Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG) is a left-of-center advocacy organization that advocates restrictions on the use of plastic products and personal transportation options. ^{1 2}

Arizona Public Interest Research Group is the advocacy arm of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. ⁴ It is also affiliated with the Public Interest Network (PIN). ⁵

Advocacy

Arizona Public Interest Research Group advocates the banning of polystyrene foam, straws, and plastic bags for environmentalist reasons. ⁶ It also advocates for restricting private motor vehicle transportation options, with a goal of doubling the number of people who travel by public transit, bicycle, or foot by 2030. ⁷

Funding

In the 2018 fiscal year, Arizona Public Interest Research Group reported $267,485 in revenue, identified as contributions, grants and gifts. ⁸ More than 90 percent, or $240,000, came from a grant from Fund for the Public Interest, a left-wing 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that runs campaigns for the network of PIRG organizations that are affiliated with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) and Public Interest Network. ^{9 10}

People

Joe Rupp is president of Arizona Public Interest Research Group. He is also national lab director at the Fund for the Public Interest. ¹¹

Adam Rivera is vice president of Arizona PIRG, and is also a senior writer for the Public Interest Network. ¹²

Diane Brown is treasurer of Arizona PIRG and the group’s executive director.  She was previously the executive director of the Illinois State Public Interest Research Group. ^{13 14}

1. “Beyond Plastic.” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/beyond-plastic
2. “Transform Transportation” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/transform-transportation
4.  It is the Arizona affiliate of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG), which was founded by activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader. ³ “About – Our Network.” U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Accessed June 17, 2021.  https://uspirg.org/feature/usp/about-us
5. “About Us – Nationwide Reach.” The Public Interest Network. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://publicinterestnetwork.org/about.html
6. “Beyond Plastic.” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/beyond-plastic
7. “Transform Transportation.” Arizona PIRG. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://arizonapirg.org/feature/azp/transform-transportation
8. Arizona Public Interest Research Group Inc. Guidestar. Accessed May 28, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/05-0617269
9. Fund for the Public Interest Inc., Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42762647/201931359349308843/IRS990ScheduleI
10. “About.” Fund for the Public Interest. Accessed June 10, 2021.  https://fundforthepublicinterest.org/about.html
11. “Joe Rupp.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-rupp-695186149/
12. “Adam Rivera.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 16, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-rivera-3806231a8/
13. “About – Our Staff – Diane Brown.” Accessed 6/16/21. https://arizonapirg.org/staff/usp/diane-brown
14. Arizona PIRG, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/50617269