Mission Statement:
The mission of the Yuma Community Foundation is to build a legacy of community philanthropy by connecting donor interests with community needs.

Description:
The Yuma Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is an affiliate of the highly respected Arizona Community Foundation which has been in existence more than 25 years. Community Foundations are 501(c)(3) tax exempt grant making organizations. The Yuma Community Foundation, a public charity, secures endowment funds for Yuma County nonprofits that are administered by the Arizona Community Foundation. It is from these funds that many local nonprofit organizations benefit by receiving grants. Endowment funds can be established by a single donor, by non-profit organizations, business organizations, by the community, etc. Funds can be designated by the donor for the sole benefit of single or multiple nonprofit organizations or they may be advised funds, in which the donor gives advice on the issuing of the funds. The Yuma Community Fund is the Foundation's most flexible fund and allows targeting of urgent, changing community needs. Finally, funds may be Field of interest funds in which the donor establishes the fund for the purpose of benefiting an area of particular interest, such as arts and culture, youth, health, etc. Yuma Community Foundation has an annual competitive grant cycle and an annual scholarship cycle.

History:
The seeds of the Yuma Community Foundation were planted in 1993 when Yuma resident Don Soldwedel served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Community Foundation. During that period, an initiative was undertaken in Yuma to buy the historic Yuma Theatre from B.V. Sturdivant, who owned and operated the theatre for many years, along with his friend, Carolyn Kushell. The theatre was in danger of being razed, so Don and Luda Soldwedel, who were soon joined by Stephen P. Shadle and F.C. Braden, spearheaded the effort to buy it and, therefore, saved it from being destroyed. The theatre was purchased for $42,000. By this action, the Yuma Community Fund was established, but its only asset was the historic Yuma Theatre.

Shortly thereafter, F.C. Braden a purchased the historic train depot for Yuma's use as an art museum. Don Soldwedel assisted F.C. Braden in this effort. This structure, which housed the Yuma Fine Arts Association, was leased to the City of Yuma for $1.00. Incidental expenses were incurred by the art museum, and the need for a fine arts endowment became evident.

As the local Community Fund had no assets other than the theatre, an advised fund was established with the Arizona Community Foundation for the purpose of supporting fine arts in Yuma County. As patrons of fine arts contributed monies to the new advised fund and built up the endowment, small grants were made to the Yuma arts community.

William P. Gresser, who had served on the board of the Arizona Community Foundation in Phoenix, moved to Yuma in the early nineties. For a short period, he became Yuma's representative to the Arizona Community Foundation. Eventually, his seat on the ACF board was taken over by Yuma resident, Russell L. Jones.

These were exciting times at the Arizona Community Foundation because, through a generous unrestricted bequest from Florita Evans, funds became available for establishing an affiliate system throughout the state of Arizona. Mrs. Evans bequest had a profound effect on the state as the proceeds from her trust were used to grant monies to rural areas only. Until that time, there had been no real rural board development or empowerment beyond the boundaries of Phoenix. Yuma resident Denny Clark played an important role in the acceptance of the challenge grant offered by ACF.

The Arizona Community Foundation's Board of Directors announced that, thanks to the Florita Evans bequest, there would be challenge funds available to rural Arizona communities--with strings attached. It was required that advisory boards and asset development plans be developed. Yuma was chosen as one of the five areas outside Phoenix proper, to be developed as an affiliate. Susan Shadduck of ACF was given the daunting responsibility of developing the affiliate system. The Yuma Community Foundation, at that point, consisted of just Russ Jones. He met with Susan Shadduck and, with her assistance, developed an Advisory Council for the Yuma Affiliate. Serving on the original council were F.C. Braden, Russell L. Jones, Gary Oden and Stephen P. Shadle.

The Ford Foundation, shortly thereafter, created seven rural project areas around the state of Arizona, which included Yuma County, and offered challenge grants. When the Yuma Community Foundation eventually absorbed the Ford Foundation program in Yuma County, it had the effect of building capacity for the foundation. The Yuma Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation, was officially established in 1996.

Contact person: Judy Gresser, Western Regional Manager, Arizona Community Foundation, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (928) 783-3544

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Address:

P.O. Box 6835 /1405 W. 16th Street Yuma, AZ 85366

Web Site: http://www.azfoundation.org