2022-2023 Annual Report

Se ha concluido un año más. El 2023 fue un año de innumerables acontecimientos y hoy me siento honrado de presentar un informe integral sobre las actividades y logros de Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona (TAPAZ).

Con afán de transparencia me complace informar que nuestra gestión financiera se ha caracterizado por la responsabilidad y la prudencia. A pesar del desafiante clima económico, hemos gestionado con éxito los recursos, cumpliendo con las expectativas y logrando los objetivos de nuestra misión.

Nuestro compromiso con la misión de TAPAZ ha generado resultados impactantes en diversas comunidades. Cabe mencionar que 2023 fue clave en el acercamiento, gestión y colaboración con la comunidad latina de Arizona, nuestras conversaciones con el departamento de Arte y Cultura de la Ciudad de Phoenix y el departamento de Desarrollo de Comunidades Saludables del condado Maricopa. Dichas organizaciones nos dieron la oportunidad de incubar seis organizaciones 100% hispanohablantes con quieres desarrollamos e implementamos iniciativas dirigidas y específicas logrado avances significativos en salud y educación alineados a la misión Vitalyst Health Foundation.

El compromiso y lealtad con la comunidad latina es parte de nuestra estrategia integral. Nuestros programas han prosperado gracias a la dedicación de nuestra plataforma bilingüe, así como el compromiso de nuestro equipo de profesionales y al apoyo de nuestra Junta Directiva. Ya sea en contabilidad, finanzas, subvenciones y demás recursos disponibles para nuestros proyectos, hemos demostrado de manera constante una influencia tangible y positiva en nuestras iniciativas para la comunidad latina.

TAPAZ es parte vital de nuestra organización. Su compromiso y pasión no solo han ampliado nuestro alcance, sino que también han intensificado nuestros esfuerzos colaborativos. Juntos, hemos avanzado en la concientización y en la generación de un cambio positivo en el ámbito de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

La colaboración estratégica con Vitalyst Health Foundation ha desempeñado un papel fundamental en el avance y alcance de nuestra misión. Esta afiliación no solo ha diversificado nuestros recursos, sino que también ha proporcionado oportunidades únicas para la innovación y el crecimiento.

Extiendo mi más sincero agradecimiento a cada miembro de nuestro equipo y a Vitalyst Health Foudation, así como a nuestra Junta Directiva y a todos los que han contribuido al éxito de nuestra misión.

Me encuentro entusiasmado y confiado en nuestra capacidad para abordar los desafíos que se presentaran y aprovechar nuevas oportunidades para cumplir con nuestra misión.

Juan Salas
Director de Operaciones y Contabilidad

Last fiscal year, we had 59 fiscally sponsored projects in the TAPAZ program:

• Comprehensive Fiscal Sponsorship: 33 projects
• Grant-Specific Fiscal Sponsorship: 24 projects
• Fiscal Agency: 2 projects

  

These projects represent nonprofits working across all areas within the Elements of a Health Community wheel. Data gathered from our projects (n=50) shows that over 50% of projects work in Social/Cultural Cohesion, and over 40% reported working in Access to Care, Social Justice, or Educational Opportunity.

While TAPAZ is based in Maricopa County, we’re glad to see that our reach expands across the state, with Sponsored projects based in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. (The map on the left depicts the graphic spread by zip codes.) 

Additionally, over 50% of our projects reported providing services across the state. Those who don’t serve statewide reported focusing on particular geographic areas, typically more focused on the communities where they are located.

Over the past several years, the team at Vitalyst and TAPAZ has been committed to working more collaboratively for the benefit of our fiscally sponsored projects. The data and impact noted in the following pages are testament to that. It is our pleasure to highlight the work done, but even more so, to help show the stories of the great work of TAPAZ projects.

That collaboration has included streamlining and coordinating Vitalyst capacity building resources under the banner that TAPAZ has – Technical Assistance Partnerships. It perfectly describes the “TAP Tools” and resources available for organizations and coalitions working to improve community health in Arizona.

• TAP Talks: capacity building workshops hosted by AZ Impact for Good (formerly the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits) and sponsored by Vitalyst on topics like board management/governance and organizational development with the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute. TAPAZ projects can apply and automatically receive scholarships provided by Vitalyst for these workshops.
• TAP Team: this group of nonprofit consultants/coaches is convened by Vitalyst and contracted with to meet the specific capacity building needs of our partners and TAPAZ projects. These contracts are in large part covered through Vitalyst Technical Assistance Grants. Last fiscal year, ten TAPAZ project received such support for an average grant of around $10,000.
• TAP Tips: these resources and other funding opportunities would do no good if TAPAZ projects weren’t aware of them. Every other week, typically on Tuesdays, TAPAZ projects now receive our #TAPTips email with grant, learning, and leadership development opportunities. As projects see funding opportunities that would be a fit, they can then reach out to the Local First Arizona Economic Recovery Center and receive free grant writing and coaching, supported by Vitalyst and other funders.

Together, Vitalyst and TAPAZ recognize that sometimes organizations just need a little TAP. All these tools are part of our larger stewardship plan to build trust with our projects and to accelerate their missions, programs, and fundraising.

Arizona has many great nonprofits and organizations working to improve the health of our neighbors and communities. TAPAZ projects are instrumental in that. I know you’ll see that for yourself in this report.

In health,

David Martinez III
Director, Strategic Community Partnerships
Vitalyst Health Foundation

In 2021, we began internal conversations about what additional support could look like for our Sponsored Projects. Through staff restructuring, intentional planning, shifting resources, and a renewed commitment to serve our Projects, the Stewardship Plan was born. After spending the majority of that year familiarizing ourselves with each project’s programming and unique needs, the Stewardship Plan was officially implemented in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This begins with a streamlined intake and application process, working closely with prospective partners to answer questions and make the process as smooth as possible. Next comes a comprehensive onboarding process, including a communications plan, welcome packet, and orientation meeting. Once projects have gone through onboarding, they receive accounting and operations support as well as programmatic support in the form of a monthly newsletter, capacity-building workshops, connection to internal and external resources, regular check-ins with staff, site visits, and other technical assistance as needed. The goal of the Stewardship Plan is to deepen relationships and support projects in their development. Examples of the Stewardship Plan in action last year include:

• Hosted workshops for TAPAZ projects on topics including Arizona Gives Day and Social Media 101
• Highlighted projects’ work through TV segment opportunities, such as:
  • Phoenix Youth Circus Arts
  • Arizona Coalition for Military Families
  • The ClipDart Giveback
  • Lily’s Pad
• Created videos for projects to use to promote their organization, including:
  • Achieving My Purpose
  • Prototype Health
  • Ground Work
• Checked in with projects virtually or through in-person site visits
• Attended project-hosted events, including Arizona Coalition for Military Families’ Annual Statewide Symposium, Achieving My Purpose’s 10th Anniversary Celebration of Women event, and the Open House event for the Department of Child Safety’s new Welcome Center.
• Supported participation in Arizona Gives Day 2023:
  • 21 Projects
  • $19,214 Raised

Project Events & Site Visits

We know the most important work happens outside our offices, so we love the opportunity to attend project events and conduct site visits. We try to do this as often as possible, and these photos highlight a handful of opportunities we had last year to hang out with projects as they provide incredible services in their communities.

The greatest testament to our work is the people and organizations we serve through fiscal sponsorship. We’re highlighting four projects in particular in this report, each with unique accomplishments last year, who have graciously shared their perspectives on working with TAPAZ.

The Bambi Fund

Founded in 2022 to provide funded opportunities for learning, growing, and exploration, The Bambi Fund supports current and budding projects, social enterprises, and nonprofit groups led by people from historically excluded communities. The Bambi Fund came under TAPAZ for comprehensive fiscal sponsorship in 2022 as a new entity and hit the ground running.

“Fiscal sponsorship with TAPAZ has allowed The Bambi Fund to hit the ground running when it comes to fundraising and program implementation. The team at TAPAZ has been incredibly supportive in our first year, as we explore and develop our goals, program design, and experiment with program planning and delivery. Juan and Kelsey are always available for brainstorming sessions and logistical support when needed. It’s been great to know the team at TAPAZ is there to take care of the backend accounting and payment processing, and the bonus of having access to a meeting space when needed has been an asset to our small team.” – Whitney Meilan Yang, Founder & Director

Father Matters

Founded in 1997 with a mission to support fathers through strong, positive mentoring, Father Matters has been under TAPAZ for grant-specific fiscal sponsorship since 2012. This past year, we’ve worked closely with the Father Matters team on a grant from the Department of Labor regarding Reentry Employment Opportunities. The purpose of this program is to provide eligible incarcerated individuals in men’s and women’s state correctional facilities or local or county jails with workforce services before release and to continue services after release by transitioning the participants into reentry programs in the communities to which they will return.

“Father Matters loves TAPAZ! TAPAZ offers our organization fiscal sponsorship services and mentorship. We have been working with them over the past few years and really appreciate their knowledge and experience in fiscal and grant management. Through the services that they offer, the learning sessions and their great team members we have been able to build our organizational capacity and scale our impact. Thank you TAPAZ for supporting a growing grassroots non-profit organization like ours, we couldn’t have done it without you.” – Jessica Beresford, Director of Operations

Lily’s Pad

Founded in 2017, Lily’s Pad provides a play space in Tempe for immunocompromised children and their caregivers to come, play, and enjoy time with others in a safe environment. Lily’s Pad started with TAPAZ under comprehensive fiscal sponsorship in 2019 and moved to grant-specific fiscal sponsorship in 2022 after its capacity grew. The Grand Opening for the long-anticipated Clean Play Space was held in June 2023 and has been operating since then.

“TAPAZ was an amazing partner to Lily’s Pad, and we are so grateful to have had this resource when our nonprofit was just getting started.  From payroll to accounting, TAPAZ made our first steps as a nonprofit possible and allowed us to offer our donors a way to make tax deductible contributions.  As we grew and established our own 501(c)3 status, we continued to use TAPAZ for grant opportunities we weren’t yet eligible for.  The staff of TAPAZ was always supportive and willing to help us understand the ins and outs of the nonprofit world.  Today, the Lily’s Pad facility is up and running and we are fully established as an independent nonprofit.  We highly recommend TAPAZ to anyone wanting to venture out as a new nonprofit.” -Dawn Garza, Executive Director

Rehoboth Community Development Corporation (RCDC)

Founded in 2014, RCDC exists to create equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities that impact and build intergenerational prosperity within Urban Phoenix and Canyon Corridor neighborhoods in partnership with stakeholders to improve the quality of life for low- to moderate-income people. RCDC established grant-specific fiscal sponsorship with TAPAZ in 2015, and in 2022, the partnership was deepened when RCDC received the From Crowd to Home Grant, for which TAPAZ has provided working capital.

“TAPAZ is an indispensable lifeline for Rehoboth CDC, serving as a financial gateway that propels our community assistance programs to new heights. With deep gratitude, we convey our heartfelt thanks to TAPAZ for providing the crucial funding that enables us to make a meaningful impact with a sense of urgency. This support lends us the freedom to enhance our services and create a plethora of solutions to help individuals overcome devastating financial difficulties. Through their innovative financial solutions and empathetic approach, TAPAZ acts as a beacon of support, ensuring that Rehoboth CDC can navigate the complex terrain of nonprofit funding with confidence. Time and resources are always a challenge for nonprofits and partnering with TAPAZ empowers Rehoboth CDC to focus on our core objectives and amplify our ability to rekindle hope and foster a brighter future for the communities we serve. ” -Gwen Relf, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder