CFSA Announces Public Phase of Capital Campaign for New Community Foundation Campus
The campaign has raised more than 75 percent of its goal
TUCSON, Ariz., (June 7, 2018) – The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) is pleased to announce the public phase of its capital campaign to develop a new Community Foundation Campus (CF Campus). The CF Campus will serve as home to CFSA and its programs and initiatives, and to 20 to 30 additional nonprofits including a center for technical assistance training for the nonprofit community. To date, CFSA has raised over $3 million, more than 75 percent of its $4 million capital campaign goal.
The purpose of the capital campaign is to create a collaborative space for nonprofits in Tucson to call home. In 2015, CFSA’s Board of Trustees determined the Community Foundation had outgrown its current location. After looking at expansion options, it was clear that the best path forward was in line with its 2020 strategic plan. That’s when the idea for the CF Campus was born—as a way to accommodate CFSA’s growth while also creating a place for other nonprofits to convene, collaborate and work side by side.
“The Campus will be a place where experts share knowledge openly, mentorship happens spontaneously and collaboration flows naturally,” said Clint Mabie, CFSA’s president and CEO. “We believe great ideas will spark from casual conversations and chance meetings that only happen in a shared workspace, and we believe that by trimming overhead and simplifying day-to-day administration, we can help nonprofits unlock their highest levels of creativity and effectiveness.”
Campus and co-working models have long served private industry, and studies show that businesses in shared spaces significantly improve their effectiveness and efficiency, improvements that translate into better products and services for their customers. In recent years nonprofits have begun to explore those same models. Not surprisingly, research confirms similar improvements where the customers of nonprofits reap the ultimate benefits.
The Thomas R. Brown Foundation has lent its support to the CF Campus capital campaign by agreeing to match new campaign donations –received after March 7, 2018 – dollar for dollar up to $250,000. The matching gift was completed at the end of April.
“We are pleased to support the Community Foundation’s campaign goals that will help complete work on the new Community Foundation Campus,” said Sarah Smallhouse, Thomas R. Brown Foundation’s president. “The Campus will provide donors the needed place where their gifts could make the most difference, and nonprofits need for a resource center. It will surely make the nonprofit sector more impactful going forward.”
Other lead donors to the campaign include The Arizona Bowl, Kerstin Block, Jim Click in memory of Willie Moore, Tony & Rosella Dabdoub, Darryl and Mary Ann Dobras, Cande & Tom Grogran, Hopper Family Foundation, Dr. William E. & Margaret Ann Horst, Bonnie Kay, Kristi Lewis, Kevin & Jill Madden, Emily Meschter, John & Helen Murphey Foundation, Melody S. Robidoux, Stocker Foundation, Mike & Laura Sullivan, Bob & Lisa Swift and The Troller Foundation.
“My father and the founders of CFSA would be so proud to see the Campus,” said Phil Amos, former CFSA board chair and chair of the CF Campus capital campaign. “We have so many people to thank from our staff to volunteers, to our donors and vendors who have kindly invested in our common vision of making Tucson a better place for all.”
CFSA officially began construction of the CF Campus in April 2018 which spans more than 24,000 square feet across three buildings with a central courtyard. The CF Campus will include open and enclosed offices for lease to nonprofits, shared amenities, meeting spaces and open “hoteling” space for drop-in or day work, and is expected to be complete in late fall 2018.