TigerMountain Foundation (TAPAZ)

TigerMountain Foundation: Growing People, Growing Communities

TigerMountain Foundation (TMF) transforms lives from the ground up. Through community gardens, workforce development, and the arts, we empower people to build healthier, safer, and more resilient neighborhoods. We don’t give handouts—we cultivate hand ups through our multicultural, intergenerational Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model.

In South Phoenix—where high recidivism, food insecurity, and limited economic opportunity restrict growth—TMF creates real pathways to stability and success. Our gardens and job-training programs become classrooms where participants gain life skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

What We Teach

• Growing fresh, chemical-free vegetables

• Practicing good nutrition and healthy habits

• Workforce development and paid on-the-job training

• Teamwork across diverse ages, cultures, and backgrounds

• Community involvement and service

These pillars address the root causes of community challenges while building pride, purpose, and progress.

Our Values: T.I.G.E.R.

• Tenacity: Change your own condition

• Integrity: Live authentically and honestly

• Greatness: Dare to be bold and proud

• Empowerment: Own your choices and outcomes

• Resiliency: Never give up

Community Gardening: The Heart of TMF

Our two community gardens in South Phoenix bring together people of all races, religions, and economic backgrounds. But they’re more than gardens—they’re outdoor learning labs.

At our gardens:

• Residents grow and harvest produce for their families

• Youth, troubled teens, and adults earn paid jobs maintaining the gardens

• TMF produce is sold at farmers markets, reinvesting all proceeds back into the community

• We host vibrant events featuring gardening demos, live music, and visual & performing arts

Landscaping Workforce Development

Participants develop real, marketable skills through paid landscaping work that benefits local residents and businesses. Every dollar earned goes directly back into community programs.

Services include:

• Property clean-ups

• Irrigation installation and repair

• Landscape design and installation

• Monthly maintenance

Join Us in Growing Something Great

There are many meaningful ways to plug into TMF—volunteering in the gardens, helping at farmers markets, or supporting us financially.

TigerMountain Foundation is a Qualifying Charitable Organization for the Arizona Tax Credit. Your donation may be eligible for a full credit of up to $495 (single/head of household) or $987 (married filing jointly).

Together, we can cultivate healthy food, strong skills, and thriving communities—one garden at a time.

Testimonials

Love your organization, you guys rock!! -Colby Jeffers

I love tiger mountain foundation they are awesome -Tanisha N Demiseo

I absolutely admire what this program does for the community. The information that is tough hear about natural ways of growing food and knowledge. Thank you. -Orisha Easley
These guys do great things in the community. Love the energy the people and the kids. -Nika Forte Sesay

Amazing community garden. My volunteer experience has been phenomenal, meeting Darren and Michael help at risks youth and the community is very inspiring. A great place to get to know friendly people, while helping society. -Nesha

My son chose Tiger Mountain Foundation for a volunteer project for school. He completed his hours and continues to ask to volunteer. Darren Chapman, founder of Tiger Mountain Foundation approaches this garden with a contagious enthusiasm, and an optimistic outlook for South Phoenix that anyone who shows up can see, he is not planting a garden but building a community! -Glen Appell

Tiger Mountain folks - a crew of five - did the maintenance on our Phoenix Quaker Meeting "xeriscape" 1 1/2 acres. They worked consistently and with knowledge of what they had to do. Got the job done. Quality work. I highly recommend the Tiger Mountain Yard Maintenance team!! -Nancy Marshall