By Brooke Curley
brooke@gilavalleycentral.net
SAFFORD- Arizona Gives Day is a single day set aside to fundraising for Arizona non-profit organizations through the www.azgives.org website.
Arizona Gives Day is April 3 this year, and many local non-profit organizations are gearing up for the big day. By collecting funds from all over the state, many non-profit organizations benefit, thus benefiting the local communities. Non-profits that are eligible for donated funds on Arizona Gives Day include Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry, Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and Desert Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, as well as countless others. Worldwide, individuals can donate to their chosen non-profit when they visit azgives.org.
Brooke Curley Photo/ Gila Valley Central File Photo: Sherri Clixby teaches Safford Boys and Girls Club members how to form seed blocks in the Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry greenhouse.
Sherri Clixby, director of Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry Food Bank, told Gila Valley Central that not only can the organizations benefit directly from funds collected, but also from the Arizona Gives partnership. Last year, the pantry was awarded $5,000 for their fund collecting efforts through the Arizona Gives organization. Not only does the money collected go to the pantry’s basic bills, but it also funds the pantry’s programs, which include the Bulldog Pantry, the Cactus House, and the Education Program.
“This is our biggest fundraiser. Mostly the only fundraiser. It’s a substantial part of our budget. When people go on to the website they can choose a location, you can put in Safford and it will pull up all the non-profits that are involved,” Clixby said. “We really work at it. Last year we won a $5,000 dollar prize. We wrapped it into our budget here. Our budget goes to running the farm, the seeds, and all of the equipment. There’s the food, and the electric bill for the freezers and refrigerators. It’s a really important one (fundraising effort) for us. And if we had (fund-raised) $800 more last year, our prize would have been $10,000 dollars. There are plenty of exciting possibilities here.”
Brooke Curley Photo/ Gila Valley Central File Photo: the Desert Cat Rescue and Sanctuary of Arizona is a no-kill sanctuary that often fosters tiny kittens that have been abandoned. The sanctuary works tirelessly to find homes for these rescued animals.
Cheryl Christensen, of the Desert Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, told Gila Valley Central that this will be the fourth year that the sanctuary will be participating in Arizona Gives Day. Also, Christensen said that all the non-profits that are available for sponsorship through the Arizona Gives website have been verified for proper eligibility.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to create awareness for our local non-profits. These non-profits are all qualified 501(c)3 organizations, so donations are tax-deductible,” Christensen said. “You can go online at www.azgives.org and view the participating non-profit organizations. You are able to give donations in many ways, including on the website – they make it easy. You can even donate early, in case you’re busy on the event day.”
Christensen said that working within a non-profit is laborious, but close to the hearts of many. However, regardless of its importance, non-profit proficiency is dependent on the willingness of its supporters to contribute monetarily.
Brooke Curley Photo/ Gila Valley Central File Photo: Cheryl Christensen, volunteer for the Desert Cat Rescue and Sanctuary of Arizona holds one of the kittens available for adoption.
“Non-profit work is not easy. We are dependent on the interest and support of others who believe in our causes. Arizona Gives helps non-profits reach out and create public awareness of their efforts which helps bring in much-needed donations,” Christensen said. “Non-profits rely on these donations to continue their work. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get involved. What a great way to support the non-profits that are serving local causes.”
Individuals who are interested in looking for non-profit organizations in the Safford area may do so by typing Safford at the bottom of the Arizona Gives main page on azgives.org. Options are also available online to donate ahead of time to local organizations, thus avoiding the April 3 deadline.
About Arizona Gives
Arizona Gives and Arizona Gives Day is a collaboration between the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum that began in 2013. This partnership has helped raise more than $10.1 million for Arizona’s nonprofit sector. This statewide, 24-hour, online giving campaign takes place in early April each year. The program is supported by our presenting sponsor FirstBank, along with a variety of other sponsor organizations.
Arizona Gives helps people find, learn about and contribute to the causes they believe in while enabling nonprofits to share their stories and engage the community through a unique online giving platform. Arizona Gives Day helps raise awareness about Arizona nonprofits and the critical role they play in our communities and state. It inspires people to give generously to nonprofits making our state stronger, creating a thriving community for all.
Though Arizona Gives Day only happens once a year, Arizona Gives (AZGives.org) is available for year-round giving. Donors can create an account to pre-schedule donations, set-up recurring donations and make changes to their giving throughout the year or they can check out as a guest and give immediately. Donors can also use their advanced search filters to find nonprofits by the criteria they choose such as location, focus area or even which organization qualify for an AZ tax credit.
Any qualified 501c3 organization located in or providing services to Arizona can register to receive donations through AZGives.org. All nonprofit organizations are verified for eligibility before being allowed to participate on the website, ensuring that donors are giving to legitimate organizations. For eligibility requirements, visit the most current Terms of Service & Liability document.
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Source: https://www.azgives.org/about
