The purpose of the Flinn Foundation Educational Conference Center is to advance the Foundation’s mission and support its focused work in four areas of philanthropic interest: arts and culture, the biosciences, civic leadership, and education (the Flinn Scholars).
The Center features two fully equipped meeting rooms available at no cost to qualified nonprofit member organizations closely aligned with these areas of interest, based on availability, appropriateness of intended use, and upon approval of an online booking request.
Available meeting room configurations are displayed further down on this page.
Please review the Center’s Terms of Use and the following information before planning a meeting at the Center. Each topic below expands to provide additional information.
- Appropriate Uses
Typical uses of the Center include planning and training retreats for board and staff; workshops; and joint planning or collaborative efforts among tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. The Center may also provide a neutral environment for nonpartisan discussion and presentation of policymaking options. The facility is also used for lectures, panel presentations, and classroom-style educational workshops.
Inappropriate uses:
- Fundraising events or events where products are auctioned.
- Sessions designed to promote or oppose a partisan purpose, specific pending legislative or ballot action, or political campaign.
- Meetings where the public is invited to attend without prior notification/RSVP to the booking organization.
- Personal or family events, such as weddings, anniversaries, or memorials.
- Building Entry
Meetings may begin no earlier than 9:00 a.m. Monday-Friday and must end by 4:00 p.m. Access to the Center is available starting at 8:30 a.m. The building’s west lobby doors always remain locked; please advise meeting participants to use only the main (south) lobby doors to enter and exit the building.
- Parking
Limited onsite parking is available in the Center’s visitor parking lot, located on the east side of the building. Carpooling and/or use of public transportation is encouraged. (Central & McDowell is the closest light-rail station to the Center.) Overflow parking may be available for a fee at the BMO parking garage directly north of the Flinn Foundation; fees are the responsibility of meeting participants, as the Center does not validate parking.
- Food Service
- Food and beverage services must be secured and paid by the booking organization through a Center-approved caterer.
- A representative from the booking organization must be onsite to meet the caterer.
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted for use or distribution.
- No home-cooked or unpackaged food may be served. Attendees may bring their own brown-bag lunches, but no kitchen facilities, microwave, or refrigerator are available.
- Purchased, pre-packaged food and beverage in original sealed containers are acceptable in lieu of contracting with a caterer.
- As a Certified Arizona Green Business, the Foundation is committed to sustainable practices.
- We encourage Center guests to bring refillable containers and use our filtered water station.
- Preferred caterers provide compostable and recyclable supplies when possible.
- Please asks guests to deposit trash, recycling, and compostable materials into appropriate bins.
- Audiovisual Equipment
- Audiovisual equipment is available for use and should be requested through the online booking process.
- The meeting facilitator or other appropriate person should arrive at least 15 minutes early to familiarize themselves with equipment.
- Any videoconferencing platforms (Zoom, Teams, etc.) must be arranged through the booking organization’s own accounts.
- Conference Room Considerations
- Items may not be attached to the walls, floor, windows, ceiling, or other surfaces with nails, staples, or other substances.
- Meeting rooms will be set according to the standard room configurations (see bottom of this page), and tables may not be moved. Contact Center staff for assistance with any set-up questions.
- Lobby Areas
Because the Center building is primarily used for routine Flinn Foundation office business, please:
- Be considerate and minimize gatherings and cellphone use in the lobby.
- Keep food and beverages in the meeting room.
- Do not use the lobby areas for food breaks or group meetings.
- Do not move or rearrange lobby or patio furniture or furnishings.
- Close meeting-room doors during meetings. This will facilitate a more consistent room temperature and provide a barrier for sound.
- No Smoking
The Center is a non-smoking property. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the building, on the patios, or near any of the building entrances. Please remind meeting participants of this before your meeting starts.
- Media and Promotional Material
- Promotional material about a meeting at the Center, including news releases and media advisories, must be shared with Center staff before being issued.
- The Foundation reserves the right to edit materials describing or defining the Foundation, its programs, and Center facilities.
- Groups that want to conduct a press conference at the Center must request approval during the booking process.
- If live-remote coverage is expected, advance notice is required.
- Foundation and Center staff are not available for media interviews unless prearranged.
- Signage may be displayed on the room’s assigned registration table or inside the assigned meeting room only.
- Miscellaneous Reminders
- Bring all items for your meeting (e.g., nametags, copies of handouts, notepads, pens, computer adapters, etc.). Copy services and office supplies are not available.
- The Center prohibits the possession or carrying of any weapons and/or firearms within the Center’s facilities or on the Foundation’s property generally pursuant to A.R.S. § 4-229. Only on-duty law enforcement personnel with jurisdiction and who are expressly authorized to carry weapons may do so while on Foundation property.
- Solicitation, including the distribution and/or posting of handbills, leaflets, circulars, advertising, posters, or other printed materials for the promotion, or transfer of products, services, or memberships, is prohibited.
- Service animals are welcome within the Center, but no other animals are permitted.
- Meeting rooms are used regularly by many nonprofit organizations. Please respect the times approved for your meeting and ensure participants depart at the scheduled end time.
- Make sure all compostables, recyclables, and trash are discarded in the appropriate bins, and that audiovisual equipment and supplies are returned in good working order.
- Contact the front desk with any needs or questions.
