The Arizona Site Steward Program Foundation is dedicated to protecting the stories and places that make Arizona’s heritage unique. Through public education, community support, and strong partnerships, we champion the incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to keep our heritage sites safe and enduring.
Established in 1986 by Arizona Governor Babbitt, the Program in partnership with the Site Steward Program Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is having to prepare for some financial unpredictability. The Foundation’s mission is to collaborate with the Program, providing financial support for advanced volunteer development.
The Foundation sustains Arizona’s Site Steward Program through community outreach and sponsorships, promotes public education about cultural-resource and heritage protection, and works with partner organizations and Arizona’s legislature to strengthen long-term support for site stewardship.
The Foundation consists of a balanced board of archaeologists, site stewards, regional coordinators, land managers, and Tribal colleagues. Arizona cultural preservation organizations are warning that the delayed release of congressionally appropriated Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) funds, combined with proposed federal budget cuts, are creating a funding crisis and risk to the Program’s long-term viability.
By building sponsorships with like-minded organizations, engaging in community outreach, and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with lawmakers and the public, the Foundation works to strengthen the Program’s long-term sustainability amid changing government funding.
Meet the Foundation’s Board →Now in its eighth year, Arizona Project Archaeology is an award-winning statewide program recognized by the Arizona Department of Education as a trusted curriculum resource. Through educator workshops, teacher conferences, and hands-on materials — including the Olas Kii Pithouse Investigation — the program reaches K–12 classrooms across the state.
The Foundation is proud to partner with the national Project Archaeology program to deliver high-quality, place-based cultural education statewide.
Explore Arizona Project Archaeology →Across Arizona, people use public lands to hike, camp, explore, learn, and spend time together. These deserts, mountains, trails, and rivers are part of what makes Arizona feel like home. They tell the stories of the people who came before us, protect the unique ecosystems, and create experiences that people return to year after year.
The Arizona Site Steward Program helps protect these places by serving as eyes and ears on public lands. Program volunteers monitor sites, report damage, and help to preserve the irreplaceable history and landscapes that make Arizona special. The Program coordinates site stewardship. The Foundation helps provide funding, resources, and educational support that strengthen that work.
Protecting these places is a shared responsibility. Supporting this work helps ensure they remain accessible, cared for, and meaningful for generations to come.
Learn About the Site Steward Program →Tell us how you’d like to help sustain the Arizona Site Steward Program.
Whether you give your time, your resources, or both — you are helping ensure Arizona’s archaeological heritage survives for future generations.
Your gift helps sustain the Foundation’s work in community outreach, education, and support for Arizona’s Site Steward Program.
Make a DonationPartner with the Foundation to support cultural-resource education and the long-term sustainability of Arizona’s Site Steward Program.
Explore SponsorshipContribute your skills in community outreach, grant writing, education, or board service to help advance the Foundation’s mission.
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