Thank you to our very generous Anonymous Angel donor. ❤️
Anonymous Angel will match your contribution! We'll show the matching contribution before you pay.
I’m Darren Chapman. I'm the Founder and CEO of Tiger Mountain Foundation (TMF). My story started in my Grandmama's backyard in South Central Los Angeles.
I was born in General Hospital in Los Angeles. My mother was very sick when I was born so my Grandparents brought me home to Vermont and Jefferson in South Central LA. What I remember most from my childhood was the fruit (plums and peaches) and berries, greens and carrots from my Grandparents backyard and home garden.
This very same neighborhood that once gave the children of former slaves the promise of home ownership. a garden and the American Dream would now also be plagued with the rise of gangs, drugs and environmental and economic hurdles.
I bumped my head growing up and straddled both sides of the fence before devoting myself to true change in my community. TigerMountain Foundation was a huge part of me getting more connectivity to resolving my community's issues and giving myself a constant reminder that we can be the change that we want to see.
Today, I consider myself so blessed because I've worked with some of the most amazing people who have been attracted to the Big US being the change. Thousands of people have been positively impacted and we have vision and plans to continue to sustain this work. This is literally the very most important juncture of our existence... The Bridge. Please help us to get through these 4 to 6 months so that we can forge another 20+ years of this work.
This isn’t just my story. It’s Our proud servitude and his story.
Campaign Summary
At TigerMountain Foundation, we’ve spent years transforming over 200 vacant spaces into community gardens. These gardens have become more than spaces for growing food, they’ve become powerful platforms for education, employment, community healing, and purpose.
Now, our work is evolving—and expanding.
We are launching a new chapter that includes:
- A national Urban Ag & STEAAM Initiative connecting cities through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, and Math.
- A bridge campaign to fund the team and initiatives that drive our mission daily.
To make this vision real, we need our greatest resource and that’s YOU.
That includes volunteers,
partners, and peer supporters who believe in sustainable,
people-powered change
Our Origin StoryIn one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Phoenix, TigerMountain Foundation began with a question: What happens when people grow their own food, and their own future? We invited neighbors to join us: youth needing purpose, elders with wisdom to share, returning citizens ready for a second chance. We gave them the tools, space, and support to plant, harvest, and thrive together. Over the years, we’ve grown:
But that was just the
beginning. |
The Moment We’re In
Our gardens taught us what’s possible when people are trusted and resourced.
Now, we’re scaling that impact to meet the urgency of this
moment with two connected initiatives:
1. With the Urban Ag & STEAAM Initiative
From Phoenix to cities across the country, we’re building community-based Urban Ag centers that integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, and Math. These opportunities provide youth, adults, and seniors with real skills and creative expression while solving food insecurity from the ground up.
2. The Bridge
To bring this vision to life, we need to retain our team, fund
our frontline mentors, and provide operational stability. “The
Bridge” is our immediate fundraising priority, a way to protect what
we’ve built while scaling up what’s next.
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How You Can Help
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Why It Matters
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Together, we are building a sustainable ecosystem for long-term,
scalable change.
Get Involved
We are inviting you to be part of
this next chapter.
The seed has been planted.
With your help, we’ll grow an ecosystem of opportunity—from Phoenix to beyond.
Now is the time.
Give. Share. Start a campaign. Help us grow what’s possible.
TigerMountain Foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization so
this donation can count as a deduction when you file your federal
income taxes. In addition, TigerMountain Foundation is recognized
by the Arizona Department of Revenue as a "Qualifying
Charitable Organization" because it serves low-income
residents of Arizona. Our Qualifying Charitable Organization Code
is 20127.
