Non-profit

Arizona Advocacy Foundation

Location:

PHOENIX, AZ

Tax ID:

02-0565840

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $176,332
Expenses: $92,739
Assets: $136,717

Formation:

2003

Executive Director:

Joel Edman

Type:

Voter Education/Registration

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation is a left-of-center voting advocacy organization that has opposed Republican-sponsored legislation concerning electoral systems in Arizona. 1  The Arizona Advocacy Foundation is the educational arm of the Arizona Advocacy Network, a left-of-center organization that opposes voter integrity laws through lobbying and pushing for placing policy questions on ballots.

Activities

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation has reported conducting trainings on “how to participate in the legislative process” and registered users to employ the Arizona Legislature’s “request to speak” system, an online portal for commenting on legislative activity. 2

Litigation

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation is a left-wing activist group that initiated multiple lawsuits against the Republican-led Arizona state government for bills it saw as inhibiting voter rights. One lawsuit challenged Arizona House Bill 2244, which focused on quality control of proposed ballot initiatives. It provided politicians the power to disallow initiatives not written in a manner clearly and fully illustrative of the intentions and consequences of the proposed law. The court ruled against the Arizona Advocacy Foundation and upheld the law. 3

Another suit opposed Senate Bill 1516, which sought to loosen the limits of political donations to  igher thresholds of giving and to limit reporting from the donors. 4 The bill was ruled unconstitutional and Arizona Advocacy Foundation won this case. 5

Studies

Arizona Advocacy Foundation authored a study criticizing Arizona election processes as adopting right- wing tactics to disenfranchise specific types of voters, particularly minorities. 6 The foundation was in turn criticized for “cherry-picking data”7 as a key claim relied entirely on the highly biased Al Jazeera. 8 The Arizona Advocacy Foundation recommended9 using data from the Pew Research Center, which is supported by the left-of-center Pew Charitable Trusts. 10

This same study accused Republican election officials of making voting as difficult as possible causing thousands of votes to be cancelled. 11 Then-Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan (R) rebutted by castigating the authors for suggesting that incomplete and inaccurate votes should be counted regardless of concerns as to legitimacy, legality, or authenticity. She further described the report as “exceptionally biased” and “grossly misleading.” 12

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation describes voter identification laws as voter suppression tactics that overwhelmingly target and affect voters lower on the socio-economic scale, the disabled, elderly and people of color. 13 It opposed a bill to require early voters to show proof of identification when dropping off their ballots. 14 The foundation also opposed House Bill 2124,15 which aims to prevent part- time Arizona residents from voting in Arizona local elections. 16

Leadership

Executive Director Joel Edman

Joel Edman is a left-of-center voting activist and a member of the Arizona chapter of the left-of-center American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 17 While attending Harvard Law School, Edman worked with the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic and The Harvard Law School Immigration Project,18 which offer legal support to illegal immigrants. 19 He was involved with the left-of-center organizations New Jersey Institute for Social Justice20 and the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. 21

Board Members

Beth Meyer is a board member of the Arizona Advocacy Foundation22 and the co-founder, president, and CEO of Leading For Change (LFC) which partners with Planned Parenthood. 23 Meyer served as the Vice President of External Affairs for pro-abortion groups Planned Parenthood of Arizona and NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona. 24

Doris Marie Provine is a board member and a professor in Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Her expertise lies in immigration policy and she is the author of two books. Policing Immigrants: Local Law Enforcement on the Front Lines is an overview of the supposed negative impact of local police enforcing federal immigration laws. The second book is Unequal under Law: Race in the War on Drugs, which purports that drug enforcement laws are based in racism. 25 Provine is also on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union and volunteers at the left-of-center Hispanic voting advocacy group Mi Familia Vota. 26

Partners

One Arizona

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation helped form One Arizona by acting as its fiscal sponsor. 27 It is now a member of the progressive coalition, whose other members include the radical Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR),28 the progressive RAZE, the illegal immigrant-supporting Puente Movement, and the climate change firm CHISPA. 29

Arizona Wins

The Arizona Advocacy Foundation is a member of the progressive coalition Arizona Wins, which includes other left-of-center groups like the Sierra Club, the Animal Defense League, the Arizona Education Association teachers union, and the League of Women Voters. 30 Arizona Wins played a key role in fighting Republican-sponsored legislation in 2017. 31

Funding

In 2017 the Arizona Advocacy Foundation received $176,278 in grants,32 and in 2018, the organization received $146,020 in grants. 33 In 2018 the Arizona Advocacy Foundation possessed $143,444 in net assets after accounting for all expenses. 34

Organizations that have reported making grants to Arizona Advocacy Foundation include NEO Philanthropy,35 Proteus Fund,36 and the New Venture Fund,37 all left-of-center “pass through” advocacy funders.

References

  1. “Arizona Advocacy Foundation Annual Report.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, December 2017. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/arizonaadvocacynetwork/pages/67/attachments/original/1519602070/AZAN_2017_Annual_Report_Final_.pdf?1519602070.
  2. Arizona Advocacy Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part III Line 4a https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20565840/201832529349300158/IRS990
  3. “Arizona Strict Compliance Initiative Process Referendum (2018).” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Strict_Compliance_Initiative_Process_Referendum_(2018).
  4. “Arizona Advocacy Foundation Annual Report.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, December 2017. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/arizonaadvocacynetwork/pages/67/attachments/original/1519602070/AZAN_2017_Annual_Report_Final_.pdf?1519602070.

  5. Gardiner, Dustin. “Judge Voids Key Pieces of Arizona Law Gutting Campaign Finance Rules.” azcentral. The Republic | azcentral.com, December 7, 2018. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/12/06/judge-voids-key-pieces-arizona-law-gutting-campaign-finance-rules-elections-donations/2232345002/.
  6. Wercinski, Sam, Jonathan Alanis , Travis Lane, Chris Brill, and Robbie Sherwood. “Arizona Shelby Response Project: Modernizing Elections and Maximizing Voter Participation.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, March 31, 2015. https://itcaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Shelby_Report_FINAL_03.31.15.pdf.
  7. Opinion, Guest. “Report Ignores Logical Rules for Running an Election.” Arizona Capitol Times, April 10, 2015. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2015/04/09/report-ignores-logical-rules-for-running-an-election/.
  8. Wercinski, Sam, Jonathan Alanis , Travis Lane, Chris Brill, and Robbie Sherwood. “Arizona Shelby Response Project: Modernizing Elections and Maximizing Voter Participation.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, March 31, 2015. https://itcaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Shelby_Report_FINAL_03.31.15.pdf.
  9. Wercinski, Sam, Jonathan Alanis , Travis Lane, Chris Brill, and Robbie Sherwood. “Arizona Shelby Response Project: Modernizing Elections and Maximizing Voter Participation.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, March 31, 2015. https://itcaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Shelby_Report_FINAL_03.31.15.pdf.
  10. Daniel Libit, “Taking The Long View on Green,” Politico, December 7, 2009. Accessed August 2, 2017 http://www.politico.com/story/2009/12/taking-the-long-view-on-green-030276 
  11. Wercinski, Sam, Jonathan Alanis , Travis Lane, Chris Brill, and Robbie Sherwood. “Arizona Shelby Response Project: Modernizing Elections and Maximizing Voter Participation.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, March 31, 2015. https://itcaonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Shelby_Report_FINAL_03.31.15.pdf.
  12. Opinion, Guest. “Report Ignores Logical Rules for Running an Election.” Arizona Capitol Times, April 10, 2015. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2015/04/09/report-ignores-logical-rules-for-running-an-election/.
  13. “2017 LEGISLATIVE REPORT.” Accessed March 10, 2020. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/arizonaadvocacynetwork/pages/770/attachments/original/1497548640/2017_Legislative_Report.pdf?1497548640.
  14. Network, AZ Advocacy. “AZ Advocacy Network (@AZadvocacy).” Twitter. Twitter, March 4, 2020. https://twitter.com/AZadvocacy.
  15. Network, AZ Advocacy. “AZ Advocacy Network (@AZadvocacy).” Twitter. Twitter, March 4, 2020. https://twitter.com/AZadvocacy.
  16. Reporter, ADI Staff. “Thorpe Hopes To Work With Stakeholders To Protect Voters In College Communities.” Arizona Daily Independent, June 15, 2017. https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2017/06/15/thorpe-hopes-to-work-with-stakeholders-to-protect-voters-in-college-communities/.
  17. Harvard Law School. “PSVF Fellow: Joel Edman (J.D. ’13).” Harvard Law School. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://hls.harvard.edu/psvf-fellow-joel-edman-j-d-13/.

  18. HLS Immigration Project. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://clinics.law.harvard.edu/hip/.
  19. HALPER, JAMIE D. “Inside the Clinic Leading Harvard’s Response to Trump: News: The Harvard Crimson.” News | The Harvard Crimson, February 10, 2017. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/2/10/immigration-refugee-clinic-response/.
  20. “New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.” New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://www.njisj.org/.
  21. Harvard Law School. “PSVF Fellow: Joel Edman (J.D. ’13).” Harvard Law School. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://hls.harvard.edu/psvf-fellow-joel-edman-j-d-13/.
  22. Enfield, Nikki. GAINFully Employed – Democratic GAIN, January 5, 2009. https://www.democraticgain.org/blogpost/259086/GAINFully-Employed.

  23. “Program Overviews.” LeadingForChange. Accessed March 10, 2020. http://leadingforchangearizona.com/Overviews.html.
  24. Enfield, Nikki. GAINFully Employed – Democratic GAIN, January 5, 2009. https://www.democraticgain.org/blogpost/259086/GAINFully-Employed.
  25. Provine, Doris Marie. “Unequal under Law: Race in the War on Drugs.” Amazon. University of Chicago Press, 2007. https://www.amazon.com/Unequal-under-Law-Race-Drugs/dp/0226684628.
  26. “Staff.” Arizona Advocacy Network. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://www.azadvocacy.org/staff.
  27. Tigas, Mike, Sisi Wei, Ken Schwencke, Brandon Roberts, and Alec Glassford. “Arizona Advocacy Foundation Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica, May 9, 2013. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/20565840/201723009349301412/full.
  28. One Arizona Members. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://onearizona.org/member-organizations/.
  29. One Arizona Members. Accessed March 10, 2020. https://onearizona.org/member-organizations/.
  30. “Arizona Advocacy Foundation Annual Report.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, December 2017. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/arizonaadvocacynetwork/pages/67/attachments/original/1519602070/AZAN_2017_Annual_Report_Final_.pdf?1519602070.
  31. “Arizona Advocacy Foundation Annual Report.” Arizona Advocacy Foundation, December 2017. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/arizonaadvocacynetwork/pages/67/attachments/original/1519602070/AZAN_2017_Annual_Report_Final_.pdf?1519602070.
  32. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed March 3, Part I, Line 8 (Prior Year-Column).
  33. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed March 3, Part I, Line 8 (Current Year-Column).
  34. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed March 3, Part I, Line 22.
  35. NEO Philanthropy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Schedule I

    https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133191113/201812709349300201/IRS990ScheduleI

  36. Proteus Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Schedule I https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43243004/201803189349304195/IRS990ScheduleI
  37. New Venture Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Schedule I

    https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/201523209349314357/IRS990ScheduleI

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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2003

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $176,332 $92,739 $136,717 $6,495 N $176,278 $0 $54 $29,771
    2016 Dec Form 990 $120,132 $128,566 $63,189 $0 N $119,256 $0 $20 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $897,968 $726,559 $312,839 $0 N $863,151 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $769,827 $877,074 $141,431 $0 N $769,827 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $396,253 $243,057 $248,678 $0 N $396,253 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $268,184 $183,011 $95,482 $0 N $268,184 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $86,370 $120,711 $8,783 $0 N $86,370 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $432,100 $425,037 $11,540 $0 N $432,100 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2009 Dec Form 990 $83,525 $132,535 $4,477 $178 N $83,525 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2008 Dec Form 990 $188,955 $160,439 $53,487 $178 N $173,141 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Arizona Advocacy Foundation

    221 E INDIANOLA AVE ROOM 649
    PHOENIX, AZ 85012-2002