN WITH CAREER AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES. BY CONVENING CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS, ADVANCING DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, AND DIRECTLY SUPPORTING SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS, EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA WORKS TO STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION AMONG EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA ADVANCES ITS MISSION THROUGH SEVERAL INTEGRATED PROGRAM AREAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE POSTSECONDARY ACCESS, PERSISTENCE, AND COMPLETION FOR ARIZONA STUDENTS. 1. SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT SUCCESS SERVICES EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND STRUCTURED ADVISING SERVICES TO FIRST-GENERATION AND LOW-INCOME ARIZONA STUDENTS PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, HELPING THEM ENROLL IN COLLEGE, PERSIST TO GRADUATION, AND TRANSITION INTO CAREER PATHWAYS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED 886 SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROVIDED INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING AND CAREER GUIDANCE TO PARTICIPATING SCHOLARS. THESE EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED TO STRONG STUDENT OUTCOMES, INCLUDING A 94% PERSISTENCE RATE AND AN 80% GRADUATION RATE AMONG PARTICIPATING SCHOLARS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT, SURPASSING 1,000 CUMULATIVE GRADUATES WHOSE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT HAS GENERATED AN ESTIMATED $2.2 BILLION IN LONG-TERM ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR ARIZONA. 2. POST-SECONDARY ACCESS INITIATIVES EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA WORKS WITH ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOLS, COUNSELORS, COLLEGE ACCESS PROFESSIONALS, AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN COLLEGE ACCESS SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONING SUCCESSFULLY FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THROUGH THE COLLEGE KNOWING & GOING (CKG) INITIATIVE, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH 30 HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS ARIZONA TO IMPLEMENT A SHARED FRAMEWORK FOR COLLEGE READINESS, STUDENT ADVISING, AND DATA-DRIVEN IMPROVEMENT. PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTED COMMON WORK PLANS AND TRACKED PROGRESS USING SHARED PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES DESIGNED TO INCREASE POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT AND READINESS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE COMPLETION OF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) AND COORDINATES THE ARIZONA COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK (AZCAN), A STATEWIDE PROFESSIONAL NETWORK FOR COLLEGE ACCESS PRACTITIONERS. IN 2025, EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA CO-LED ARIZONA'S FAFSA COALITION AND HOSTED STATEWIDE CONVENINGS THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER COUNSELORS, EDUCATORS, AND ACCESS PROFESSIONALS TO STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL AID COMPLETION AND POSTSECONDARY ADVISING. ARIZONA WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF FIVE STATES NATIONALLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FAFSA BETA TEST, REFLECTING THE STATE'S GROWING LEADERSHIP IN COLLEGE ACCESS COORDINATION. 3. STATEWIDE ENGAGEMENT AND ATTAINMENT ADVOCACY EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA CONDUCTS NONPARTISAN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THAT HELP COMMUNITIES, EDUCATORS, AND POLICYMAKERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF POSTSECONDARY ATTAINMENT AND WORKFORCE READINESS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION RELEASED THE FUTURE OF ATTAINMENT IN ARIZONA, A STATEWIDE REPORT EXAMINING ARIZONA'S PROGRESS TOWARD INCREASING POSTSECONDARY ATTAINMENT AND STRENGTHENING THE EDUCATION-TO-WORKFORCE PIPELINE. THROUGH ITS EVERYTHING TO GAIN PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVE AND STATEWIDE OUTREACH EFFORTS, EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA ENGAGED STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ACROSS ARIZONA IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. ENGAGEMENT ACROSS DIGITAL PLATFORMS, MEDIA COVERAGE, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS REACHED MORE THAN ONE MILLION ARIZONANS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT POSTSECONDARY ATTAINMENT AND WORKFORCE READINESS. 4. REGIONAL ATTAINMENT PARTNERSHIPS EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA ALSO SUPPORTS REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS THAT BRING TOGETHER BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE LOCAL ATTAINMENT GOALS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION CONVENED SIX REGIONAL ATTAINMENT GROUPS ACROSS ARIZONA AND PUBLISHED THE STATE'S FIRST GUIDE FOR COMMUNITIES SEEKING TO LAUNCH REGIONAL ATTAINMENT INITIATIVES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHEN COORDINATION BETWEEN EDUCATION PROVIDERS, EMPLOYERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO INCREASE POSTSECONDARY ATTAINMENT AND WORKFORCE READINESS. THROUGH THESE COMBINED EFFORTS, EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA WORKS TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, STRENGTHEN ARIZONA'S TALENT PIPELINE, AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR ARIZONA RESIDENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTNER WITH OR SUPPORT EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA, VISIT EDUCATIONFORWARDARIZONA.ORG OR EMAIL US AT INFO@EDUCATIONFORWARDARIZONA.ORG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.