About Us
Who We Are
What if student, civic and economic success were all the same conversation? That is the vision of the Arizona Business & Education Coalition and the statewide representation of school districts, higher education institutions, business and education associations, small and large corporations, philanthropic and community organizations, state government agencies, and individual community leaders who are our members and supporters.
What We Do
For more than two decades, the Arizona Business & Education Coalition has facilitated strong leader-to-leader connections to identify and address the evolving needs of both the education and business sectors. Creating opportunities to build shared awareness and understanding on topics of mutual importance has been foundational to our mission from the start and continues to be a priority today.
We carry out this important work through a variety of projects, programs, initiatives and events focused on an excellent education system as a necessity to a thriving Arizona.
How We Do It
In all our efforts, the Coalition embraces a culture of collaboration and innovation, and a determination to create a ripple effect that extends beyond individual communities and makes a meaningful and lasting difference in Arizona's educational landscape and economic future. Partnership with other organizations to advance mutual priorities is a hallmark of our work.
As a 501c3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Arizona Business & Education Coalition is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of leaders from business, education and community organizations who believe students are Arizona’s greatest assets and that education, from preschool to grade 12 and higher education, is the wisest long-term investment for our state’s civic and economic future. The organization is sustained through a combination of membership dues, grants, sustaining contributions and in-kind donations.
Our History
The greatest strides in education in Arizona have happened when leaders from the worlds of business and education come together around a shared vision and with the intent to create a bright future for students and the state. The Arizona Business & Education Coalition has been making these powerful connections since 2002.
In fact, our founding was inspired by the resolve and collaborative work led by a coalition of business and education leaders in 2000 to pass Prop. 301, a major statewide ballot initiative to provide essential funding to Arizona’s K-12 public schools. Determined to do more to build a solid future for our state, many of the leaders from that successful effort came together to form the Arizona Business & Education Coalition as a statewide nonpartisan 501c3 organization dedicated to an exemplary education system, from preschool to higher education and post-secondary training.
Since that time, the Coalition has distinguished itself for programs, projects, initiatives and educational advocacy focused on preparing our students to positively contribute to the civic and economic success of our state.