Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund is the policy research arm of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG). ¹ It is the Arizona affiliate of the left-of-center advocacy group U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (US-PIRG Education Fund). ²

Background

The Arizona PIRG Education Fund was formed in 2006. ³ It is the policy research arm of the left-leaning advocacy groups Arizona PIRG. ⁴ It is the Arizona state affiliate of the US-PIRG Education Fund, a left-of-center federation of organizations founded by activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader. ⁵

Reports and Blogs

Arizona PIRG Education Fund produces reports and blogs relating to advocacy areas addressed by the Arizona PIRG. ⁶ An April 2021 report published by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund entitled “21st Century Transportation for Arizona,” promotes policies that would reduce opportunities for personal motor vehicle transportation and direct travelers to walking, bicycling, and public transit. ⁷

Funding

In the 2019 fiscal year, Arizona PIRG Education Fund reported $117,705 in revenue, identified as contributions, grants and gifts. ⁸

People

Carl Perry is president of Arizona PIRG Education Fund. ⁹

Ed Mierzwinski is vice president of Arizona PIRG Education Fund. ¹⁰ He is also a senior director at US-PIRG. He was previously the executive drector of the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group Citizen Lobby. ¹¹

Diane Brown is executive director of Arizona PIRG Education Fund and the group’s only paid staffer. ¹² She is also executive director of the Arizona PIRG. ¹³ She was previously executive director of the Illinois State Public Interest Research Group. ¹⁴

1. “About – Our Affiliates.” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/about-us
2. “About – Federation.” US PIRG Education Fund. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://uspirgedfund.org/page/usf/about-uspirg-education-fund
3. Arizona PIRG Education Fund Inc. Guidestar. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/35-2259362
4. “About – Our Affiliates.” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/about-us
5. “Action for a Change. A Student’s Manual for Public Interest Organizing.” ERIC Institution of Education Sciences. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED061057
6. “Reports” Arizona PIRG Education Fund. Accessed June 21, 2021. https://arizonapirgedfund.org/reports
7. “Transform Transportation.” Arizona PIRG Education Fund. Accessed June 21, 2021. https://arizonapirgedfund.org/reports/azf/transform-transportation
8. Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Guidestar. Accessed 5/30/2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/35-2259362
9. Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017.
10. Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017.
11. “Ed Mierzwinski” LinkedIn. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-mierzwinski-0a100311/
12. Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017.
13. “Operations.” Arizona Public Interest Research Group. Guidestar. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/05-0617269
14. “About – Our Staff – Diane Brown.” Arizona PIRG Education Fund. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://arizonapirgedfund.org/staff/azf/diane-brown