Local First Arizona Foundation

“The treasurer of the organization distributes a pdf copy of the 990 to all board members for review and comment prior to the return being filed.”

“At each board and committee meeting, if there is a discussion of selecting or engaging a vendor or service provider, all in attendance are asked to recuse themselves from this discussion if there could be a perceived conflict. Annually, the organization reviews and discusses the conflict of interest policy and requests that each board member list and acknowledge any known conflicts.”

“The board may hire and compensate individuals for necessary services rendered to the organization so long as such compensation is reasonable. The board shall determine reasonable compensation amounts based upon compensation paid by similarly situated nonprofits for like services. The board may rely upon salary studies, as well as data regarding compensation paid by peer organizations of similar size to determine reasonable compensation. The terms of such compensation and information relied upon shall be recorded in writing. An individual who is a member of the board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly from the organization for services, is precluded from participating in discussions or votes pertaining to their own compensation. Currently, all directors are volunteers.”

“The organization will provide in a timely manner, financial statements, and governing documents including its conflict of interest policies when requested in writing or in person.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 THE LOCAL FOODS PROGRAM WORKS WITH AT-RISK AGRICULTURAL GROWERS FOOD PURVEYORS, SUPPLY CHAIN BUSINESSES WHO WORK WITH THEM, TO BUILD COMMUNICATION MARKETING SYSTEMS TO CREATE A STATE-WIDE AZ NETWORK OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES PRODUCTS, ASSURING ABILITY OF OUR AZ FARMS TO COMPETE WITH LARGER MORE SOPHISTICATED, USUALLY CORPORATE OUT-OF STATE, GROWERS. THESE SUPPORTS PROVIDE COMMUNITY LINKAGES, NETWORKING WITH FELLOW GROWERS, A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO ALLOW EVERYONE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO SHARE INFO REGARDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES, PARTNERSHIPS PRODUCTS THAT GROW EMPLOYMENT, COMMUNITY ASSETS AZ AGRI-BUSINESS STABILITY. THE PORTFOLIO OF THE FOUNDATION OF FOOD INITIATIVES DEMONSTRATES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD, HEALTH, COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS FOSTERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR AZ FARMERS, RANCHERS AZ FOOD ARTISANS. EXPANDED IN 2018, GOOD FOOD FINDER IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE DIRECTORY OF LOCAL FOOD, WITH LISTINGS FOR FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD PANTRIES, CSAS, YOU-PICK-IT FARMS, SMALL FOOD ARTISANS STATEWIDE WHICH NOW FEATURES OVER 8,500 INDIVIDUAL LISTINGS.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION TRANSITIONED ITS FOOD AND FARM FORUM IN 2020 TO A MONTHLY VIRTUAL FILM SERIES WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH DECEMBER 2021. FARMERS AND PRODUCERS, CHEFS AND OTHER LOCAL FOOD BUYERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES, LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM ADVOCATES, AND STUDENTS WILL GATHER FOR ONLINE FORUMS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FILMS MADE BY LOCAL FIRST THAT DELVE INTO CHALLENGES WITH THE FOOD SYSTEM IN ARIZONA. TO DATE, 94 PERCENT OF FILM ATTENDEES REPORTED GAINING VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP IMPROVE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS, AND ARIZONA FOOD PRODUCERS AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT ATTENDED GAINED RESOURCES TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND CONNECT WITH MARKETS.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 AS THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AZRDC FOR THE STATE, LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION HELPS RURAL BUSINESSES BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE TO REDUCE ECONOMIC LEAKAGE FROM THEIR PLACE BY PROVIDING BUSINESS OWNERS TOOLS AND RESOURCES INCLUDING NEW TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES, AND STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, LFAF WORKS TO DRIVE NEW DOLLARS TO RURAL PLACES THROUGH INCREASING IN-STATE TOURISM BY LEVERAGING ARTS AND CULTURE, MAIN STREETS, AND AGRI-TOURISM. LFAF ALSO WORKS TO EMPOWER RURAL ARIZONANS TO IMPROVE THEIR ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS WHICH HAS HEALTH AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR ALL RESIDENTS. LFAF FACILITATES A STATEWIDE BLOG, WHICH GETS READ 17,000 TIMES PER MONTH, AN EMAIL LIST OF 29,987 SUBSCRIBERS AND HAS OVER 600,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS. THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR RURAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE ALL ARIZONANS ABOUT ALL THAT RURAL ARIZONA HAS TO OFFER.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 DURING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS OF 2020, LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION MOVED QUICKLY TO RAISE AND DISTRIBUTE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUNDING, FOCUSING ON SMALL GRANTS TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS PAY BILLS TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT DURING THE CRISIS. PARTNERING WITH THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND SEVERAL CITIES, TOWNS AND COUNTIES, LOCAL FIRST DISTRIBUTED OVER 11M IN SMALL BUSINESS AID TO OVER 2,000 BUSINESSES PRIMARILY WITH FEWER THAN 10 EMPLOYEES. IN ADDITION, LOCAL FIRST PROVIDED HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 400 BUSINESSES IN NEED OF SUPPORT TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN, INCLUDING DEVELOPING CURRICULUM FOR RESTAURANTS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE, MANAGE PORTION SIZES, AND MAXIMIZE PROFITABILITY TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES AND SURVIVE.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 IN ORDER TO GIVE LOCAL BUSINESSES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE, THE LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION CONDUCTS WORKSHOP AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES FOR RURAL AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE FOCUSED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES, AND BRANDING STRATEGIES. IN 2020, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED ITS ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS BY LAUNCHING WE RISE, A BUSINESS ACCELERATOR FOCUSED ON AFRICAN AMERICAN START-UP BUSINESSES. 14 BUSINESSES OWNERS STARTED IN THE INITIAL COHORT AND 24 MORE WERE RECRUITED FOR THE 2021 CLASS.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 THE LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION RURAL TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM WORKS WITH BUSINESSES IN RURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA TO EDUCATE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES ABOUT DIGITAL MARKETING TOOLS AND HOW THESE TOOLS CAN BRING THEM CLOSER TO CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESS SERVICES LOCATED WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.RESEARCH HAS EMERGED THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN RURAL ARIZONA COMMUNITIES ARE LESS CONNECTED TO A NETWORK OF CUSTOMERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITHIN THEIR OWN ZIP CODE, TOWN, CITY OR EVEN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.THESE RURAL BUSINESSES ARE REGULAR USERS OF NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL BRANDS, OF SERVICES FEDEX, KINKOS ONLINE, AMAZON SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PRINT SHOP, SHIPPING BUSINESS OR THE RETAILER LOCATED WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.AND, BECAUSE OF THIS, THESE POTENTIAL PARTNERS THE LOCAL PRINT SHOP, SHIPPING BUSINESS AND RETAILER ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, AND THEIR EMPLOYEES LOSING JOBS, IN AREAS WHERE NEW BUSINESSES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS LIKELY TO EMERGE OR CREATE JOBS.”

“Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES MOVE TO INEXPENSIVE AND EASY-TO-USE DIGITAL MARKETING MEDIUMS THAT CONNECT THEM WITH THEIR LOCAL SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS. LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA FOUNDATION PROVIDES TRAINING WORKSHOPS, ON-GOING SUPPORT INFORMATION AND LAUNCH ASSISTANCE TO THESE BUSINESSES ABOUT BUILDING A WEBSITE, UTILIZING OPTIMIZATION TOOLS, PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL MEDIA PARTICULARLY FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND TWITTER AND CREATING MOMENTUM THAT ENCOURAGES THEIR FELLOW BUSINESS MEMBERS AND NEARBY RURAL RESIDENTS TO DO THE SAME. LFAF HAS SERVED 107 RURAL SMALL BUSINESS THIS YEAR WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS AND ONGOING CONSULTING FOR IMPROVED BUSINESS CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNITY.”

“Adjustment to covert to accrual basis of accounting”