Local First Arizona Foundation
Local First Arizona Foundation is a public charity based in Phoenix, Arizona, that supports community and economic development throughout the state. Its programs include small-business assistance, food-business development, sustainability, and services helping Arizona communities pursue grants.
Local First Arizona Foundation at a glance
In short: Local First Arizona Foundation gave $44K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $44,316
- -74.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,158
- -74.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,158
- Total assets
- $5,346,321
- -1.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Arizona (68% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Local First Arizona Foundation
- How to Apply
-
No application process for the Foundation’s own grants is stated. The Economic Resource Center provides grant-pursuit services to qualifying entities; it is not described as a grant program for outside applicants.
- Contact
Mailing address: 407 E Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 956-0909
Website: https://localfirstaz.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Local First Arizona Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cahokia ($30K). Together the top 2 received $44K.
Grant Size Distribution
658 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 655 grants of 658 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its work as serving communities throughout Arizona, including rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities. Its Economic Resource Center serves eligible Arizona cities, towns, counties, Tribal communities, and nonprofits. The two 2024 grants were reported as 68% to Arizona recipients and 32% to recipients in an unidentified state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Local First Arizona Foundation gives
- Giving fell 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2024) to $9.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $44K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Phoenix, AZ | — | $30,000 |
| Orgs Under the Reporting Threshold | — | $14,316 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,346,321 | $10,547,800 | $10,235,173 | $44,316 | 2 | $31,096 |
| 2023 | $5,416,448 | $12,939,628 | $13,030,339 | $176,245 | 2 | $32,998 |
| 2022 | $4,151,480 | $6,889,263 | $6,382,190 | $93,454 | 3 | $18,369 |
| 2021 | $3,232,104 | $5,988,087 | $4,654,764 | $82,668 | 7 | $296 |
| 2020 | $1,578,023 | $14,517,718 | $13,648,298 | $9,399,860 | 644 | $150 |
| 2019 | $494,732 | $1,304,299 | $1,295,377 | $103,945 | Total only | $572 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide community and economic development programs and support to people, businesses, and neighborhoods throughout Arizona. Its website states a mission of strengthening local businesses and communities through equitable systems for a thriving, inclusive, and lasting Arizona economy.
Its reported programs include one-on-one assistance for small and under-resourced businesses; sustainability support for businesses pursuing energy, water, or waste-reduction projects; food-business incubation and community gardens; and an Economic Resource Center that helps eligible Arizona cities, towns, counties, Tribal communities, and nonprofits pursue and implement grants. The Economic Resource Center offers qualifying entities free project and budget development, funding research, grant-writing support, application review, and grant-management assistance. Priority is given to rural entities, including federally recognized Arizona tribes; other stated qualifications include having no dedicated development staff, pursuing work that supports a regional or local strategic plan, and including at least three partner organizations in a proposed application.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported two grants totaling $44,316. Grant amounts were $14,316 and $30,000, with a median of $22,158. The largest listed grant was $30,000 to CAHOKIA in Phoenix, Arizona. The remaining $14,316 was reported for organizations below the reporting threshold. The filing’s recipient-state breakdown lists 68% of grant dollars in Arizona and 32% in an unidentified state.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kimber Lanning as Founder and CEO; Korandus Armstead as Chief Administrative Officer; Kerwin Brown, Cherie Rankin, Kelly Daly, and Evelyn Casuga as members; Mario Aniles as Board Treasurer; Amy Bird as Secretary; Jonae Harrison as Vice Chair; and Andre Whittington as Board Chair.
Local First Arizona Foundation is led by Kimber Lanning, Founder & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kimber Lanning
Founder & CEO
Executive Director → Founder & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
60 hrs/week
$98K (2019) → $225K (2024)
Andre Whittington
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Korandus Armstead
Chief Administrative Officer
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$125K (2024)
Amy Bird
Secretary
Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evelyn Casuga
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Daly
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerwin Brown
Member
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cherie Rankin
Member
Director → Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mario Aniles
Board Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Board Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonae Harrison
Vice Chair
Direct From → Director, 2023
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Cymone Bolding (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Goodman (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Jon Ford (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Kevin Youngblood (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Robin Romano (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Will Mandeville (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Raphael Tapia (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jenna Rowell (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Levi Esquerra (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Rafael Tapia (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Brodin (2020) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Bo Hughes (2019) — Board Chair
- Former: Jeff Brodin (2019) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Pj Calzadilla Ortiz (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $225K, to Kimber Lanning (Founder and CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Local First Arizona Foundation
How much does Local First Arizona Foundation give each year?
Local First Arizona Foundation gave $44K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $176K across 2 grants.
How large is Local First Arizona Foundation?
Local First Arizona Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.5M.
What does Local First Arizona Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide community and economic development programs and support to people, businesses, and neighborhoods throughout Arizona. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Local First Arizona Foundation?
No application process for the Foundation’s own grants is stated. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Local First Arizona Foundation make grants?
The Foundation describes its work as serving communities throughout Arizona, including rural, Tribal, suburban, and urban communities. Its Economic Resource Center serves eligible Arizona cities, towns, counties, Tribal communities, and nonprofits. The two 2024 grants were reported as 68% to Arizona recipients and 32% to recipients in an unidentified state.
What is Local First Arizona Foundation's EIN?
Local First Arizona Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1657951. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Local First Arizona Foundation funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Local First Arizona Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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