AZURA INC

Programs

1. Azura, like its organizational forerunner Mesa United Way, believes that poverty is the root cause of almost every social problem in our world and therefore exists to eliminate this blight. The commitment to this mission is evident as Azura continues to look for new and better ways of addressing the root causes of poverty across the state of Arizona. Azura Solutions partners with developing nonprofits to provide a variety of services that help them thrive and are effective in our communities. From coaching to logistical support to accounting to fiscal agency, Azura is proud to be empowering the next generation of nonprofits. Were driven to address the root causes of poverty. We do this with accountability and transparency, with innovative ideas, showing dignity and respect to everyone in our orbit, through collaboration, and with a forceful grit.

   $495,209 spentof which $35,013 as grants$350,000 earned by the program
   46% of program spending

2. Azura VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program supports the organizations mission to alleviate poverty by providing free, high-quality tax preparation services to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and individuals with limited English proficiency. Services are delivered by IRS-certified volunteers and are designed to ensure accurate tax filings and access to all eligible tax credits. To increase accessibility, VITA operates at multiple community sites with extended hours during peak season. This last tax year, the VITA program and its volunteers contributed 9799 hours, serving 5,490 clients, to ensure timely and accurate assistance throughout the filing season, returning more than $6 million in refunds. But VITA isnt simply about tax refunds. Our impact also reached an additional 1669 individuals who are gaining access to vital financial resources and services they might otherwise miss. In collaboration with partners like the YWCA and local financial institutions, our program offers financial empowerment courses that equip clients with foundational knowledge that supports long-term financial well-being. With monthly…

   $265,856 spent
   24% of program spending

3. Azura Veterans Coalition-By helping veterans access transportation, employment training, mental health counseling, housing assistance, support groups, and more, Azura Vets is serving those who have served. Using a trauma-informed, comprehensive case-management approach, Azura Vets empowers veterans and their families to achieve success, stability, and fulfillment beyond their military careers. This last year, the program served more than 600 veterans and the program will be officially launched into independence in the coming fiscal year.

   $169,942 spent
   16% of program spending

4. Azura Literacy strives to prevent poverty through literacy. Arizona ranks 47th in the nation for education and 74% of the states Fourth Graders are not proficient in reading, disproportionately affecting students in foster care and in low-income homes. Students who are not reading proficiently by the 4th grade are 4 times less likely to graduate from high school, putting them at higher risk for poverty, poor health, and incarceration. Children struggling with reading need one-on-one support to help them succeed. By partnering with community volunteers, university internships, and work-study programs, as well as ASUs America Reads Program, we can provide free, high-impact, one-on-one tutoring in reading, utilizing a virtual platform to elementary students in low-income and foster families throughout the state of Arizona. Evidence-based assessments and strategies are used to provide personalized, human-centered, engaging tutoring sessions, helping each student become a confident, successful reader. Our innovative virtual model removes the transportation and schedule barriers that many students in low-income and foster families face, providing quality support to students at home…

   $154,438 spent
   14% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $1,085,445.