Arizona Community Foundation

05/27/2026

Between headshots, we asked our newest staff members what inspired them most about joining the Arizona Community Foundation. From teamwork and collaboration to creating meaningful impact across Arizona communities, their answers reflected the heart of what makes ACF special.

We’re excited to continue welcoming new team members and sharing more behind-the-scenes moments from around the organization. Featuring: Alicia Romero, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Emily Siordian, Guest Services Coordinator, and Karla Jones, Chief Financial Officer.

Hear from them in their own words and learn more about our team at azfoundation.org/about/staff

05/26/2026

It was Picture Day for new teammates at ACF! Between taking new headshots, we asked our newest staff members what they’re most excited about as they begin their journey with the Arizona Community Foundation. Their answers spoke to community, connection, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across Arizona.

We’re excited to welcome them to the team and share more behind-the-scenes moments from around ACF in the weeks ahead.

Hear from them in their own words and learn more about their backgrounds at azfoundation.org/about/staff

05/20/2026

The African-American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle (AAWGEC) came together to celebrate the power of collective giving and community impact through its recent grant ceremony.

This year, $42,500 in grants was awarded to organizations making a meaningful difference across Arizona. Congratulations to this year’s grantees:

• Social Roots Foundation
• Lights Camera Discover
• The Desert Pearls Foundation
• Zion Institute
• Black & Brown Girl Wellness, Inc.
• Positively Powerful Development Corp. PPDC
• Black Birth Equity NOW
• DREF

At ACF, we know that when women lead in philanthropy, communities grow stronger. We’re grateful to the members of the African-American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle for continuing to invest in organizations creating opportunity, connection, and lasting change.

05/19/2026

Arizona is stepping into a global conversation with solutions rooted right here at home. Leaders from across philanthropy, government, science, sustainability, and community gathered along the Rio Salado to officially launch the a first-of-its-kind convening focused on turning extreme heat challenges into real, scalable action.

The 122° Conference will bring changemakers from around the world to Phoenix this December to explore what’s possible when communities, institutions, and cross-sector partners move together with urgency and purpose. The conference is designed to move beyond conversation and toward investment, collaboration, and implementation around the future of heat resilience and sustainable desert communities.

Thank you to our incredible partners helping make this vision possible: Arizona State University, Desert Botanical Garden, City of Phoenix, AZ USA, The Nature Conservancy and Ten Across. We are also grateful to Salt River Project, Desert Diamond Casino, Freeport-McMoRan, and Wells FargoFargo for their support and shared commitment to Arizona communities.

Learn more about the conference: https://www.azfoundation.org/what-we-do/strategic-focus-area-environment/122-conference/

05/19/2026

This Jewish American Heritage Month, we’re celebrating the values of community and connection that continue to guide philanthropy across Arizona.

Susan Hirshman, Director of Gift Planning at the Arizona Community Foundation, joined Gail Baer, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, for a thoughtful conversation about shared values, and what it means to invest in community today and for future generations.

At ACF, Community is Our Middle Name, and conversations like this remind us how much stronger Arizona becomes when people come together in service, compassion, and shared purpose.

05/15/2026

This morning, as family, friends, and community members gather to celebrate the life of Dr. Gene C. Blue, we pause to honor a life defined by service, vision, and impact.

As the longtime Executive Director of Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center, Dr. Blue helped more than 65,000 students access education and supported over 47,000 individuals in securing employment—transforming families and strengthening communities across Arizona.

At the Arizona Community Foundation, we are proud to have partnered with him to advance workforce development and educational opportunity, including through scholarship programs that continue to uplift future leaders.

His impact is both measurable and deeply personal. Today, we honor his legacy and commit to carrying it forward.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who were touched by his extraordinary life.

Arizona Community Foundation Honors the Life and Legacy of Dr. Gene C. Blue A champion for workforce development, education, and opportunity across Arizona The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) joins communities across the state in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Gene C. Blue, a transformative....

05/12/2026

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the individuals, organizations, and giving circles helping shape a stronger Arizona through philanthropy, leadership, and community partnership.

From the Arizona Asian American Women’s Giving Circle and the Chinese American Foundation Fund (CAFA), to valued partners like OCA Phoenix Non Profit Reserve Fund and United Foods International of Japan, these efforts demonstrate how community-rooted philanthropy can create meaningful and lasting impact.

At the Arizona Community Foundation, we are proud to support opportunities that uplift and invest in Arizona’s Asian American communities through collective giving and partnership.

Learn more about ACF’s Asian American Philanthropy initiatives and how to join a giving circle: https://www.azfoundation.org/ways-to-give/give-by-impact-area/asian-american-philanthropy/

05/08/2026

Motherhood often teaches us some of life’s most important lessons: compassion, generosity, and the importance of caring for others.

This Mother’s Day, we’re proud to celebrate the moms of ACF and recognize the many ways they help strengthen families, communities, and our shared future across Arizona.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, reflections, and family photos with us. Your words are a reminder that community starts at home and grows through the care we give to one another every day. 💐

05/05/2026

A sincere thank you to the partners helping bring the 122 Conference to life. We are grateful to Salt River Project, Desert Diamond Casino, Freeport-McMoRan, and Wells Fargo for their support and shared commitment to Arizona communities.

Because of their investment, we’re able to create space for meaningful conversations, elevate critical issues, and connect leaders working toward real solutions. Partnerships like these are what move our communities forward.

05/05/2026

On Friday morning, the Arizona Community Foundation hosted Gifts that Shape Tomorrow: A Conversation on Charitable Planning, bringing together donors, partners, professional advisors, and those beginning their philanthropic journey. The conversation centered on what it means to build a lasting legacy—and how thoughtful planning today can shape stronger communities tomorrow.

Todd Stoa opened the event with energizing remarks, setting the tone for a morning grounded in purpose. Attendees heard from ACF Legacy Donors Helen Whatmough and Mark Bonsall, who shared the personal stories behind their giving and the impact they hope to create. Moderated by David Reno, the discussion offered meaningful perspective on aligning values with long-term philanthropy.

Susan Hirshman, ACF’s Director of Gift Planning, guided attendees through a reflective exercise and presentation focused on connecting personal values to charitable strategy. The session provided practical tools and clear next steps for anyone looking to deepen their impact.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful and inspiring morning. Community is our middle name—and conversations like these help bring that to life.