Education Forward Arizona
To advocate for high-quality education and training that aligns with career and workforce opportunities to advance the quality of life for all arizonans.
Key facts about Education Forward Arizona
In short: Education Forward Arizona reported $68K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 20-2366755
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Grants paid (2025)
- $68,200 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- Total assets
- $19,811,044
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$19.8M
-3.4% YoY
Grants Paid (reported total)
$68K
+1036.7% YoY
Revenue
$5.9M
-18.7% YoY
Net Investment Income
$472K
+31.6% YoY
How Education Forward Arizona gives
- Giving fell 95% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Education Forward Arizona
Based on IRS filings
Education Forward Arizona is a public charity, based in Phoenix, AZ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $19.8M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $68K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $472K.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Education Forward Arizona
Adelante Scholarship Grant
Education Forward Arizona
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Education Forward Arizona Scholarship
Education Forward Arizona
Amount
Up to $6,000 per year (renewable for four years)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Freeport-McMoRan Native American College Scholarship
Education Forward Arizona
Amount
$5,000 for university/tribal college; $2,500 for community college (renewable for four years)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Education Forward Arizona?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2024) to $123K (2021). In 2025 it reported $68K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
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
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 19 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2025.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,811,044 | $20,515,483 | $20,694,562 |
| Revenue | $5,917,126 | $7,276,177 | $6,266,542 |
| Expenses | $7,834,621 | $8,085,895 | $7,219,589 |
| Net Investment Income | $471,629 | $358,324 | $237,649 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Education Forward Arizona is led by Rich Nickel, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 6 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rich Nickel
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$260K (2020) → $298K (2025)
John Fees
Director & Chair
Treasurer → Director & Vice Chair, 2023
Director & Vice Chair → Director & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chevy Humphrey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gonzalo De La Melena
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Hickman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Koehler
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Bame
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vince Roig
Director
Chairman → Director & Chairman, 2023
Director & Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Vanderpool
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Watson
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Corr
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edmundo Hidalgo
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Mellon
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Coochwytewa
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teniqua Broughton
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cristie Street
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Figueroa
Senior Vice President Marcomm & Strategic
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$144K (2022) → $152K (2025)
Teena Olszewski
Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$130K (2023) → $152K (2025)
Jennifer M. Murphy
Vice President of Postsecond. Access & Attainment
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Myrna M. Cardenas
Vice President of Success Services Partnerships
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2025)
Stephen Hart
Vice President of Finance & Administrator
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Ron Butler
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2023
Director & Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Deanna Salazar (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Teresa L. Ruiz (2023–2024) — Senior Vice President, Chief Program & Advisor
- Former: Charles Monty Roessel (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Holly Baird (2022–2023) — Senior Director of Finance
- Former: Patricia Welborn (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Richard Daniel (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President & COO
- Former: Steve Seleznow (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Darcy Renfro (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Erin Hart (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President, Chief of Policy & Community Impact
- Former: Rachel Yanof (2020) — Executive Director A60az
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $298K, to Rich Nickel (President & CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Education Forward Arizona
How much does Education Forward Arizona give each year?
Education Forward Arizona reported $68K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $6K across 1 grant.
How large is Education Forward Arizona?
Education Forward Arizona reported $19.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
Where does Education Forward Arizona operate?
Education Forward Arizona has awarded grants in Arizona.
What is Education Forward Arizona's EIN?
Education Forward Arizona's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2366755. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Education Forward Arizona by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Education Forward Arizona's focus areas in our free grants database
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More Funders in Arizona
Education Forward Arizona down — hundreds of funders to go?