Arizona Community Action Association

Public charity · Grantmaker Phoenix, AZ EIN: 86-0311619

Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), based in Phoenix, is a public charity formed in 1967. It works to address poverty across Arizona through collaboration with organizations and individuals, supporting community-based services and strategies.

Key facts about Arizona Community Action Association

In short: Arizona Community Action Association gave $198K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
86-0311619
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$198,051
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$16,504
Median grant
$14,414
Total assets
$31,974,949
Primary geography
Arizona (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$32.0M

+20.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$198K

+1165.1% YoY

Grant Count

12

+1100.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

+5.4% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

ACAA states that it addresses poverty across Arizona and develops and implements strategies to address and ultimately eliminate poverty through collaboration with nearly 300 organizations and individuals. Its described work includes helping community partners provide SNAP application assistance, utility assistance and weatherization, diaper distribution, and emergency services and case management.

In 2025, ACAA’s listed grants primarily supported Arizona public agencies and community action organizations distributing diapers to people in need; another grant supported community action advocacy. Among the recipients, Mesa Community Action Network describes its mission as addressing poverty needs to improve the lives of individuals and families in the Mesa community. National Community Action Foundation says it works to ensure the federal government honors its commitment to fighting poverty, especially through Community Action Agencies. Community Action Human Resources Agency describes its mission as administering federal, state, and local grants.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, ACAA reported 12 grants totaling $198,051. Grant amounts ranged from $1,262 to $64,167, with a median of $14,414. The largest awards were $64,167 to the City of Phoenix Human Services Department, $31,100 to Coconino County Community Services, and $23,950 to Pima County Community Services, all for diaper distribution. Other listed awards included $15,155 to the City of Glendale, $14,724 to Mesa Community Action Network, and $14,528 to National Community Action Foundation for community action advocacy.

ACAA also participates in the SNAP Outreach Partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Wildfire AZ. This is a partnership opportunity for organizations to conduct SNAP outreach, with an option for federal financial reimbursement; it is distinct from ACAA’s reported grants. The FFY27 application deadline was April 24, 2026, which has passed.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

ACAA’s mission and described programs address poverty across Arizona. In 2025, 93% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 7% to a recipient in Washington, DC.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonFlagstaffMesaPhoenixEloyGlendaleGlobeSaffordTempeTucsonYuma

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K1 grant2019 3 grants2020 1 grant2021 Total only2022 2 grants2023 1 grant2024 12 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2022) to $198K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $198K.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

City of Phoenix Human Services Department: $64KCity of Phoenix Human ServicesDepartment$64KCoconino County Community Services: $31KCoconino County CommunityServices$31KPima County Community Services: $24KPima County Community Services$24KCity of Glendale: $15KCity of Glendale$15KMesa Community Action Network: $15KMesa Community Action Network$15KNational Community Action Foundation: $15KNational Community ActionFoundation$15KGila County: $14KGila County$14KNorthern Arizona Council of Governments: $6KNorthern Arizona Council ofGovernments$6KCommunity Action Human Resources Agency: $6KCommunity Action HumanResources Agency$6KWestern Arizona Council of Governments: $4KWestern Arizona Council ofGovernments$4K

The largest 2025 recipient was City of Phoenix Human Services Department ($64K). Together the top 10 received $193K.

Grant Size Distribution

16 grants across all recorded years

15<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 16 (94%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
City of Phoenix Human Services Department Phoenix, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$64,167
Coconino County Community Services Flagstaff, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$31,100
Pima County Community Services Tucson, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$23,950
City of Glendale Glendale, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$15,155
Mesa Community Action Network Mesa, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$14,724
National Community Action Foundation Washington, DCCommunity action advocacy$14,528
Gila County Globe, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$14,299
Northern Arizona Council of Governments Flagstaff, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$5,784
Community Action Human Resources Agency Eloy, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$5,692
Western Arizona Council of Governments Yuma, AZDistribution of diapers to the needy$3,884

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2025 $31,974,949 $11,973,540 $9,283,093 $198,051
2024 $26,443,687 $11,341,146 $9,107,124 $15,655
2023 $22,405,228 $9,052,539 $7,747,208 $16,344
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$31,974,949$26,443,687$22,405,228
Revenue$11,973,540$11,341,146$9,052,539
Expenses$9,283,093$9,107,124$7,747,208
Net Investment Income$1,283,260$894,400$19,786

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 25, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 6, 2020)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 26, 2026)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Kelly McGowan as Executive Director; Kathy Senseman as President; and Eva Felix as Vice President. Listed directors are Moises Gallegos, Wayne Tormala, Brian Babiars, Chris Fetzer, Cynthia Zwick, Diane Brown, and Gabriel Jaramillo.

Arizona Community Action Association is led by Kelly McGowan, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 3 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kelly McGowan

    Executive Director

    Interim Executive Director → Executive Director, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $92K (2023) → $151K (2025)

  • Kathy Senseman

    President

    Heaf Advisory → President From, 2023

    President From → President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cynthia Zwick

    Director From

    Executive Director → Director From, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $111K (2019) → $0 (2025)

  • Moises Gallegos

    Director

    Director → Secretary, 2021

    Secretary → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $46K (2023) → $30K (2025)

  • Wayne Tormala

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $62K (2023) → $30K (2025)

  • Brian Babiars

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Fetzer

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Manira Cervantes

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michele Axlund

    Director

    Director From → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Patten

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Yvette Ramirez

    Director

    Director From → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jaqueline Edwards

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Estrada-Taylor

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Diane Brown

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Genesis Verduzco

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa Gearhart

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wendy Erica Werden

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deanna Jonovich

    Director

    Director Since → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jackie Castrellon

    Director

    Director Since → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jason Robert

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jayson Mattews

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joshua Beck

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Norma Guiterrez

    Director

    Director Since → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gabriel Jaramillo

    Director From

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly Hall

    Director From

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tamara Bridwell

    Director From

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Emma Garcia

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eva Felix

    Vice President

    Treasurer → Vice President From, 2023

    Vice President From → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jean Moreno

    Secretary

    Director From → Director, 2021

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (26)
  • Former: Bonnie Temme (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Joaquin Rios (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Marchelle F Franklin (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Mary Lou Rosales (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: David Burzynski (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Kayle Lathrop (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Liz Rabago (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Kathryn Senseman (2024) — President
  • Former: Anthony Young (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Kathy DiNolfi (2019–2023) — President
  • Former: Malissa Buzan (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Norma Gutierrez (2019–2023) — Vice President
  • Former: Phil Byrum (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jaoquin Rios (2022) — Director
  • Former: Librado JR Ramirez (2019–2021) — Director to
  • Former: Sandra Mendez (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Beth Lewallen (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Carrie Smith (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Deborah Embry (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Rula Colvin (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Stephanie Small (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Tamera Zivic (2019–2020) — Director to
  • Former: Jeffrey Jamison (2019) — Director
  • Former: Maria Aviles (2019) — Director
  • Former: Rosemary Cora-Cruz (2019) — Director
  • Former: Sulie Richardson (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Kelly McGowan — Executive Director: $151KKelly McGowanExecutive Director$151KMoises Gallegos — Director: $30KMoises GallegosDirector$30KWayne Tormala — Director: $30KWayne TormalaDirector$30K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $151K, to Kelly McGowan (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 340 E Palm Lane Ste 315, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 604-0640

Frequently asked questions about Arizona Community Action Association

How much does Arizona Community Action Association give each year?

Arizona Community Action Association gave $198K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $16K across 1 grant.

What is Arizona Community Action Association's typical grant size?

Arizona Community Action Association's median grant in 2025 was $14,414, and its average grant was $16,504, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Arizona Community Action Association give grants?

Arizona Community Action Association gives mostly in Arizona: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (2 grants) and Flagstaff, AZ (2 grants).

Does Arizona Community Action Association give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Arizona Community Action Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Distribution of diapers to the needy" (11 grants).

Who are Arizona Community Action Association's largest grantees?

Arizona Community Action Association's largest 2025 grantees include City of Phoenix Human Services Department ($64,167), Coconino County Community Services ($31,100) and Pima County Community Services ($23,950), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Arizona Community Action Association?

Arizona Community Action Association reported $32.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.0M.

What does Arizona Community Action Association fund?

ACAA states that it addresses poverty across Arizona and develops and implements strategies to address and ultimately eliminate poverty through collaboration with nearly 300 organizations and individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Arizona Community Action Association?

Arizona Community Action Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Arizona Community Action Association's EIN?

Arizona Community Action Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0311619. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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