A for Arizona
A for Arizona is a public charity based in Roswell, Georgia, that supported education initiatives in Arizona. Its work included advising on education policy and operating the Expansion & Innovation Fund, which provided seed funding for community-driven K–12 ideas and school models.
A for Arizona at a glance
- Revenue (2025)
- $15,720
- -99.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $71,939
- -99.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to A for Arizona
- Contact
Mailing address: 1016 Sasha Lane, Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: (205) 470-4690
Website: https://aforarizona.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from A for Arizona
Arizona Transportation Modernization Grants
A for Arizona
Amount
$20 million in FY22; $14 million available for FY23
Deadline
Deadline not published
Expansion & Innovation Fund
A for Arizona
Amount
$20.75 million total awarded across seven cycles
Deadline
Deadline not published
Small Learning Communities Grants
A for Arizona
Amount
$500,000 from federal CARES Act GEER funding
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who A for Arizona funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 128 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Expansion & Innovation Fund was described as statewide, with a focus on Arizona K–12 education. The 2024 grantee list also includes Heritage Academy Inc. in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is A for Arizona open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 24 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $983K; repeat grants $280K. How we count
Medians: $1.2M first-time, $170K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $19.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $13.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Western Maricopa Education Center Glendale, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,854,000 |
| Cartwright School District Phoenix, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,712,000 |
| Empower College Prep Phoenix, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,283,000 |
| Chinle Unified School District Chinle, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,255,000 |
| Laveen Elementary School District #59 Laveen, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,255,000 |
| Mohave Valley Elementary School District Mohave Valley, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $1,159,000 |
| Santa Cruz Valley USD #35 Rio Rico, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $812,000 |
| Foundation for Blind Children Phoenix, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $629,000 |
| Desert Sage School Tucson, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $492,000 |
| Colorado River Union HS District Bullhead City, AZ | Innovative K-12 Transportation Options and Education Innovation | $389,000 |
Ready to take the next step with A for Arizona?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing is marked as the organization’s final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $15,720 | $71,939 | — | — |
| 2024 | $60,219 | $13,575,690 | $13,887,362 | $13,046,242 | 24 |
| 2023 | $630,163 | $12,412,976 | $12,192,096 | $10,384,000 | 30 |
| 2022 | $382,830 | $20,021,245 | $20,381,232 | $19,327,000 | 45 |
| 2021 | $591,569 | $2,295,104 | $1,805,545 | $1,307,800 | 29 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
A for Arizona’s stated mission was to study, analyze, and educate community leaders and the public about methods, practices, and policies that prioritize student success, expand access to quality schools, and allow school leaders to be entrepreneurial and innovative. Its stated goal was to prepare students to succeed in the global economy and contribute to their local communities.
Its website describes the Expansion & Innovation Fund as supporting K–12 educators and leaders who develop, scale, or replicate student-focused options and improve teaching and learning. The fund’s statewide grant cycles included support for school models and transportation solutions. In a past 2022 announcement, A for Arizona described a $6 million opportunity for eligible public-school teachers, principals, and system leaders. A separate transportation grant announcement described the program as available to public schools, local governments, and community partners; these announcements describe past opportunities, not current application instructions.
Grantees’ own descriptions show a varied set of supported organizations. For example, West-MEC Alliance describes its mission as supporting charitable, scientific, literary, and educational services. Empower College Prep says it aims to help children compete academically and develop their skills in college. The Foundation for Blind Children describes its work as providing education, tools, and services to help people with vision loss achieve greater independence.
Grantmaking
A for Arizona’s website reports that, since the Expansion & Innovation Fund launched in 2018, it conducted seven grant cycles and awarded nearly 65 grants totaling over $20.75 million. The IRS filing reports 24 grants totaling $13,046,242 in 2024. Its 2025 filing reports no grants.
Among the organizations listed as receiving grants in 2024 were West-MEC Alliance ($1,854,000), Empower College Prep ($1,283,000), the Foundation for Blind Children ($629,000), Desert Sage School ($492,000), Heritage Academy Inc. ($347,000), the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce ($308,000), Arizona Autism Charter Schools Inc. ($207,584), and Espiritu Community Development Corporation ($119,000).
The website’s 2022 grant announcements describe past opportunities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ned Blum as interim CEO and Amilyn Pierce as interim chairman. It also lists Derrell Bradford, Janelle Wood, Jennifer Mellor, and Kent Wilson as directors.
A for Arizona’s 2022 grant announcement identifies Emily Anne Gullickson as its founder and CEO at that time.
A for Arizona is led by Ned Blum, Interim CEO on the 2025 filing; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ned Blum
Interim CEO
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
$14K (2025)
Amilyn Pierce
Interim Chairman
Director → Interim Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derrell Bradford
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janelle Wood
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Mellor
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kent Wilson
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Aaron Smith (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Ashley Ragan (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Emily Anne Gullickson (2021–2024) — CEO
- Former: John Donahue (2021–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Lee Benson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Luis Ramirez (2021–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to Ned Blum (Interim CEO).
Frequently asked questions about A for Arizona
What does A for Arizona fund?
A for Arizona’s stated mission was to study, analyze, and educate community leaders and the public about methods, practices, and policies that prioritize student success, expand access to quality schools, and allow school leaders to be entrepreneurial and innovative. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from A for Arizona?
A for Arizona has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aforarizona.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does A for Arizona make grants?
The Expansion & Innovation Fund was described as statewide, with a focus on Arizona K–12 education. The 2024 grantee list also includes Heritage Academy Inc. in Hagerstown, Maryland.
What is A for Arizona's EIN?
A for Arizona's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1341587. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 18, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work A for Arizona funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in A for Arizona's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from A for Arizona's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
A for Arizona down — hundreds of funders to go?