Autism Society of Southern Arizona Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE CREATE CONNECTIONS, EMPOWERING EVERYONE IN THE AUTISM COMMUNITY WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO LIVE FULLY.
- Income
- $199,924
- Spending
- $196,412
- Spent on programs
- 54%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $61,662, executive director
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
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1554% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $58,849 spent. OUR PROGRAMMING OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS, EMPOWERING EVERYONE IN THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO LIVE FULLY. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO MEET THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE, HELP THEM FEEL LESS ALONE, CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES AND BUILD OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. NAVIGATING AUTISM PROGRAM OUR NAVIGATING AUTISM PROGRAM IS THE FIRST TIME WE CONNECT WITH MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. THIS YEAR 613 FAMILIES REACHED OUT FOR SUPPORT IN FINDING THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR JOURNEY. WHETHER THE PERSON SUSPECTS THEIR CHILD OR THEMSELVES ARE AUTISTIC, WE ARE OFTEN THE FIRST CALL THEY MAKE IN SEARCH OF RESOURCES. PEOPLE CALL WHEN THEY ARE SCARED, CONFUSED AND OVERWHELMED. THEY CALL WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILD, AND WHEN THEY ARE OVERWHELMED BY NAVIGATING THE SEA OF SERVICES. WE STRIVE TO MEET EACH CALL WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING. WHEN A PERSON IS OVERWHELMED AND LOST AND WE ARE ABLE TO LET THEM KNOW THEY AREN'T ALONE, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SUPPORT ON THIS NEW JOURNEY; IT IS THE GREATEST THING TO HEAR THE RELIEF IN THEIR VOICE. SIMPLY HAVING SOMEONE ON YOUR SIDE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE AND THE IMPACT OF THAT FIRST STRESS RELIEF IS FELT THROUGH THE ENTIRE FAMILY. WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH NEW ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND OUR COMPREHENSIVE AND UNBIASED LIST OF REFERRALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP GUIDE EVERYONE WHO CALLS OR WALKS THROUGH OUR DOOR. PARENT PEER SUPPORT GROUP THE PARENT PEER SUPPORT GROUP HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. BY FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN SHARE EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE, THE GROUP EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE. THIS YEAR, 116 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN PERSON, AND 71 JOINED OUR VIRTUAL GROUP, WHICH ALLOWED US TO REACH RURAL AREAS AND CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. ADDITIONALLY, WE INTRODUCED A VIRTUAL FATHERS' SUPPORT GROUP TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THIS SPECIFIC GROUP, FURTHER ENHANCING OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT DIVERSE FAMILIES. BY HELPING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS STRENGTHEN THEIR SKILLS AND ACCESS CRUCIAL INFORMATION, THE GROUP POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE WELL-BEING OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY, ULTIMATELY CREATING A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. FATHER PEER SUPPORT GROUP WE STARTED A FATHER CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP THIS YEAR! WE SAW A TREND IN OUR GROUPS BEING MORE FEMALE DOMINATED AND WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE FATHERS COULD HAVE A PLACE TO SHARE, CRY, AND ENGAGE IN THEIR OWN WAY AND AT THEIR OWN PACE! LITTLES' MEET UP ENGAGING WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN IS ESSENTIAL FOR COMMUNITY GROWTH, AS IT HELPS ENSURE THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY FEELS WELCOMED AND INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE LITTLES' MEET UP HELPS US ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. THIS GROUP OFFERS AN ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE SPACE FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN 9 YEARS OLD AND UNDER, ALONG WITH THEIR SIBLINGS AND CAREGIVERS, TO COME TOGETHER AND CONNECT. WE PROVIDE SPACE, ACTIVITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS, HAVE FUN, ENGAGE IN PARALLEL PLAY, STIM, OR SIMPLY BE THEMSELVES IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE EMBRACED WITH OPEN ARMS. IN 2024, 104 PEOPLE JOINED US, AND WHILE THE GROUP HAS HAD A SLOW START DUE TO LOSING OUR FIRST SPACE AND ADJUSTING TO A TIME THAT WORKS BEST FOR EVERYONE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUALLY ADAPTING TO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS TO ENSURE THE GROUP REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE. BOOK CLUB THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO HOST A VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB TWICE A MONTH DUE TO THE GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE FRIENDS OF KIRK BEAR CANYON LIBRARY. WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE BOOKS AWAY TO 46 AND HAD 72 PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. READING AND CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR BI-MONTHLY MEETINGS HAS BEEN GREAT AND HAS SPARKED NEW INTEREST IN HOSTING MORE GROUPS TO HOST "AUTISM TALKS." AS A COMMUNITY, HAVING A PLACE TO LEARN AND ASK QUESTIONS FREELY IS VITAL FOR THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY. U OF A PARTNERS FOR TWO STEAM CAMPS EACH YEAR DR JENNIFER CASTEIX AND DR TERRY MATSUNAGA WORK WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PUT ON STEAM CAMP FOR KIDS 11 AND UP TO ENGAGE HANDS-ON WITH SCIENCE ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY AND MAKE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION SEEM MORE ACCESSIBLE. THIS YEAR WE HAD 23 KIDS JOIN THE STUDENTS FROM THE CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE COOL SCIENCE AND START TO DREAM ABOUT WHAT THEIR FUTURE CAREERS MAY BE.
- $26,456 spent. OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS ALL IN FOR AUTISM DAY THIS YEAR WE HELD OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR, ALL IN FOR AUTISM DAY, AT THE TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER CELEBRATING AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH. THIS YEAR WAS OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND WE FILLED THEIR GRAND BALLROOM WITH RESOURCES, ENTERTAINMENT, AND A DANCE-A-THON FOR THOSE ON THE SPECTRUM, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. THE WHOLE COMMUNITY CAME TO CELEBRATE WITH US INCLUDING: MR. NATURE, UOFA SCIENCE GROUP, DISNEY PRINCESSES, 501ST LEGION CHARACTERS, SOUTHERN ARIZONA REPTILE RESCUE & EDUCATION, CIVIC ORCHESTRA OF TUCSON WITH THEIR INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO, SAGUARO CITY MUSIC THEATRE, ARIZONA AVENGERS, 360 PHOTO BOOTH, FACE PAINTING, A SENSORY ZONE FOR CALMING DOWN OR GETTING THOSE WIGGLES OUT IN A SAFE PLACE, AND LOTS OF LOCAL RESOURCES! NIGHT AT THE CHILDRENS' MUSEUM THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF ARION CARE, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST A NIGHT AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TAKE OVER TUCSON'S CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR A NIGHT OF SENSORY-FRIENDLY FUN. WE HAD 110 PEOPLE COME OUT TO JOIN US IN TAKING OVER THE MUSEUM, CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY WHERE THEIR NEEDS COULD BE MET TO JOIN THE NIGHT FULLY! THESE COMMUNITY CONNECTION EVENTS OFFER WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE NEW FAMILIES WHILE ENGAGING THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT, FUN WAYS. THIS EVENT ALLOWED PARTICIPANTS FROM DIFFERENT SPECTRUM CIRCLES TO MEET AND INTERACT IN A NEW WAY, WHICH FACILITATED THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF COMMUNITIES. GET AIR JUMP NIGHT THE DOUG FLUTIE FOUNDATION AND GET AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY GENEROUS TO US AGAIN! OUR FAMILIES GOT TO ENJOY A SENSORY-FRIENDLY NIGHT AT THE TRAMPOLINE PARK. WE HAD 43 PARTICIPANTS AND GET AIR GENEROUSLY DONATED THE SPACE AND SOCKS FOR ALL OF THEM. CONNECTIONS WERE MADE WHILE JUMPING AND PLAYING GAMES. WE EXCITEDLY FINISHED THE NIGHT BY BEING GIVEN A GIANT CHECK FOR $500 FROM THE DOUG FLUTIE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING. AUTISTIC ARTISTRY ART IS A POWERFUL MEANS OF EXPRESSING MEMORIES, EMOTIONS, IDEAS, AND INFORMATION, AND THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS VERY WELL! WITH THIS IN MIND, WE AIMED TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE THE TALENTED ARTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY COULD SHOWCASE THEIR WORK. WE WERE EXCITED TO HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS SHARED, FROM PENCIL SKETCHES AND HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY TO POETRY AND INTERPRETIVE DANCE. THE EVENT ALSO FEATURED FOOD, DRINKS, ART ACTIVITIES, AND AN INCLUSIVE ATMOSPHERE THAT ALLOWED EVERYONE TO APPRECIATE THE ARTWORK AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE UOFA BOOKSTORE FOR GENEROUSLY PROVIDING THE VENUE AND TO TEVA FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN FUNDING THE FOOD. THE EVENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, WITH 150 ATTENDEES JOINING US TO CELEBRATE THE ART OF 70 AUTISTIC ARTISTS. SPEED DATING OUR SPEED DATING EVENT PROVIDED THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY WITH A FUN AND SAFE SPACE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL SKILLS AND EXPLORE DATING IN AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE CREATED A COMFORTABLE SETTING WITH A COZY DATING ROOM, CONVERSATION TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, AND FIDGETS TO HELP GUIDE EACH PARTICIPANT THROUGH THEIR SIX 15-MINUTE DATES. THE EVENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, AND A FEW PRIVATE DATES WERE EVEN ARRANGED AFTERWARD. WITH 30 PARTICIPANTS IN TOTAL, THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, WITH MANY IN THE COMMUNITY ASKING WHEN THE NEXT EVENT WILL BE. DUE TO ITS SUCCESS, WE PLAN TO MAKE THIS A YEARLY EVENT AROUND VALENTINE'S DAY, OFFERING A CHANCE FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS TO CONNECT AND BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.
- $20,861 spent. COMMUNITY TRAINING LUNCH & LEARN SERIES WE HOSTED 13 LUNCH & LEARNS TO SHARE VALUABLE INFORMATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY THIS YEAR. RECORDING THESE HAS ALLOWED EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THEM ON OUR WEBSITE. WE GATHERED PROFESSIONALS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS TO SPEAK ON THEIR USEFUL KNOWLEDGE IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO POTENTIALLY HELP ANYONE ON THEIR AUTISM JOURNEY. WE DISCUSSED TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT AND REMOTE WORK WITH DAIVERGENT, UNDERSTANDING GENETICS IN AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, LETTING GO OF ANXIETY WITH TAPPING BY TYFFANY HOWARD, NAVIGATING SPECIAL EDUCATION: TIPS & TOOLS FOR PARENTS BY MYSCHOOLSTUCSON, AND MORE! ALL OF THIS VALUABLE INFORMATION IS BEING RECORDED AND SHARED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT WHEN THEY NEED IT. AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES WITH AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE SOUTHERN ARIZONA IS THE BEST PLACE FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS TO THRIVE, FREE FROM THE CHALLENGES THAT TOO OFTEN LEAD TO ISOLATION AND HARM. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES PROACTIVELY, HELPING TO PREVENT OUR COMMUNITY FROM BEING LEFT BEHIND. WITH AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS BEING TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE THAN THEIR NEUROTYPICAL PEERS, WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, WE WERE HONORED TO PARTNER WITH ARIZONA COMPLETE HEALTH TO DEVELOP SENSORY BAGS FOR CRISIS RESPONDERS. THESE BAGS ARE EQUIPPED WITH TOOLS TO HELP AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS SELF-REGULATE DURING MOMENTS OF DISTRESS. WE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE, TRAINING CRISIS RESPONDERS ON HOW TO USE THESE SENSORY TOOLS AND IMPLEMENT NEURO-AFFIRMING CRISIS RESPONSES. THIS INITIATIVE IS A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS ARE MET WITH COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND APPROPRIATE CARE. NEURO-AFFIRMING CRISIS RESPONSE IS KEY TO SHIFTING THE STATISTICS AND HELPING PREVENT TRAGIC OUTCOMES FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OUR CRISIS TRAINING, WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR EMPLOYERS, TEACHERS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THEM BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS. THIS YEAR, WE PROVIDED HANDS-ON TRAINING FOR 567 PEOPLE, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO CREATE A MORE SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY. BY ADDRESSING THESE SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND OFFERING SOLUTIONS, WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENDING ISOLATION AND ENSURING THAT EVERY AUTISTIC INDIVIDUAL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A LONG, FULFILLING LIFE.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.