CFSA proudly shares our Annual Report to the Community for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). Please follow this link to view the full report.
As we enter the second year of our strategic plan, we’d like to reflect on the progress made so far.
When we launched BLOOM in July 2023, our focus included three strategic priorities:
- A Vital Nonprofit Sector: To invest in Southern Arizona’s nonprofit sector to empower nonprofits to effectively tackle community challenges.
- Impactful Community Philanthropy: To position CFSA as a preferred, welcoming, and inclusive partner and resource for community-minded donors.
- Bold Aspirations for Southern Arizona: To serve as a leader and resource for the community to achieve bold aspirations.
These priorities offer important guidance for our board and staff as we evaluate new opportunities and decide where to focus our resources and time. The benefits of that guidance are clear as we look back on the activities and accomplishments of our first year of BLOOM.
A Vital Nonprofit Sector
CFSA empowers Southern Arizona nonprofits through grants, education, and convening opportunities. In the first year of BLOOM, CFSA launched Comunidad Grants, providing $132,000 in unrestricted funding to 24 grassroots nonprofits, and The Policy Project, offering up to three years of funding to strengthen public policy and advocacy efforts. Hands-on support included workshops on board governance and grant writing in key communities, while the Santa Cruz Community Foundation, a CFSA affiliate, hosted Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Evan Kory to help nonprofits secure federal funding through technical assistance.
Impactful Community Philanthropy
CFSA strives to be Southern Arizona’s preferred philanthropic partner by expanding donor engagement, enhancing grant opportunities, and streamlining operations. In the first year of BLOOM, CFSA awarded a record $1.3 million in general operating support to 61 nonprofits through the CORE Grants Program, supported by key partnerships and a 24% increase in contributions from CORE Donor Collaborators. The philanthropy team grew to offer more direct donor engagement, while a major database overhaul improved accessibility and processes for fundholders, donors, and
grant recipients.
Bold Aspirations for Southern Arizona
CFSA advanced bold aspirations for environmental sustainability and local news preservation in Southern Arizona. Through the Environmental Sustainability Impact Fund and Nonprofit Solar Project, CFSA supported solar installations at four nonprofits, reducing costs and environmental impact. To address the decline of local news, CFSA launched the Local News Initiative of Southern Arizona, awarding $225,000 to six organizations, and established Press Forward Southern Arizona to further fund and strengthen local news efforts. These initiatives aim to build a greener economy and preserve critical community information resources.
It has been a truly remarkable first year of BLOOM, and year two looks to be just as fruitful, with new programs launching and new staff leadership bringing their passion and perspective to our work.
When we work together, the impossible becomes possible. In Southern Arizona, we BLOOM together.
In community,
Jenny Flynn
President and CEO