ACF News
Filter Posts
From the Valley’s Hottest Blocks, a Cooler Future Takes Root
Drive west across Phoenix on a summer afternoon, past the bus stops and the blocks with little shade, and you reach Maryvale, a neighborhood that can run 5 to 7 degrees hotter than the rest of the Valley. Here, the heat is not a headline. It is a daily calculation. Parents wait until well past…
When It Rains It Pours: Inside the ACF’s Mid-Year Environmental Accelerator
Some gatherings are measured by the conversations they produce. Others are remembered by the places that shape them. From June 24-26, leaders from Arizona and across the nation traveled to the Navajo and Hopi nations for the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) Mid-Year Environmental Accelerator Project, a three-day convening designed not around conference rooms or presentations,…
How Anna María Chávez Is Redefining Women’s Empowerment
“An economy of women counting on each other, backing each other, and handing each other what they know is the largest fund this country has never put on a balance sheet,” said Arizona Community Foundation President and CEO Anna María Chávez during her keynote speech Monday, August 10, to Positive Paths’ sold-out Women’s Impact Network…
ACF’s New Flagstaff Lead
Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) has elevated June Brockmeyer to the position of Regional Director for the Flagstaff office. Previously ACF’s Flagstaff Regional Philanthropic Advisor, June has a wealth of donor-facing experience, deep regional relationships, and a proven track record of local impact. She worked closely over the past year with former director Tammy Howell, gaining…
$1.8 Million Directed: ACF of Flagstaff’s Horse-Trading Event
On Friday, July 10, the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff (ACF of Flagstaff) hosted its annual Horse-Trading event. This year’s gathering marked a milestone worth celebrating. Nearly a dozen fundholders and community partners came alongside ACF of Flagstaff to direct $1.8 million to local nonprofits — up from $1.7 million last year. What Is a…
A Vision for Arizona Earns Recognition
Great leadership shows up where it’s needed most. For Anna María Chávez, Esq., President & CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), that has meant a lifetime of service across government, education, and philanthropy. Now, that work is earning its latest recognition. Phoenix Women Leaders, the Phoenix Chapter of the Women Leaders Association, has named…
The Wellik Foundation’s 25-Year Track Record in Wickenburg
For more than 25 years, the Wellik Foundation, a supporting organization of the Arizona Community Foundation, has quietly shaped the future of Wickenburg. In that time it has invested nearly $15 million in local grants, reaching more than 54 nonprofits and institutions across education, health care, the arts, and economic development. What began as one…
Remembering Dr. Lattie F. Coor
We are heartbroken by the passing of Dr. Lattie F. Coor, a titan of Arizona civic life whose vision helped shape the state we serve. Best known as the 15th president of Arizona State University, where he elevated ASU into a national research institution and expanded it across the Valley, Dr. Coor spent his life…
Anna María Chávez Named to the 2026 Phoenix Titan 100
We are proud to share that ACF President and CEO Anna María Chávez has been named to the 2026 Phoenix Titan 100. Presented by Titan CEO and headline sponsor Alerus, the Titan 100 recognizes the region’s top 100 CEOs and C-level executives, honoring leaders who demonstrate exceptional vision, passion, and impact in their fields. This…
A Sedona & Verde Valley Leader in the Spotlight
We are thrilled to share that Chelsea Buck-Leilich, Regional Director of the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona office, has been featured in the Verde Independent. The article, titled “Connecting generosity and need: Chelsea Buck-Leilich shapes philanthropy in the Verde Valley,” beautifully captures Chelsea’s heart for people and her deep commitment to the community she calls…
Highlighting the Philanthropy Trifecta
Philanthropy Trifecta: A private foundation, charitable remainder trust, and donor advised fund can work together Advisors who work with high-net-worth families are increasingly encountering a planning scenario involving private foundations, charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), and donor advised funds (DAFs). What’s the background? A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that allows your client…
Case Study: Incorporating Family Philanthropy into a Business Exit
As an advisor, you may work with clients who own family businesses. You’ve likely also considered the role strategic philanthropy can play in business succession planning and in preparing clients for their eventual exit. But how does that strategy actually come to life in a real client conversation? This case study illustrates that scenario. When…