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Non-profit

Center for Arizona Policy

Website:

azpolicy.org
Location:

Phoenix, AZ
Tax ID:

86-0618922
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,883,252
Expenses: $2,716,784
Assets: $6,442,639
Type:

Policy advocacy group
Formation:

1988
President:

Peter Gentala
Budget (2023):

Revenues: $3,191,123

Expenses: $2,783,523

Assets: $6,683,146  1

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The Center for Arizona Policy is a an advocacy organization that promotes public policies that foster the foundational values of life, marriage, family, and religious freedom in Arizona. 1

The organization releases voter guides which ask Arizona political candidates their positions on numerous issues with which CAP is engaged. 2 The guides reach about one million people in print and online. 1

The organization was established in 1988, known as the Arizona Family Research Institute. 3 The first AFRI president was Trent Franks, who would later become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. 4 Len Munsil became the president of the AFRI in 1994, and the next year, the organization changed its name to the Center for Arizona Policy. 5

Background

The Center for Arizona Policy is a conservative organization that says it promotes public policy advocating for the foundational values of life, marriage and family, and religious freedom to help Arizona families thrive. The organization encourages citizen involvement to impact legislation. 1

The organization has a Christian statement of faith that also touches on public policy issues regarding the sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, and gender at birth. 6

The Center for Arizona Policy is a certified member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. 7

Opponents have described the organization as a network of churches and church-goers responding to the group’s messaging. One Arizona Democratic Party state legislator referred to the organization’s former president Cathi Herrod as a “legislative terrorist.” 4

Funding

The National Christian Charitable Foundation contributed $222,000 to the Center for Arizona Policy in 2023. 1

The Immanuel Charitable Foundation contributed $150,000 to the Center for Arizona Policy in 2023. 1

The Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund processed $52,200 in contributions to the Center for Arizona Policy in 2023. 1

Issue Advocacy

The organization asks lawmakers to answer questions concerning the issues it champions and publishes the replies. It also rates legislators by their votes on the center-backed bills in voter guides distributed online, by mail, and in churches. 4 The voter guides ask candidates their positions on numerous issues with which CAP is engaged, including abortion, LGBT matters, and religious displays on government property. 2 The guides reach about one million people through printed guides and the CAP website. 1

The organization also has “action alerts” sent to lawmakers and its supporters during the legislative session. 2

The center says it advocated for 11 measures that passed the Arizona state legislature in 2022. It says it has successfully pushed about 200 measures since 1996 and specifically pushed 71 pro-life measures through the legislature since 1996. 8

The center has a get-out-the-vote effort, and reportedly makes about 100,000 calls reminding evangelical voters to cast ballots. 4

CAP supported regulations on strip clubs, restrictions on adult businesses, and has opposed gambling including the lottery. 4

The group was successful in passing covenant marriages in Arizona, which are marriages more difficult to get out of than ordinary marriages. The group has also advocated for school choice initiatives. 4

The center successfully backed a partial-birth abortion ban that was upheld by the courts, a 24-hour wait for abortion, a mandatory ultrasound, and a law preventing all non-doctors from performing abortions. 4

The center was among litigants that sued opposing the Voters Right to Know law approved in 2022 that required nonprofits to disclose donors. The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the law in November 2024. 9

The center teamed with the Goldwater Institute to spearhead the educations savings account programs to expand school choice in Arizona. 10

In 2014, the center supported a religious freedom bill that passed the legislature, but then-Gov. Jan Brewer (R) vetoed it, expressing concerns about discrimination. 2

In 2012, Planned Parenthood of Arizona attacked the center in fundraising emails, claiming it was an “extreme” organization, but adding, “The conservative religious political group, the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), just experienced its most successful legislative session ever. …  We need your help to stop CAP’s assault.” 11

The Center for Arizona Policy Action, the 501(c)(4) advocacy arm of the organization, affirms that its endorsements of political candidates are based on factors including the voter guide answers, voting records, bill sponsorship, electability, and political dynamics. 12

History

The organization was founded as the Arizona Family Research Institute in 1988. It gained tax exempt status in 1989. 3

The Arizona Family Research Institute was aligned with Focus on the Family, then led by Dr. James Dobson. The first AFRI President was Trent Franks, a former Republican state legislator who would later become a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. 4

In 1992, the Arizona Family Research Institute helped place a proposed pro-life amendment to the state constitution on the ballot that would prohibit abortions except for rape, incest, or a threat to the mother’s life. The proposal was defeated. 4

Len Munsil became the president of the AFRI in 1994. The organization changed its name to the Center for Arizona Policy in 1995. It was primarily operated by Munsil’s family and others helping on a volunteer basis. 5

The organization was supported by several instrumental families, the Blanks, the Meeks, and the Rodens. 5

Len Munsil led the center from 1994 to 2006, when he stepped aside to run for Arizona governor as the Republican nominee. He lost to incumbent Gov. Janet Napolitano (D). After that, Munsil became president of Arizona Christian University in Phoenix. 4

The Center for Arizona Policy drafted and lobbied for four new bills in the Arizona legislature in 1996, and all four passed. 5

Cathi Herrod joined the center in 1997 as the legislative counsel, and became president eight years later. 5

The organization says to prevent the threat of “cancel culture,” it bought a home to be the headquarters of the center’s board of directors, as well as Center for Arizona Policy Action, the Arizona Christian Education Network, and Arizona Capitol Project. 13

Leadership

Peter Gentala is the president of Center for Arizona Policy. He previously worked for Alliance Defending Freedom. He has argued two constitutional law cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was previously general counsel of the Arizona House of Representatives. As a legislative staffer, he wrote proposed and enacted legislation, including state constitutional provisions. He previously worked for the center from 2004 to 2008 under prior presidents Len Munsil and Cathi Herrod. From 2015 to 2020, he was general counsel and vice president of government affairs and public policy at Childhelp, a nonprofit focused on the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. 14

Allison MacMurtrie is the chief of staff for the Center for Arizona Policy. She joined the organization in 2013. Previously, she worked in the private sector for more than 20 years in the areas of operations, human resources, accounting, and marketing. 14

Greg Fraley is the chair of the board of directors for the Center for Arizona Policy. 15

Tanya Mihailov is the vice chair for the board. 15

Roslyn Holemon is the treasurer for the board. 15

Other board members are Gina Fraley,  Lance Holemon, Judy Huber, Carol Lambert

Dave Lambert, Wayne Mihailov, and John Rang. 15

References

  1. “Center for Arizona Policy.” Cause IQ. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/center-for-arizona-policy,860618922/
  2. Fischer, Howard. “Cathi Herrod at helm of conservative Center for Arizona Policy, guiding lawmakers.” Arizona Daily Sun. March 2, 2014. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://azdailysun.com/news/local/state-and-regional/cathi-herrod-at-helm-of-conservative-center-for-arizona-policy-guiding-lawmakers/article_fabe26a2-a1ba-11e3-9a43-0019bb2963f4.html
  3. “Center for Arizona Policy.” Ministry Watch. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://db.ministrywatch.com/ministry.php?ein=860618922
  4.  Lemons, Stephen. “Cathi Herrod’s Center for Arizona Policy Hates Gays, Abortions, and Likes to Tell Politicians What.” Phoenix New Times. April 3, 2014. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/cathi-herrods-center-for-arizona-policy-hates-gays-abortions-and-likes-to-tell-politicians-what-to-do-6461899
  5.  “Our Story.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/our-story/
  6. “Statement of Faith.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/about/statement-of-faith/
  7.  “Financial Reports.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/about/financials/
  8. “Mission.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/#mission
  9. MacDonald-Evoy, Jerod. “Court of Appeals: Arizona’s law requiring disclosure of ‘dark money’ is constitutional.” Arizona Mirror. November 8, 2024. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110824_az_dark_money/court-appeals-arizonas-law-requiring-disclosure-dark-money-constitutional/
  10. Lauterbach, Cole. “School choice veto likely falls short following misrepresented signature count.” The Center Square. September 26, 2022. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.thecentersquare.com/arizona/article_fe6c43b0-3dc9-11ed-9d7a-c3d43a177e84.html
  11. Kaufman, Matt. “Raising Arizona From the ashes of defeat, Arizona activists have risen to transform their state into a pro-family stronghold.” Focus on the Family. May 2012. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://media.focusonthefamily.com/fotf/pdf/channels/social-issues/raising-arizona-citizen.pdf
  12. Press Release. “Center for Arizona Policy Action Endorses Mark Finchem.” Vote Finchem. September 21, 2024. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://votefinchem.com/center-for-arizona-policy-action-endorses-mark-finchem/
  13. “ Our Story.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/our-story/
  14. “Leadership Team.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/about/leadership-team/
  15. “Board Members.” Center for Arizona Policy. Accessed February 7, 2025. https://www.azpolicy.org/about/board-members/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: April 1, 1989

    • 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
    2022 Dec Form 990 $2,883,252 $2,716,784 $6,442,639 $2,207,641 Y $3,180,352 $0 $2,690 $383,649
    2021 Dec Form 990 $4,029,297 $2,221,856 $6,245,952 $2,177,422 Y $4,073,389 $4,450 $4,392 $322,195 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $3,525,573 $2,342,770 $2,327,762 $66,673 N $3,519,010 $4,450 $2,522 $322,108
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,308,608 $1,948,938 $1,159,836 $81,550 N $2,202,949 $103,088 $2,571 $349,586 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,847,869 $1,779,216 $864,800 $146,183 Y $1,824,932 $22,752 $520 $333,376 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,759,706 $1,610,857 $812,043 $162,079 N $1,781,070 $2,374 $330 $327,933 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,832,352 $1,965,515 $553,912 $52,797 N $1,846,109 $8,952 $594 $326,219 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,917,966 $1,974,673 $678,491 $44,213 N $1,911,951 $12,029 $467 $291,080 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,075,395 $2,200,714 $767,470 $76,485 N $2,082,298 $9,021 $752 $277,706 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,100,209 $1,893,714 $900,540 $84,236 N $2,100,989 $5,909 $828 $295,161 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,851,916 $2,123,547 $726,038 $116,229 N $1,834,285 $20,282 $3,023 $320,233 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,676,917 $1,647,300 $983,647 $102,207 N $1,662,355 $16,224 $4,257 $296,394 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Center for Arizona Policy


    Phoenix, AZ