• Home Home
• About SFAz
  • History
  • Structure
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Audit Committee
  • Partners
  • Location
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
• Grant Programs
  • 1. Grant Programs Home Page
  • 2. Funding Criteria & Proposal Review Process
  • 3. Request for Proposals (RFPs) & Application Templates Download
  • 4. Reporting Templates
  • 5. Terms & Conditions
  • 6. Return on Investment
  • :: Focus Areas Explained - ICT, SUS, BIO
  • Sustainable Mining Initiative
  • Bisgrove Scholars
• STEM Education
• News/Resources News/Resources
  • Press Releases
  • Media Coverage
  • Speeches and Columns
  • E-News Latest and Archives
  • Events and Important Dates
  • :: Economic Indicators
  • :: Scientific Indicators
  • Affiliates
• Questions
• Contact SFAz
• Employment

Structure

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is an exempt public entity under         Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.   In order for the organization to maintain its federal tax exemption status, it must engage primarily in activities that accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.

As a nonprofit organization, all of our dealings are transparent and open to the public for review.

The core operating funds for the organization derive from a commitment by the CEO Groups over a five-year period.  These groups include: Flagstaff 40, Greater Phoenix Leadership and Southern Arizona Leadership Council. 

• In 2007, SFAz's operating costs ran at 5.5% of overall budget or $2.2 M of total operating costs.  
  
• A total of $33.6 M of investment monies were committed for research and spurring innovation and those monies leveraged an additional $43.8 M in outside capital for a total of $77.4 M in Arizona investments. 
  
• Investment monies are derived from public and private monies.  In June 2006, the Arizona Governor and State Legislature appropriated $35 million dollars through the Department of Commerce and its Commerce and Economic Development Commission to invest in SFAz. This money is going toward innovation awards that represent investments in Arizona’s future. Additional philanthropic contributions are also being invested.  
  
• As stated, because of the confidence of the Arizona CEO groups and their contributions to support the growth of innovation in the state through funding SFAz's operating costs, all investment monies from public and other philanthropic sources have been used exclusively for strategic research grants.  
  
• SFAz’s investments to date have been focused on three areas of strategic importance to Arizona: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sustainable Systems (SUS) and Biomedical Research (BIO) >>.

Management Structure

SFAz is governed by a board of directors >> consisting of accomplished and respected individuals across Arizona, along with highly talented R&D world-class leaders from outside the state to ensure the perspective that is essential to compete in today’s global economy.

The board sets investment policy and performance expectations, and empowers the president and CEO to operate the foundation.  Donald Budinger >>  serves as board chair.  William Harris >> is the president and CEO.

 

Conflict of Interest Policy

Science Foundation Arizona adheres to a conflict of interest policy in engaging with other persons, organizations and institutions.  This policy follows:

It is the intent of Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) that each member of the Board of Directors, any committee, task force or advisory body, as well as all employees, consultants and volunteers (collectively referred to herein as “representatives”) understand and respect our duty to place the best interests of SFAz first in all dealings, and that they shall take no action that conflicts or could reasonably be perceived to conflict with the best interests of SFAz.

In order to effectuate these intentions, SFAz has instituted a formal Conflict of Interest policy.  

For the full Conflict of Interest Policy, Read More >> 

For a copy of SFAz's 501 (C) (3) tax exempt status,  Read More >>