Arizona Forward Association

What Arizona Forward Association does

Arizona Forward Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, member-based organization founded in 1974 as Valley Forward and rebranded to Arizona Forward around 2019-2020 to reflect statewide scope. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the organization convenes more than 150 member organizations — including corporations such as Intel, Freeport-McMoRan, Honeywell, Microsoft, AECOM, and HDR, alongside universities (ASU, NAU, University of Phoenix, University of Arizona), utilities (SRP, APS), municipalities, and civic groups — to address Arizona sustainability challenges including water, climate, forest health, mobility, and urban waterways.

The organization's core programs consist of advocacy, issue committees (Materials and Circular Economy, Water Strategies, Energy and Climate Action, Forest Health), the Environmental Excellence Awards (Arizona's signature sustainability recognition program since 1980), the annual Statewide Sustainability Summit, a webinar series, the Emerging Sustainability Leaders professional development program, regional councils, and a resource hub of whitepapers and reports. There is no proprietary technology product; the "product" is the convening and advocacy platform itself, anchored by long-tenure partnerships with SRP (presenting sponsor for 19 years), The Nature Conservancy, and Arizona Community Foundation.

Arizona Forward's revenue model is non-profit member dues-driven, with membership dues described as the largest operating revenue stream but covering only a portion of expenses. The remainder is bridged by an Annual Giving Program (unrestricted donations) and interest from the Fund for a Sustainable Future endowment established in 2009 and held at the Arizona Community Foundation. Event pricing (e.g., $175 member / $200 non-member for the Statewide Sustainability Summit) and corporate sponsorship of the Environmental Excellence Awards supplement revenue. The organization does not disclose revenue figures publicly.

Name

Arizona Forward Association

Legal name

Arizona Forward Association

Website

https://arizonaforward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arizona Forward Association is a 501(c)(3) member-based non-profit founded in 1974 that convenes 150+ Arizona business, civic, university, and municipal stakeholders to advance sustainability through advocacy, issue committees, and signature events including the Environmental Excellence Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Environmental & Stakeholder Engagement (EIA/ESIA, Community Relations) (EUAMAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event PR & Communications Support (BPAFADAO), Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

Keywords

• Sustainability advocacy
• Environmental policy
• Nonprofit membership
• Climate action
• Water resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Membership dues are the largest source of operating revenue, though they cover only a portion of actual expenses. The organization has a diverse membership of 150+ organizations.
2. Annual Giving Program: Annual gifts provide critically needed support to bridge the gap between membership dues and actual expenses. Unrestricted contributions allow immediate impact on programming.
3. Fund for a Sustainable Future Endowment: An endowment established in 2009, held at the Arizona Community Foundation. Interest earned by the Fund is directed to Arizona Forward's operating budget.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arizona Forward is a non-profit, non-partisan member-based organization that convenes 150+ business and civic stakeholder organizations across Arizona to address sustainability challenges. It delivers advocacy, issue committees, the Environmental Excellence Awards, a Statewide Sustainability Summit, webinars, the Emerging Sustainability Leaders program, and a resource hub of whitepapers and reports. Its work spans climate action, forest health, water sustainability, urban waterways, mobility and clean air, and healthy communities.

Product overview

Arizona Forward is a non-profit, non-partisan member-based organization with over 50 years of experience leading sustainability in Arizona. The organization does not offer a technology product but rather provides a suite of programs and services including advocacy, issue committees (Materials and Circular Economy, Water Strategies, Energy and Climate Action), events (Environmental Excellence Awards, Statewide Sustainability Summit, Webinar Series), the Emerging Sustainability Leaders program for professional development, membership networking opportunities, and a resource hub with whitepapers and reports. The organization coordinates hundreds of diverse business and civic stakeholders to address critical sustainability challenges through collective advocacy and collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1.5 million residents experience Arizona's waterways annually, contributing approximately $13.5 billion to the state's economy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SRP (Salt River Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRP is a founding member of Arizona Forward and a presenting sponsor and partner in the Environmental Excellence Awards program for 19 years. SRP has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and supports Arizona's leading environmental and sustainability organization.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nature Conservancy serves as a Crescordia Champion Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards. They collaborate on water restoration projects including Intel's Verde River initiative.
• Chambers for Innovation and Clean EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona Forward partnered with Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy on webinars and policy initiatives including clean energy and climate action.
• Environmental Defense FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund, Arizona Forward advocated for critical clean energy and climate action policy at the federal level and engaged members in these important issues.
• The Nature Conservancy (Arizona Chapter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on water and forest restoration initiatives, including Intel's water conservation projects with The Nature Conservancy.
• Arizona ThrivesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona Forward signed on to the Arizona Thrives Alliance to advance clean air and clean energy goals for Arizona.
• ASU Sustainable Cities NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on climate action planning series involving the City of Tempe's Office of Sustainability, ASU School of Sustainability, and Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
• Arizona Recycling CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting circular economy and waste reduction initiatives in Arizona.
• Local First ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting sustainability and economic development initiatives in Arizona.
• Arizona Sustainability AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting sustainability initiatives and programs in Arizona.
• Gammage & BurnhammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• Central Arizona ProjectmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• AECOMmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• HDR Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• City of MesamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• Arizona Commerce AuthoritymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International AirportmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• MicrosoftmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Advocate Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• SRPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards for 19 consecutive years.
• ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures LaboratorymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental Achievement Sponsor of the Environmental Excellence Awards.
• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner member and supporter of Arizona Forward, including partnerships with ASU Sustainable Cities Network, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Water Research Center, and various other programs.
• Freeport-McMoRancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member and presenter at Arizona Forward events. Bill Cobb, VP & Chief Sustainability Officer, participates in summits and panels.
• Intel CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member and presenter at Arizona Forward events. Intel has committed to restore 100% of its global water use to benefit communities where it operates, with multiple projects in Arizona watersheds.
• APS (Arizona Public Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member, presenting sponsor of the Emerging Sustainability Leaders program, and supporter of Arizona Forward's sustainability initiatives.
• Northern Arizona UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member supporting Arizona Forward's sustainability initiatives.
• University of ArizonamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member with Water Research Center participating in Arizona Forward programs.
• HoneywellmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner member with sustainability initiatives, including participation in mobility and EV discussions.
• Coconino CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Arizona's Forests: Why We Care webinar on forest health and climate action.
• Global Water ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented the Climate Action: Ensuring Arizona's Long-Term Water Future webinar and participates in water strategy discussions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Local First Arizona: Arizona-based non-profit supporting local economies and sustainability. Listed as a partner of Arizona Forward and operating in overlapping Arizona sustainability and economic-development space.
• Green For All: Environmental advocacy organization focused on building an inclusive green economy. Comparable to Arizona Forward as a non-profit that mobilizes stakeholders around sustainability policy and economic inclusion.
• Western Resource Advocates: Regional advocacy organization advancing clean energy, water, and land conservation across the Western U.S. Highly comparable to Arizona Forward in structure and mission as a multi-state sustainability coalition running events, advocacy, and stakeholder convenings.
• Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy: Non-profit coalition helping chambers of commerce advance clean energy and sustainability policy. Direct program partner of Arizona Forward and operates a similar coalition-based, advocacy-and-webinar model.
• Arizona Sustainability Alliance: Arizona-based non-profit advancing sustainability through community engagement, education, and policy advocacy. Most directly comparable peer operating in the same geography with overlapping member base and program areas.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Major national environmental advocacy organization that partners with Arizona Forward on climate and clean energy policy. Overlaps in mission and policy advocacy approach but at far larger national scale.
• Ceres: National sustainability nonprofit mobilizing business and investor leadership on climate change. Comparable to Arizona Forward as a coalition of corporations and institutions advancing sustainability policy, but operating at much larger national scale.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): National non-profit promoting sustainability in building and construction through LEED certification and regional chapters. Comparable to Arizona Forward as a member-based sustainability organization with regional chapters and signature awards/recognition programs.

Peers

• The Nature Conservancy (Arizona Chapter): Conservation organization with active Arizona chapter and a documented partner of Arizona Forward (e.g., Intel water restoration project). Comparable as a peer environmental non-profit operating in Arizona, though focused more on land/water conservation than convening/advocacy.

Emerging players

• B Lab (B Corporation): Global non-profit certifying and convening B Corps around social and environmental performance. Comparable to Arizona Forward as a membership- and standards-based sustainability network, though with a global rather than regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azforward
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArizonaForward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arizona-forward
• Instagraminstagram.com/arizonaforward/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Arizona Forward Association