What TigerMountain Foundation does

TigerMountain Foundation (TMF) is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 by Darren Chapman, operating on an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model to address food deserts in South Phoenix. The foundation runs four community garden sites—Garden of Tomorrow, Spaces of Opportunity, MAC6, and the newly groundbreaking Wee Wee Belcher Garden of Tomorrow (March 2026)—which collectively cover more than four acres of inner-city land (with Spaces of Opportunity alone spanning 19 acres) and produce fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income, food-insecure residents. Surplus produce is distributed to community members and sold at farmer's markets, through a CSA partnership with Utopian Harvest, and at recurring First Fridays markets.

TMF's workforce development stack centers on the Personal Strategy Roadmap (PSR), an individualized goal-setting framework launched in 2012 that guides participants from enrollment through living-wage employment, and a Re-entry Partnership that works with the judicial system to support formerly incarcerated citizens, reporting an 85% non-recidivism rate. Paid agri-landscaping services—property cleanups, edible landscape design, irrigation work, and monthly maintenance across the Phoenix metro—function as a real-business training ground while generating revenue that is fully reinvested into community programming. A Commercial Kitchen Incubator (opened July 2014) extends the food-system value chain into food entrepreneurship.

Revenue is diversified across individual donations (including Arizona Qualified Charity state tax credits), corporate sponsorships (Fry's, Tito's Vodka, SRP), foundation grants (notably a $100,000 Sprouts Foundation gift featured on The Ellen Show in 2020, plus Arizona Community Foundation and others), earned revenue from landscaping and produce sales, and government funding. The foundation reports cumulative outcomes of 550,000+ people impacted, 300,000+ meals provided, 57,000+ pounds of produce grown, and 50,000+ volunteers engaged, with an 8-member board chaired by Nick Kelly (United Southern Bank) and executive leadership including CEO Chapman and COO Fred Stevens.

Name

TigerMountain Foundation

Legal name

TigerMountain Foundation

Website

https://tigermountainfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TigerMountain Foundation is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combats South Phoenix food deserts through community gardens, urban agriculture, workforce development, and re-entry support for justice-involved individuals, funded by donations, grants, and agri-landscaping services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Urban agriculture programs
• Workforce development initiatives
• Food desert solutions
• Reentry support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation relies on individual donations, corporate donations through platforms like AzGives.org and Donorbox, and Arizona state tax credit donations as a Qualified Charity. Donors can give one-time or set up recurring monthly donations.
2. Agricultural Product Sales: Revenue generated from farmer's markets where surplus produce is sold. The foundation operates Saturday sessions and markets where participants sell fruits and vegetables. All revenue is reinvested directly into TMF's community initiatives.
3. Agri-landscaping Services: Paid landscaping and edible garden installation services provided to homeowners and organizations across the Phoenix metro. Services include property cleanups, landscape design, irrigation installation, and monthly maintenance. Every dollar earned flows back into community initiatives.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors including Fry's Food, Tito's Vodka, SRP, and others who provide financial support, in-kind donations, and CSR alignment. Sponsors receive visibility and community engagement opportunities.
5. Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and government entities including the Sprouts Foundation ($100,000), Arizona Community Foundation, and government grants. The foundation has received notable recognition including a feature on The Ellen Show that brought national attention and funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TigerMountain Foundation operates community gardens and agri-landscaping programs in South Phoenix to combat food deserts and provide workforce development. The foundation delivers individualized goal-setting through its Personal Strategy Roadmap (PSR), partners with the justice system to support formerly incarcerated individuals, and runs nutrition education and youth development initiatives. Revenue from landscaping services and farmer's markets is reinvested directly into the foundation's community programs.

Product overview

TigerMountain Foundation is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates on an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model. Its product portfolio centers on four interconnected initiatives: Community Gardens (including Garden of Tomorrow, Spaces of Opportunity, MAC6, and Wee Wee Belcher Garden of Tomorrow), Landscaping Services (an edible landscaping crew serving the Phoenix metro), the Personal Strategy Roadmap (an individualized goal-setting web form), and a Reentry & Justice Partnership supporting formerly incarcerated individuals. These programs are supplemented by a Commercial Kitchen Incubator, First Fridays Vendor Market, a Resource Directory, and Nutritious Recipes resource hub. All revenue from gardens and landscaping operations is reinvested directly into the organization's community mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Gardens Program
• Landscaping Services
• Personal Strategy Roadmap (PSR)
• Reentry & Justice Partnership Program
• Commercial Kitchen Incubator
• First Fridays Vendor Market
• Wee Wee Belcher Garden of Tomorrow

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% non-recidivism rate among justice-involved participants
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Partnership established in April 2022 integrating environmental stewardship and habitat restoration into community gardening and agri-landscaping programs. Located at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center (3131 S Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040).
• Urban Farming EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership created the Fresh Food Collaboration Movement, a group of local organizations working to alleviate food access issues due to the COVID-19 crisis. On November 14, 2020, distributed over 800 food boxes simultaneously at two locations in Laveen, Phoenix.
• Utopian HarvestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to deliver Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription produce boxes full of fresh fruits and produce from TigerMountain gardens.
• March2GetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for events like 'Healing Through Laughter' bringing together Phoenix community to celebrate comedy and community at Garden of Tomorrow.
• Fry's Food StoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing potential in-kind support, cause marketing alignment, and community visibility.
• SRP (Salt River Project)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and utility provider supporting foundation initiatives.
• Tito's VodkaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting foundation's community work through their philanthropic program.
• American Public Gardens AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association providing resources, networking, and credibility for public garden initiatives.
• United States Botanic GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational botanical garden organization providing educational resources and partnership opportunities.
• Vitalyst HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth foundation providing board representation and strategic guidance. Board member Nick Kelly from United Southern Bank serves as Chairperson.
• BNI ConnectorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness networking organization supporting referral and partnership opportunities.
• TAPAZ (Transforma Arizona Partnership for Youth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership focused on youth development and transformation in Arizona communities.
• Just Communities ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting community development and social justice initiatives.
• Justice System PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with segments of the judicial system to support formerly incarcerated citizens in rebuilding their lives. Many of TigerMountain's senior leadership are formerly incarcerated individuals from the communities served.
• Local Schools and Youth OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local schools and youth organizations to empower vulnerable community members and break cycles of poverty and incarceration.
• The Mission ContinuesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization that brings volunteers including veteran Gary Streeter who consistently brings groups of volunteers to TMF garden sites.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Green: National nonprofit building Learning Gardens and food access infrastructure in schools and food deserts, with a strong CSR and corporate partner pipeline. Comparable to TigerMountain in urban garden model, K-12/youth programming, and corporate sponsorship strategy.
• Cultivate Kansas City: Kansas City nonprofit supporting urban agriculture and food systems through farmer's markets, grower support, and community gardens. Comparable to TigerMountain in farmer's market operations, urban farm network, and community-based food access mission.
• GrowNYC: New York City-based nonprofit operating community gardens, farmer's markets, and environmental education programs. Comparable to TigerMountain in farmer's market distribution channels, community garden sites, and volunteer-driven community engagement model.
• Jones Valley Teaching Farm: Birmingham, Alabama-based nonprofit combining urban farming, food education, and Good Agriculture workforce programming. Closely mirrors TigerMountain's model of using agriculture as a platform for workforce development and youth education in an underserved urban food desert.
• Green Bronx Machine: Bronx-based nonprofit operating urban agriculture, education, and workforce programs in food-insecure neighborhoods. Closely comparable to TigerMountain in combining indoor/vertical growing methods, school- and community-based programming, and food justice outcomes.
• Center for Employment Opportunities: National nonprofit providing reentry workforce development for formerly incarcerated individuals with measurable employment and recidivism outcomes. Comparable to TigerMountain's reentry program, participant pipeline from parole/judicial systems, and outcome-based reporting on non-recidivism.
• Real Food Rising: Utah-based nonprofit operating urban farms with refugee and immigrant workforce development programming. Comparable to TigerMountain in combining urban agriculture with workforce pathways for marginalized populations, paired with CSA and farmer's market revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit operating nutrition incentive programs (e.g., Double Up Food Bucks) that increase affordable access to fresh produce in underserved communities. Comparable to TigerMountain's food access mission at greater national scale, with overlapping funder and CSR audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tigermntnfdn
• Instagraminstagram.com/tigermountainfoundation
• Xx.com/TigermountainFD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tigermountain-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 TigerMountain Foundation