What Sunnyside Foundation does

Sunnyside Foundation (legally Sunnyside Unified School District Foundation, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 by BIPOC graduates of the Sunnyside Unified School District to advance educational equity and community well-being on Tucson's south side. The organization operates three integrated program verticals: Excellence in Education (Dollars for Scholars scholarships, Tri-School Partnership with University of Arizona and Pima Community College, CommunityShare Teacher Fellowship, Mini-Grants for educators, Dual Enrollment Scholarships); Emergency Relief (Eviction Rental Assistance, utility and cash assistance, monthly food box distribution with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, and the Juntos Fund for undocumented/mixed-status families); and Community Investment (From Our Families For Our Future, fiscal-sponsorship of community initiatives, and the El Pueblo 50 cultural-heritage exhibition). The foundation also operates the Sunnyside Hall of Fame, the Raul M. Grijalva Scholarship Fund, and the annual Gives Week fundraiser.

The foundation does not sell products or technology services. Its economic model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack comprising individual donations, foundation grants (Stanley M. Reinhaus Foundation $1M endowment, Osa Foundation, Stocker Foundation), corporate sponsorships (Tucson Electric Power, Desert Diamond Casinos, Banner, Suvida Healthcare, American Eat Co., Veregy, Alliance Bank), and government grants (City of Tucson ARPA Community Partner Grants, Pima County). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: programming is distributed through SUSD schools, neighborhood-based events (cafecitos, neighborhood clean-ups, bike clubs, block parties), and a volunteer network that augments a 12-person all-female, Latinx staff. Impact in FY25 included 22,200 students and educators supported, 1,525 households served with 42,950+ lbs of food, $2.1M+ in cumulative rental assistance to 585 families since 2021, and $716,000+ in scholarships awarded since 2004. The foundation is currently in CEO transition (Liz Soltero's final day September 30, 2026) while celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Name

Sunnyside Foundation

Legal name

Sunnyside Unified School District Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://sunnysidefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sunnyside Foundation is a Tucson, Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, emergency relief, and community-investment programs to BIPOC and immigrant families of the Sunnyside Unified School District, funding its work through donations, foundation and corporate grants, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Child and Youth Services (624110), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Education equity programs
• Scholarship programs
• Emergency relief services
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Accepts donations from individuals through their website and at events. Donations support scholarships, emergency relief, and community investment programs.
2. Scholarship Sponsorships: Supporters can establish new scholarships with minimum $1,000 contribution, contribute to existing scholarships, or contribute to general scholarship fund. SUSD employees can support via payroll deductions.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Receives support from foundations including Stanley M. Reinhaus Foundation, Osa Foundation, Stocker Foundation, and corporate partners like Tucson Electric Power.
4. City of Tucson ARPA Funding: From Our Families, For Our Future program is funded through City of Tucson's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Partner Grant Program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sunnyside Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs charitable programs for Sunnyside Unified School District (SUSD) students, families, and educators on Tucson's southside. Its core offerings include the Dollars for Scholars scholarship program, CommunityShare Teacher Fellowship, Excellence in Education Mini-Grants, the Tri-School Partnership with Pima Community College and the University of Arizona, the Emergency Relief Fund (rental assistance, utility/cash aid, and food distribution), the Community Investment Fund (including the ARPA-funded From Our Families, For Our Future program and fiscal sponsorships), and the Juntos Fund for undocumented and mixed-status families.

Product overview

Sunnyside Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves as the hub of community improvement initiatives on Tucson's southside. The foundation offers a portfolio of programs organized around three priority funding areas: lifelong learning (Excellence in Education programs), essential needs (Emergency Relief Fund), and community investment (Community Investment Fund). Key offerings include the Dollars for Scholars scholarship program, CommunityShare Teacher Fellowship, Emergency Relief assistance, Gives Week annual fundraiser, El Pueblo 50 exhibition, and specialized funds like the Juntos Fund for undocumented families and the Raul M. Grijalva Scholarship Fund. The foundation also manages the Sunnyside Hall of Fame honoring community contributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Excellence in Education Program Enhances educational experience and opportunities for SUSD students through the Dollars for Scholars scholarship program, CommunityShare Teacher Fellowship, CommunityShare Student Mentorship, Tri-School Partnership, Excellence in Education Mini-Grants, and Dual Enrollment Scholarships. Targets SUSD students, graduates, and educators.
• Emergency Relief Fund Rapid-response assistance for SUSD families facing economic hardship, including utility/cash assistance up to $300 per semester, food box distribution, and the Eviction Rental Assistance Program. Since 2021, has distributed more than $2.1 million in rental assistance to 585 families.
• Community Investment Fund Supports community improvement initiatives on Tucson's south side through the ARPA-funded From Our Families, For Our Future program, where families lead and learn organizing, problem-solving, generational wealth building, and community building skills; also provides fiscal sponsorships to charitable projects such as Familias Unidas Ganando Accesibilidad, Pima County Health Department Reach Program, and Gabe Gallegos Memorial Foundation.
• Sunnyside Hall of Fame Recognition program honoring individuals or groups who made notable contributions to the Sunnyside educational system, community, and their profession, with 120 honorees inducted since 2005.
• Juntos Fund Dedicated fund providing financial assistance to undocumented and mixed-status families in the southside community.
• Raul M. Grijalva Scholarship Fund Scholarship fund honoring Congressman Raul Grijalva's legacy, providing Sunnyside students with financial support to continue their education.

Quantifiable outcome

• $716,000+ in scholarships awarded since 2004
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Community Investment CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership for Eviction Prevention Relief Program providing rental assistance to undocumented, DACA, and refugee families.
• Pima County Community Action AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership for Eviction Prevention Relief Program for families negatively impacted by pandemic and economic hardship.
• Arizona Department of Economic SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership for Eviction Prevention Relief Program helping families with rental assistance.
• CommunitySharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CommunityShare and SUSD to provide the CommunityShare Teacher Fellowship program, a 9-month professional learning fellowship building a strong cohort of educators across the district.
• Sunnyside Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partnership with SUSD for all educational programs including scholarships, mini-grants, teacher fellowship, student mentorship, and dual enrollment programs.
• University of ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Tri-School Partnership with Pima Community College to improve postsecondary attainment. Also partnered on Dual Enrollment Scholarship program connecting SUSD students with UArizona STEM programs. Part of El Pueblo 50 multi-year interdisciplinary partnership.
• Pima Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-School Partnership collaboration with SUSD and University of Arizona to help more SUSD students enroll in and reach higher education goals, including summer bridge programs for Pima enrollment.
• City of TucsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARPA Community Partner Grant Program funding for From Our Families, For Our Future program. Also partnered on Eviction Prevention Relief Program for undocumented, DACA, and refugee families.
• Community Food Bank of Southern ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fresh produce and shelf-stable items for monthly food distribution events serving 100-200 families at Desert View High School.
• Familias Unidas Ganando Accesibilidad (FUGA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsorship recipient working on community accessibility initiatives.
• Pima County Health Department Reach ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsorship recipient for health outreach programs.
• Gabe Gallegos Memorial FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsorship recipient for community memorial foundation.
• American Eat CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Gives Week Block Party event and corporate sponsor of foundation activities.
• American Federation of TeachersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting educational initiatives.
• Bustos MediamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor of Gives Week 2026 and partner for Radio Rebelde retrospective tribute.
• Ward 1 (Tucson)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCouncil office partner for Gives Week and El Pueblo 50 exhibition.
• REA MediamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Radio Rebelde retrospective tribute to KXEW-FM and El Pueblo, aired on The Groove 106.3 FM and Urbana 104.3 FM.
• City of Tucson Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in El Pueblo 50 exhibition and capital investments including landscaping and stormwater improvements.
• Tucson Clean and BeautifulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in El Pueblo 50 tree planting and living memorial project.
• Grow TucsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in El Pueblo 50 tree planting and living memorial project.
• Storm to ShademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in El Pueblo capital investments and green initiatives.
• RegeneraciónminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization advancing advocacy and community leadership on Tucson's Southside.
• Scholarships A-ZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored organization advancing educational opportunities.
• Victorias Arias FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored organization through foundation support.
• Ward 1 Día de la NiñezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored community event for children's day celebrations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Foundation for Southern Arizona: Regional community foundation operating across Southern Arizona with similar grantmaking, scholarship administration, and donor-advised fund programs serving the same Tucson geography. Direct peer in mission, structure, and beneficiary base.
• Scholarship America: National nonprofit that operates the Dollars for Scholars program under which Sunnyside Foundation administers local scholarships. Direct operational peer and parent network for the largest line item in Sunnyside's educational program portfolio.
• Helios Education Foundation: Arizona-based education-focused foundation investing in postsecondary attainment and Latino student success across the state. Direct peer in education equity mission and geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Arizona Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation with significantly larger asset base, administering scholarships, grants, and donor-advised funds across Arizona. Larger incumbent operating in the same community-foundation space but at much greater scale.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: National nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support to Hispanic students at scale. Broad incumbent in the same education-equity space with overlapping beneficiary demographics and scholarship-administration model.
• UnidosUS: Large national Latino civil rights and community investment organization operating affiliate networks with place-based programs. Broad incumbent with thematic overlap in community investment for Latino families, but at national scale.

Regional players

• Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Tucson-based Latino business and community organization with adjacent programming for Southside residents and businesses. Regional peer with overlapping geography and beneficiary base.

Emerging players

• Esperanza Education Fund: Community-rooted nonprofit providing scholarships and educational support for immigrant students in similar urban contexts. Emerging player with comparable mission, scholarship-administration model, and immigrant-family focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SunnysideGive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunnyside-unified-school-district-foundation-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/sunnyside.foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sunnyside Foundation