In 2024, Vitalyst continued its commitment to enhancing civic health by emphasizing the critical link between civic participation and overall health through a variety of initiatives:

We deepened our relationships with key partners to strengthen civic health in Arizona. We continued our collaboration with One Arizona, Instituto, and the Arizona Democracy Alliance, focusing on building and sustaining infrastructure to enhance civic engagement across the state. Additionally, we supported key civic health and capacity-building efforts through partnerships with Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE), WingBeat88, and The Bambi Fund, which are instrumental in fostering community involvement and resilience.

Our dedication to promoting civic health was further demonstrated by hosting several high-profile events. We helped to organize the Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) national member meeting in Phoenix, and alongside local partners, we participated as panelists at the Faith & Democracy Summit. Additionally, we hosted the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) national conference in Phoenix. Vitalyst’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, David Martinez III, was a panelist discussing “Building Community Power through Data Equity & the Census in the Southwest & Beyond.”

We published two impactful Spark Reports: “Strengthening Civic Health in Arizona” and “Why Primaries Matter & What To Do About It,” which provided valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing civic participation. Furthermore, we supported the 2024 Arizona Town Hall on voting and elections, contributing a chapter to the accompanying background report to guide discussions and strategies.

The launch of the National Trust for Civic Life further solidified our commitment to national civic engagement efforts. As a board member of this national pooled fund, Vitalyst supported civic hubs in rural, borderland, and tribal communities, underscoring our dedication to strengthening civic health and participation at both the state and national levels.