OUR IMPACT

At Arizona Foundation for Women, we connect hearts and minds, and work to create a competitive advantage of thought leadership, expertise, responsiveness, relationships, and collaborative spirit. Our approach is a holistic strategy of research, advocacy and innovative grant-making that is both necessary and practical.

For example, economic empowerment is only possible with access to job opportunities with equitable and livable pay, quality healthcare, safe home environments and relationships, and quality education. Our research on the status of women in Arizona informs our stakeholders and is a community resource for all.

Arizona Foundation for Women funds innovative programs that support these goals. In turn, our grant partners and their outcomes help us hone our research topics. The objective is to improve systems affecting women and move the needle for overall systemic change.

AFW’s History of Being the Change

These past programs were started by AFW and have either been by adopted by another organization or become their own nonprofit organization.

Joining the Movement

Incorporation  

The Foundation, once incorporated, joined other women’s funds and foundations from across the nation and world to create a “women’s funding movement.” The Arizona Foundation for Women is part of that movement and, as such, has contributed over $2.5 million to the community since its inception.

Being the Change

Angels on Patrol Fund 

This fund was established to support youth, who have been identified by police officers and who have either been severely abused or whose caregivers are facing extreme hardship. This fund focused on youth identified by officers from the Phoenix Police Department.

Kids Are Not For Sale in Arizona

This program coordinated new and existing U.S. and Arizona-based anti-trafficking efforts to develop integrated training programs, foster sustainable collaboration, and broaden public knowledge of the domestic minor sex trafficking in Arizona.  Through network alignment and broad spectrum stakeholder identification, the project will facilitate communication, provide technical support and develop strategies for sustainable collaboration among anti-trafficking actors in the greater Phoenix area.

Live & Learn

The Live & Learn program began to create an opportunity for women victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, extreme poverty or homelessness to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Through job-training and one-on-one mentoring, Live and Learn helps women gain the confidence and capabilities they need to re-enter the workforce. Live and Learn is now its own stand-alone nonprofit.

Generation W

This affiliate service organization founded by a group of young women interested in helping other women. Generation W members ages 21 to 39 dedicate their time to positively impact the lives of girls via mentoring and service programs.

Getting Men InvolveD

COACHING Up

Innovative pilot created Upstanding Men, one boy at a time. This program focused on the important role that coaches play in their players' lives. Tools were provided to cover healthy relationships and violence, sexual assault, suicide, drug and alcohol use, traumatic brain injury and human trafficking.

MaN

In 2000, with the passion of 100 business and community male leaders,  MaN (Men’s Anti-Violence Network) was formed. Representatives from major sports teams were among the founders.  In particular, Jerry Colangelo, former owner and stockholder of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, Derrick Hall, CEO and former player Luis Gonzales. Their mission, to stop domestic violence by holding the abuser accountable and working on prevention efforts. Public policy, awareness and affecting change in the criminal justice system. Click here for a full list of their amazing accomplishments.

Making the Case

Equal Pay Day

Sold cookies on the State Capitol lawn–$1 for men and $.82 for women.

Second Opinion

In partnership with Childhelp USA, this telemedicine program enabled the transmission of images from the forensic medical examination of child sexual abuse victims in rural areas of Arizona to highly trained specialists in Phoenix. Collecting evidence in this way prevents the child from enduring multiple examinations and also provides strong evidence that benefits prosecutors in court.

TRUST

Helped initiate Trust (Training & Resources United to Stop Trafficking). The mission: to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts in Arizona and increase public awareness about the crisis as it relates to Arizona’s children. TRUST focused on:

o   Media, Education and Public Awareness

o   Intervention, Recovery and Empowerment

o   Legislative, Judiciary and Law Enforcement

o   Technology and its role in the Underground Economy

Status of Women in Arizona

In 2007, the Foundation published its first research document, the Report on the Status of Women in Arizona, followed by the first Summit on the Status of Women in February 2007. From these two activities, the future strategic focus and work of the Foundation was articulated and the Foundation has been working to re-position and brand itself in the community as one of the key resources for women in the State of Arizona.

Moving the Community

Walk to End Domestic Violence

In 2006, the Foundation assumed responsibility for the annual Walk to End Domestic Violence and support Maricopa County emergency shelters until 2010. More importantly, raising community awareness on the toll domestic violence takes on survivors.

Reaching into the Workplace

Employers Against Domestic Violence (EADV)

In 2005, the Foundation assumed responsibility for the Employers Against Domestic Violence Program (EADV).  This organization, founded in 2000, was created and administered by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) with the adoption of a regional plan to address domestic violence. EADV also initiated in 2002 the Walk to End Domestic Violence.