Overview
What is Education Forward Arizona?
Education Forward Arizona is a nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, committed to improving education for all residents of the state. They provide scholarships and college success services, allocating a success adviser to each scholar to help them overcome obstacles related to finances, family support, study habits, housing, and mental health. The program has aided over 800 students in graduating since its inception in 2005, with a 74% six-year graduation rate and a 91% freshman retention rate. Education Forward Arizona also holds an annual leadership symposium for their scholars and collaborates with the Arizona College Access Network to support college readiness and access. The organization's efforts have helped increase the number of high school students pursuing and completing postsecondary education, particularly among first-generation and low-income students. Additionally, Education Forward Arizona operates Project Benjamin, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, to assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The nonprofit aims to achieve the statewide goal of having 60% of adults aged 25 to 64 hold a professional certificate or college degree by 2030, acting as a catalyst for collaboration and policy development.
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator rates Education Forward Arizona with a Four-Star out of Four Star rating, reflecting a strong overall score of 96%. This high rating signifies robust accountability and financial health, with a notable 97% in this category. The organization demonstrates excellent governance with a fully independent board and no material diversions of assets, ensuring transparency and responsible management of resources.
Strengths of Education Forward Arizona include its impressive program expense ratio of 84.13%, indicating that a significant portion of its expenditures directly supports its mission. The organization also excels in fundraising efficiency, with a minimal cost of $0.04 per dollar raised, showcasing its commitment to maximizing donor impact. Furthermore, it has received perfect scores for constituent feedback, collection, and usage, illustrating a strong emphasis on community involvement and responsiveness to stakeholder needs.
However, while the organization has a solid equity strategies score of 81 out of 100, there is room for improvement in its equity policies and processes, scoring slightly lower at 5 out of 7 points. This indicates an area where Education Forward Arizona can enhance its approach to inclusivity and equity within its operations. Overall, the nonprofit stands out for its financial integrity and community engagement, making it a reliable choice for donors interested in supporting educational initiatives in Arizona.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is Education Forward Arizona legitimate?
Education Forward Arizona is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Education Forward Arizona submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $459,986
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,933,094
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
What is the mission statement of Education Forward Arizona?
Education Forward Arizona's mission is centered around advocating for and enacting improvements in education that enhance the quality of life for all individuals. Their primary goal is to advocate for education reforms that cater to the needs of various learners. The organization aims to provide college success services, offering scholarships and assigning success advisers to students to help them overcome obstacles, such as financial issues or emotional challenges, and achieve a college degree. Since its inception in 2005, Education Forward Arizona has supported numerous students, with a high six-year graduation rate and a freshman retention rate of 91%. They also hold an annual leadership symposium for scholars and collaborate with various organizations to address educational access and opportunities for underserved populations.
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
Who is the CEO of Education Forward Arizona?
Rich Nickel is the President & Ceo of Education Forward Arizona. The CEO's salary of Education Forward Arizona is $265,962 and their total compensation is $287,064.
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
What is the revenue of Education Forward Arizona?
Education Forward Arizona's revenue in 2022 was $9,242,134.
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
Who are the executives of Education Forward Arizona and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Education Forward Arizona during 2022 was $41,984. There are 57 employees and 14 volunteers at Education Forward Arizona.
Here are 19 key members and their salaries (Education Forward Arizona's CEO's salary is $265,962 and their total compensation is $287,064):
- Compensation: $265,962
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- Other: $21,102
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- Compensation: $150,830
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- Other: $22,092
- Compensation: $143,588
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- Other: $14,420
- Compensation: $144,328
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- Other: $8,047
- Compensation: $101,471
- Related: $0
- Other: $13,294
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Education Forward Arizona?
Education Forward Arizona's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.educationforwardarizona.org
Learn more at the official website: www.educationforwardarizona.org
Mission Statement of Education Forward Arizona
Education Forward Arizona, a dedicated nonprofit organization, is committed to advocating for and acting upon educational improvements that enhance the quality of life for all Arizonans. Their primary mission is to champion education advancements that significantly impact the lives of Arizona residents. The organization strives to foster a community where every individual has the opportunity to achieve their full potential through education. To achieve this, Education Forward Arizona engages in various initiatives, such as providing scholarships, offering college success services, and collaborating with educational institutions and other organizations to promote education access and attainment.
The scholarship program, run by Education Forward Arizona, awarded scholarships to 218 students in 2022, totaling $1,382,554. These scholars are assigned a success adviser, who plays a vital role in guiding them towards completing their college degree and preparing for a successful life post-graduation. Success advisers meet with their scholars twice per semester, both in person and virtually, to address any challenges they may be facing in their education journey. These obstacles could range from financial issues to family support, study habits, housing, emotional and mental health concerns, or other factors. By offering support and encouragement, success advisers help their scholars overcome these challenges and remain motivated throughout their academic journey. Since its inception in 2005, Education Forward Arizona's scholarship program has assisted over 800 students, with a six-year graduation rate of 74% and a freshman retention rate of 91%.
In addition to the scholarship program, Education Forward Arizona also works to strengthen the college-going culture in Arizona, focusing on high schools and supporting their students in preparing for and pursuing higher education. The organization collaborates with various schools, districts, and educational partners to identify strategies for enhancing college readiness and access. Through initiatives like the Helios Education Foundation's College Knowing & Going initiative (CKG), Education Forward Arizona helps high schools develop college readiness teams, which include administrators, counselors, teachers, AmeriCorps members, postsecondary partners, community members, and CKG coordinators. These teams work together to tailor their efforts to the unique needs of each community, aiming to create a stronger college-going culture and increase the number of students who pursue and complete postsecondary education.
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Impact
October, 2024
Education Forward Arizona has significantly impacted student success and educational access in Arizona. In 2022, their College Success Services Program awarded scholarships to 218 students, totaling $1,382,554. This program not only provides financial aid but also assigns a Success Adviser to each scholar, offering personalized support to help them navigate various challenges, from financial constraints to mental health issues. The program's six-year graduation rate stands at 74%, while the freshman retention rate is an impressive 91%, reflecting its effectiveness, particularly among the 70% of scholars who are first-generation college students.
The organization also enhances college readiness through initiatives like the College Access Network (AZCAN), which serves over 1,200 members across schools and educational institutions, and the expansion of college readiness teams in 26 high schools as part of the Helios Education Foundation's initiative. These efforts have resulted in scholarships awarded to 31 student ambassadors enrolled in post-secondary education.
Project Benjamin, an innovative AI-powered chatbot, has helped over 25,000 students by facilitating FAFSA completion and providing critical college-going information, leading to a notable increase in timely enrollment among non-FAFSA completers. Additionally, the AdviseAZ AmeriCorps program supported over 650 students in Title I schools, achieving a college enrollment rate of 48.6% for those served.
Furthermore, Education Forward Arizona plays a vital role in public policy and advocacy, aiming to achieve the Achieve60AZ goal of having 60% of adults aged 25 to 64 hold a professional certificate or college degree by 2030. They engage in public discourse on key education issues, influencing legislative priorities and increasing awareness about educational challenges in Arizona.
Their approach combines direct support for students with efforts to strengthen the entire education ecosystem, driving progress toward a more equitable and prosperous future for all Arizonans.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Education Forward Arizona. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $203,822
- Program Service Revenue: $26,733
- Gross Receipts: $11,049,780
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $20,619,225
- Total Liabilities: $1,570,474
- Net Assets: $19,048,751
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
SUCCESS SERVICES FEES
Revenue
$25,850
AZCAN
Revenue
$883
Organization Details
Founding Year
2005
Phone
(602) 636-1850Principal Officer
Rich Nickel
Main Address
4747 N 32ND ST SUITE 150, PHOENIX, AZ, 85018
NTEE Category
Code: B82 - Education
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