The Arizona Foundation for Educational Advancement is a private, non-operating foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 1995, it holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and is designated as an organization for educational purposes. The foundation supports educational advancement through strategic grantmaking to preselected charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.3M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$585K
+5.0% YoY
Grant Count
22
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+5.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arizona Foundation for Educational reported a distributable amount of $830K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support educational advancement. Its grantmaking focuses on educational institutions and related activities, with particular emphasis on scholarships and student financial aid services.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$15,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Organizations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas account for 71% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $16.3 million (2023)
- Total assets: $17.3 million (reported in alternative source)
- Total assets have grown from $12.5 million in 2011 to $16.3 million in 2023
- Annual income: $7 million
- Total liabilities: $43,200 (2023)
2023 Financial Summary:
- Revenue: $698,000
- Expenses: $859,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,263,365 | $16,281,223 | $15,439,958 |
| Revenue | $1,391,176 | $698,051 | $691,719 |
| Expenses | $902,213 | $859,459 | $854,718 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $746,342 | $717,184 | $715,735 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,259,582 | $577,596 | $521,874 |
| Distributable Amount | $829,677 | $766,396 | $801,041 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Life Farmington (frmrly Nl Worship Center) ($95,000), Pat Tillman Foundation ($75,000), Colorado League of Charter Schools ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVEMENT REWARDS FOR COLLEGE SCIENTISTS-DENVER DENVER, CO | ADVANCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY THRU $ AWARDS TO ACADEMICALLY OUTSTANDING U S CITIZENS FOR DEGREES IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & MEDICAL RESEARCH | $15,000 |
| ALICE COOPER'S SOLID ROCK TEEN CENTERS PHOENIX, AZ | OPERATION OF A TEEN CENTER WITH MUSIC, DANCE, ART, AND OTHER PROGRAMS ORIENTED TO CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR TEEN SOCIALIZATION | $10,000 |
| ALICE KING COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOUNDATION ALBUQUERQUE, NM | GRANT TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR ENHANCING STEM EDUCATION IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT BASED LEARINIG | $2,500 |
| ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TUCSON, AZ | EXPAND THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (AHS) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WHICH BRINGS HISTORIANS AND OTHER FELLOWS TO DELVE INTO OUR STATES ARCHIVES | $10,000 |
| COLORADO LEAGUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS DENVER, CO | IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY SUPPORTING CO'S CHARTER SCHOOLS, POSITIVELY RESHAPING THE PUBLIC-SCHOOL LANDSCAPE FOR HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC CHOICE | $60,000 |
| EXPONENT PHILANTHROPY (FRMRLY ASSOC OF SMALL FDTNS) WASHINGTON, DC | MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION TO EDUCATE, ASSIST AND NETWORK FOR SMALL (SMALL OR NO STAFF) FOUNDATIONS | $10,000 |
| HANDS ACROSS CULTURES ESPANOLA, NM | MISSION IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE OF NORTHERN NM THROUGH FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACHES | $2,500 |
| HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC SCHOOL SANTA CRUZ, NM | PROVIDE AN ADVANCED & FAITH-BASED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE CATHOLIC FAMILY VALUES UNIQUE TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO | $5,000 |
| HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS (DBA KEYS TO CHANGE) PHOENIX, AZ | ASSISTS CLIENTS IN ENDING THEIR HOMELESSNESS BY ACHIEVING GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH NUMEROUS STRATEGIES INCLUDING EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT | $60,000 |
| HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENDOWMENT ASSOC HUTCHINSON, KS | PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO TRANSFER TO A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY OR EARN A TECHNICAL DEGREE, GAINING SKILLS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Muessle serves as President of the foundation. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN MUESSLE | PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 20 | $87,000 |
| LEO VALDEZ | DIRECTOR | 2 | $10,000 |
| SCOTT BUTTERFIELD | VICE CHAIRMAN | 2 | $10,000 |
| THOMAS DUNCAN | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 3 | $20,000 |
| LEE BURTON | CHAIRMAN/TREASURER | 2 | $12,500 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arizona Foundation for Educational fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support educational advancement. Its grantmaking focuses on educational institutions and related activities, with particular emphasis on scholarships and student financial aid services.
How do I apply for a grant from Arizona Foundation for Educational?
**Grant Activity:** • According to available records, the foundation has made 90 grants totaling $2 million • Median grant size: $15,000 • Average award: $22,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $3,000 to $115,000 • The foundation has supported 53 unique organizations **Recent Giving Trends:** • Annual giving decreased from $757,000 in 2020 to $557,000 in 2022 • The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations
Where does Arizona Foundation for Educational make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Organizations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas account for 71% of all grants.
What size grants does Arizona Foundation for Educational award?
In 2024, Arizona Foundation for Educational awarded 22 grants totaling $585K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Arizona Foundation for Educational required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Arizona Foundation for Educational reported a distributable amount of $830K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Arizona Foundation for Educational's EIN?
Arizona Foundation for Educational's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0664560. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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