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Local First Arizona Foundation

EIN 26-1657951 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION LFAF PROVIDES COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ARIZONA.

Income
$10.5 million
Spending
$10.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
73
Volunteers
294
Highest pay
$230,716, founder and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. LOCAL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:Local First Arizona Foundation is on a mission to build equitable systems for Arizonas local businesses and communities that create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Arizona economy. Our small business programs are designed to incubate, accelerate and celebrate entrepreneurship, with a focus on developing entrepreneurship in low-income or under-resourced communities. We support aspiring entrepreneurs and established independently owned local businesses alike. For businesses in search of opportunities to strengthen and grow their operations, we provided on-on-one consulting to 3,500 small and under-resourced businesses in 2024. Our Business Accelerator programs graduated 168 owners from the greater Phoenix area, Sedona, Cottonwood, Globe and Miami Arizona.
  2. $2.3 million spent. SUSTAINABILITY: To increase environmental responsibility locally, the Green Business Bootcamp equipped 49 small businesses with a plan and funding in place to implement projects that will conserve their energy, water, or waste and reduce operational costs. The program has served the Greater Phoenix and Tucson metro areas as well as in the Verde Valley, which is a rural area. As a green nonprofit, Local First signature events diverted 70% of waste from the landfill to reuse, compost and recycle. This included the Arizona Fall Festival, which attracted 20,000 attendees, as well as Devour, a two-day culinary event with more than 80 small, local restaurants.
  3. $1.6 million spent. FOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY GARDENS: In 2024 more than 135 food business startups were incubated in our community kitchens across Mesa, South Phoenix, and Maryvale, and 85 additional food businesses began operations from participating in our restaurant start-up boot camp. Due to the demand for these services, another kitchen incubator opened in early 2025. In addition, Local First provided weekly childrens cooking classes to more than 68 low-income students of color who learned about nutrition as well as cooking skills. Each participant has the opportunity to take home 5 meals for the week. Many of these same students join us on the weekends in our community garden to learn gardening and harvesting skills, all of which reduces food insecurity in our community.
  4. $1.5 million spent. ARIZONA ECONOMIC RESOURCE CENTER: IN 2024, the Local First Arizona Economic Resource Center enabled 243 Arizona -based nonprofits, rural municipalities, and tribal nations to access $62 million in grants for critical local and regional projects such as essential infrastructure, broadband, solar projects, remote healthcare clinics, food access, treatment facilities, education, arts and culture, and emergency preparedness. These grants will transform Arizona communities that are most in need. To date the Arizona Economic Resource Center has enabled agencies to access $118 million in grants. Also, Local First, as the States federally designated Rural Development Council, partnered with community colleges across 5 counties to develop a consistent and strategic workforce development program to benefit rural jobseekers and regional employers.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 February 2009.

    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.