Community Foundation for Southern Arizona

What it reported doing in 2024

The community foundation for southern Arizona (cfsa) advances community well-being through strategic grantmaking, nonprofit capacity building, and collaborative leadership across the region. Cfsas core grants provide general operating support to high-performing nonprofit organizations, strengthening organizational stability and long- term impact. In the fiscal year, cfsa awarded 1.35 million in core grants, contributing to a cumulative total of 7,400,000 invested to date. Cfsa invests in grassroots organizations across our region through annual comunidad grants, and invests in the future leaders of our community by awarding over 150 student scholarships annually. Cfsa serves as a regional convener, advancing cross-sector solutions to complex challenges. Through its participation in the national press forward initiative, cfsa helps strengthen local news ecosystems and expand access to reliable, community-centered journalism. The foundation also supports collaborative partnerships addressing regional priorities, including end- of-life care and other systems-level efforts. Cfsa stewards community-driven funds, including the african american legacy fund, the lgbtq+ alliance fund, and the asian pacific islander desi american fund which invest in culturally responsive solutions and elevate community voice in philanthropy. The foundation also leads initiatives such as the nonprofit solar project, advancing sustainability and long-term cost savings for nonprofits. Through its center for healthy nonprofits, cfsa provides training, professional development, and capacity-building resources to strengthen the nonprofit sector. Cfsa also fosters informed and engaged communities through programs such as its solutions-focused book club and nonpartisan candidate forums, creating spaces for dialogue, learning, and civic participation across southern Arizona.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.8%; rating input score 77
• Program expense ratio: 82.7%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.86 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 95.9%; rating input score 96; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 22.7%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 13.11; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.5%; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings