The Vision of Impact: Adam Lopez Falk and the Future of Arizona’s Communities
Republished with permission, original article published in Spanish by Newsweek en Español América.
Adam Lopez Falk stands at the intersection of community, philanthropy, and legacy. As the Senior Community Impact Officer for Discretionary Grantmaking at the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), Lopez Falk views philanthropy as far more than just donations. For him, it’s about generosity rooted in culture and history, particularly within Arizona’s fast-growing Latino population. With decades of experience advocating for the Latino community, his leadership blends a background in professional development, a deep understanding of local needs, and a passion for driving Arizona’s future forward.
Established in the mid-1970s by individuals who found success in their own lives, the Arizona Community Foundation is a key player in the state’s philanthropic ecosystem. “They wanted to figure out how to make a bigger impact,” he explains about the founders’ vision, “and a collective impact on a rapidly growing Arizona.” For Lopez Falk, the foundation’s goals remain aligned with that original mission, though today the vision is much more nuanced, as it accounts for an increasingly diverse population.
His role at ACF places him in charge of Discretionary Grantmaking, allowing Lopez Falk and his team to distribute resources where they are most needed. This means that everyday he is tasked with determining how to effectively invest in Arizona’s future. “We strategically try to deploy our funds into communities, places and opportunities that are really meaningful to what the future of Arizona needs,” he shares. It’s not a small task, but for Lopez Falk, the work is personal. “I come from a background working primarily with Latino communities,” he says, noting that before joining ACF, he served as Director of Leadership and New Donor Acquisition for Valle del Sol, a Phoenix-based community health center, where he oversaw the operations of the Hispanic Leadership Institute, Arizona’s largest Latino-focused leadership development program. This experience informs how he now navigates the state’s evolving philanthropic landscape.
Central to Adam’s vision is recognizing the power and potential of Arizona’s Latino community. “We decided that under the leadership of our CEO, Ana Maria Chavez, we needed to look at the philanthropic opportunities within the Latino community as a serious channel for growth and expansion,” he explains. Chavez, herself an Arizona-born leader, has made it a priority to expand ACF’s outreach to the state’s growing Latino population, which is younger and increasingly influential. Lopez Falk points out that the average age in Arizona’s Latino community is 27 or 28, with many families focusing on issues like education, healthcare, and basic needs.
This younger demographic, according to Lopez Falk, represents not just the future of the state but a shift in leadership. “It’s also people who are developing as the young leaders across our state—people that are starting to lead non-profits, starting to be corporate leaders, starting to be elected leaders.” For ACF, engaging with these emerging leaders and fostering the community’s generosity is key to creating long-term impact. And Latino generosity, Lopez Falk explains, often looks different from traditional philanthropic models. “Our families are very generous. It’s not through typical traditional philanthropy, but it’s through the work that we do to take care of our families, our neighbors, our communities,” he says. And we just saw that as an opportunity for us as a traditional philanthropic organization to take a new direction.”
That unique approach to giving has shaped ACF’s strategy in recent years. Latino philanthropy, as Lopez Falk describes it, often revolves around grassroots efforts. “It’s hosting a car wash to raise money for a club baseball team or to help with funeral expenses. It’s gathering at someone’s home, selling plates of food to help pay for medical treatment. It’s the collection plate at church.” This approach sets ACF apart from the more formalized structures that traditionally define charitable giving, an important distinction as ACF broadens its definition of philanthropy to encompass the deep-rooted generosity within Latino communities. “We shouldn’t call it philanthropy. It’s truly generosity because it’s driven by our values, our traditions, our culture,” Lopez Falk explains.
As Latino-led cities become increasingly prominent across Arizona, with Phoenix now a majority-Hispanic city, ACF is shaping its approach to better reflect the communities it serves. “We saw an opportunity to harness that power and celebrate it,” Lopez Falk explains. ACF’s current strategic plan, developed through conversations with Latino leaders across the state, focuses on three main areas: education, the environment, and housing. “Latino issues are Arizona issues,” he emphasizes.
Education, in particular, is a priority for ACF. “The big initiative right now is childcare and early education,” he shares. In Arizona, private prisons use third-grade reading proficiency rates to forecast future incarceration projections—an alarming practice that highlights the urgent need for early education intervention. “We’re still building prisons, and these companies are continuing to expand. We need to stop that. We have to take this issue seriously, and it starts as early as possible—by creating better access to childcare,” Lopez Falk emphasizes. “It means investing in more opportunities for families to access subsidized or reduced-rate childcare, so parents can continue to work if they choose, or ensuring a level playing field in education for all students, whether in rural or urban areas. We want to invest in solutions and create more opportunities for everyone,” he says.
Looking ahead, Lopez Falk points to the approaching demographic shift as a key motivator. “By 2030, the census will likely show that Latinos will be the largest minority in Arizona, making the state a majority-minority. We know these changes are coming, and addressing childcare and early education now is an investment in Arizona’s future—one that will benefit everyone, whether they’re Latino or not.”
Housing is another pressing issue, as homelessness continues to rise, especially in Arizona’s larger cities. Lopez Falk sees ACF’s role as vital in addressing the housing crisis through transitional housing projects and first-time homeownership programs. The goal is not just to provide housing but to educate and empower families to achieve financial stability. And beyond housing, the environmental impact of Arizona’s rapid growth has not gone unnoticed. “Water is a major concern,” he says, but in urban areas, the focus is also on mitigating the heat island effect, where densely populated areas face extreme heat, exacerbated by a lack of shade and green spaces.
What stands out in Lopez Falk’s approach is his commitment to inclusivity and collaboration, even in the face of Arizona’s often politically charged landscape. ACF works across divisions, inviting allies from all communities to join the table and work toward shared goals. “We know that Latinos are not a monolith,” Lopez Falk acknowledges. But whether it’s about improving education, providing quality healthcare, or meeting basic needs, he believes these are causes that can unite everyone in Arizona.
At the heart of Adam’s dedication to ACF’s mission is his personal connection to Arizona. A fifth-generation Arizonan, he feels a deep responsibility to leave the state better for future generations. “For me, it’s how do I make Arizona better for my daughters?” he asks. It’s this drive to build a more inclusive and equitable future that fuels his work every day. “As our Latino community continues to grow, as our Latino community takes the mantle of leadership in all these different industries, how can we make sure we lead Arizona in a more inclusive way?” Lopez Falk’s vision is clear: a future where Arizona is for everyone, lifted up by the generosity of its people.