Center for the Future of Arizona

Name

Center for the Future of Arizona

Legal name

Center for the Future of Arizona

Website

https://arizonafuture.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Public Policy Research

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research (EDADADAF), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Nonprofit policy research
• Education program services
• Workforce development programs
• Civic engagement initiatives
• Statewide data analytics

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Contributions: CFA operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations, grants, and philanthropic partnerships with foundations, corporations, and individuals committed to Arizona's future.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major funding from organizations including APS Foundation, Salt River Project, Helios Education Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, and others supports specific programs and initiatives.
3. Donor Funding: Funding from individual donors and supporters such as Don Budinger enables specific initiatives like the Arizona Media Institute.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Center for the Future of Arizona is a nonprofit "do-tank" that delivers statewide programs and policy tools across three areas: education (Arizona Pathways to Prosperity, Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy, Move On When Ready, Arizona Personalized Learning Network, Permission Granted), workforce (RetailWorks AZ, Workforce Leadership Academy), and civic engagement (School Participatory Budgeting, Arizona Civic Life Partnership, Communities at the Center). It underpins these programs with proprietary Arizona Progress Meters data tools and the Gallup Arizona Project survey research partnership.

Product overview

Center for the Future of Arizona is a nonprofit 'do-tank' that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs across three focus areas: Education, Workforce, and Civic Engagement. Its education programs include Arizona Pathways to Prosperity (career-connected learning), Arizona Personalized Learning Network (competency-based learning professional development), Move On When Ready (mastery-based graduation pathway), Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy (principal training), and Permission Granted (policy implementation tools). Workforce programs encompass RetailWorks AZ and Workforce Leadership Academy. Civic engagement offerings include School Participatory Budgeting, Arizona Civic Life Partnership, Communities at the Center, and the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards. Supporting infrastructure includes the Arizona Progress Meters (data tracking tools), the Gallup Arizona Project (survey research), Good Elections Project (election research), Arizona Media Institute (journalism support), and the Bright Future Campaign (fundraising initiative).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arizona Media Institute: A statewide resource designed to support local journalism by providing free access to data-driven tools, expert directories, and programming for journalists.

Products and services

• Arizona Pathways to Prosperity A career-connected learning initiative that creates pathways connecting K-12 education with higher education and industry, providing career exploration, early college programs, and work-based learning experiences for students across Arizona.
• Permission Granted A statewide initiative providing a Policy Primer and Innovation Guide to help Arizona schools translate existing policy flexibilities into practical actions to improve student success.
• Arizona Personalized Learning Network A network providing professional learning pathways, resources, and coaching for educators, schools, and districts to implement personalized, competency-based learning practices.
• Move On When Ready A mastery-based pathway to high school graduation that allows students to earn the Grand Canyon High School Diploma based on demonstrated mastery of college and career readiness standards rather than seat time accumulation.
• Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy Executive leadership training program for principals and school system leaders designed to help them create better quality schools and improve outcomes for students.
• RetailWorks AZ Workforce initiative supporting the retail sector by bringing education and training together to help retail workers advance in their careers.
• Workforce Leadership Academy Professional development program for Arizona workforce development leaders to improve economic mobility and create innovative solutions to workforce challenges.
• School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona Civic engagement program that engages K-12 students in budgeting processes, developing proposals, and voting on school improvement projects to build stronger school communities and informed civic participants.
• Arizona Civic Life Partnership Partnership between CFA and Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation to strengthen civic education, build civic leaders, and increase civic participation across Arizona.
• Communities at the Center Initiative working with communities and leaders to make Arizonans' priorities a reality through data and community-driven dialogue and solution building.
• Arizona Progress Meters Data tools tracking Arizona's progress across key priority areas including Jobs, Natural Resources, Education, Infrastructure, Young Talent, Civic Participation, Health and Well-Being, and Connected Communities.
• Gallup Arizona Project Partnership with Gallup Inc. conducting survey research to identify shared priorities of Arizonans and provide basis for regional and statewide action.
• Good Elections Project Statewide nonpartisan survey research initiative identifying shared values around election principles, trust in election administration, and voter experience priorities.
• Arizona Media Institute Statewide resource supporting local journalism by providing free access to data-driven tools, expert directories, and programming for journalists, anchored by an online hub.

Quantifiable outcome

• 480,000+ students impacted through education programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Northern Arizona University (Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Joint initiative 'Permission Granted' helping Arizona schools translate existing policy flexibilities into practical actions. Includes Policy Primer and Innovation Guide tools. Collaboration with KnowledgeWorks support.
• ASU Participatory Governance InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2021ASU partner for School Participatory Budgeting program evaluation and implementation; awarded joint President's Medal for Social Embeddedness.
• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey higher education partner in Arizona Pathways to Prosperity; APLN partnership with Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for personalized learning professional development.
• Gallup Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner for Gallup Arizona Project conducting statewide survey research to identify what matters most to Arizonans.
• Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at Flinn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona Civic Life Partnership bringing organizations together statewide to strengthen civic life in Arizona using Civic Health Progress Meters.
• Jobs for the FuturekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting workforce development and career pathways initiatives.
• KnowledgeWorkskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner for Arizona Personalized Learning Network providing personalized, competency-based learning expertise and resources.
• Harvard Graduate School of EducationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing research and expertise for pathways programs.
• SRI InternationalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner supporting education research and pathways initiatives.
• Arizona@Work Maricopa CountycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce development system partner connecting job seekers and employers in Maricopa County.
• Arizona Department of EducationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState education agency partner supporting career and technical education and pathways initiatives.
• Maricopa County Community College DistrictcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLargest community college district partner enabling dual enrollment and early college pathways.
• Governor Katie HobbskeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState leadership partner with Office of the Governor supporting workforce initiatives.
• Participatory Budgeting ProjectkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner for School Participatory Budgeting implementation across Arizona schools.
• Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning CouncilkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for inclusive School Participatory Budgeting pilot supporting students with disabilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Flinn Foundation (Arizona Center for Civic Leadership): Major Arizona philanthropy running civic leadership programs and partnering with CFA on the Arizona Civic Life Partnership; comparable as a statewide civic engagement funder and partner rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• National Skills Coalition: National advocacy organization focused on skills training and workforce policy for under-served workers; comparable in workforce policy, equity focus, and state-federal advocacy strategy.
• Achieving the Dream: National nonprofit supporting community colleges and student success through guided pathways and equity-focused reforms; comparable in student success, equity, and community college dual enrollment work.
• Education Forward Arizona: Statewide Arizona nonprofit focused on education attainment and workforce alignment; directly comparable in geography, mission (education + workforce), and policy-advocacy stance.
• StriveTogether: National nonprofit network working at the local level to improve education and workforce outcomes cradle-to-career; comparable cradle-to-career outcomes orientation and place-based collective impact model.
• National Civic League: Nonpartisan nonprofit advancing civic engagement, democratic governance, and community problem-solving; comparable in civic health focus, cross-sector convening, and community-driven agenda building.
• Public Agenda: Nonprofit that engages Americans on pressing social issues through research and public dialogue; comparable in public opinion research informing civic agenda, similar to CFA's Gallup Arizona Project.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit driving workforce and education transformation, with state-level partnership models; CFA is explicitly partnered with JFF, and both operate career-pathway initiatives for under-served learners.
• KnowledgeWorks: National nonprofit focused on personalized, competency-based learning; CFA is partnered with KnowledgeWorks on the Arizona Personalized Learning Network and shares the personalized learning policy and practice focus.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation for Excellence in Education: National education reform organization led by Jeb Bush focused on state education policy transformation; comparable in state-level education policy and personalized learning focus, but operates at much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arizonafuture
• Facebookfacebook.com/azfuture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arizonafuture
• Instagraminstagram.com/centerforthefutureofaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for the Future of Arizona