ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Day 2025 falls on Tuesday, April 1, but local nonprofits are not fooling around: The 24-hour fundraising event has serious repercussions for local nonprofits.
“This is one of the most important ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Days we have had in the 13 years that we have done the event. There is uncertainty with federal funding and the economy and nonprofits are in a unique space. The nonpartisan concept is that nonprofits are being affected by changes in funding … and this event allows donors to provide unrestricted funds to nonprofits to fulfill their missions,†said Michael Morefield, director of marketing and communications for AZ Impact for Good — Uniting Nonprofits & Philanthropy, the nonprofit that now stages ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Day.
The initiative, which raised more than $5.3 million last year, has raised nearly $47 million for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ nonprofits since it began. This year, more than 1,000 nonprofits statewide will participate in the day-long event, which offers $160,000 in prizes and incentives through 105 prizes courtesy of sponsors such as The Burton Family Foundation, Freeport McMoRan Foundation, Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Foundation, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Community Foundation, Hickey Family Foundation, The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, Vitalyst Health Foundation, Community Foundation for Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Electric Power/UniSource Energy Services, Southwest Gas Corporation, SRP and Sechler Morgan.
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Qualifying donations for all incentives can be made through the profile pages of individual nonprofits at .
“We have 105 unique prizes because that gives every nonprofit an opportunity to access prize money, whether through Power Hours for organizations of different sizes or Rural Organizations, and whether they are members of AZ Impact for Good or not members. Sometimes smaller nonprofits feel they are playing in a much larger sandbox, and this is built for them,†said Morefield.
He emphasized that donors level the playing field and make the difference in helping their favorite nonprofits attain Power Hour goals in five categories — micro; small; mid-size; large and extra large. Prizes are also offered in four mission groups: Health and Human Services; Arts & Culture, Environment and Community Improvement; Education & Youth Development; and Animal, Economic Development, Religion & Faith Based and Social Advocacy. Additionally, prizes are designated for early giving, which is in progress and ends March 31.
The convenient platform allows donors to search for nonprofits in Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and beyond that correspond with individual donor interests and requirements. Search filters range from primary mission areas and service areas to program focus/demographics and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Tax Credits. Morefield also reminded prospective donors that ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Day donations may qualify for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) Tax Credit, the Qualifying Foster Charitable Organization (QFCO) Tax Credit or the Public School Tax Credit.
“If you pick an organization and make a donation at a certain hour, it might not only qualify for the tax credit, but it may give the organization a chance of winning a couple thousand dollars through a Power Hour while providing the with a direct donation. It multiplies the good,†said Morefield.
Donations and prizes awarded during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Day are crucial to the nonprofits that act as a “silent force in the community,†according to Morefield.
“There isn’t a single day that passes that we don’t see an aspect of our lives that are directly impacted by nonprofits, from kids after-school programs to national parks to food banks. Nonprofits are infamous for doing the work without seeking credit and we might not see the impact they have since they don’t talk about all that they do. Their job is to do the work, and as AZ Impact for Good, we tell their stories to help everyone understand how important their work is,†said Morefield.
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gives Day platform assists in advancing those stories, according to MeMe Aguila, executive director of We Care ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ ().
Dedicated to removing barriers to information, education and wellness by restoring donated technology and medical equipment, We Care (formerly World Care) seeks to raise at least $10,000 for Youth Initiative programs including five-day summer tech and robotic camps for students in grades four through 11. Last year, We Care programs served about 200 students, and Aguila hopes to double that number this year.
Tech camps cover topics fundamentals such as coding, operating systems, hands-on rebuilding and repair of desktop computers, careers in tech and more. Each participant also receives a laptop computer. Robotic camps are built on We Care’s School Day Out Robotics programs, which provide an introduction to hydraulics, artificial intelligence and the building of robots, along with a take-home robotics kit.
“The kids we target live in our neighborhood and are from low income families and these specialty computer-style camps are often financially out of reach and prohibitively expensive. Studies show that if you can expose kids to STEM or STEAM, they get excited and are more likely to stay with STEM and finish college. STEM careers are higher-paying careers and we are having lots of success in trying to bridge the digital gap,†said Aguila.
The community can learn more about We Care at a free Tech Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 at We Care, 3029 N. Stone Ave.
Themed “Gaming Through the Ages,†the event offers a gaming truck; board games; information on computer basics, online safety and computer repair; digital and recycled art; food trucks and more. Find more information at .
You can also support We Care Youth Initiatives through the nonprofit’s inaugural Tee Up ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Golf Tournament, which will be held at 8 a.m. (check-in from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.) on Thursday, April 10 at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Golf Club, 9777 E. Sabino Greens Rd.
Cost for the tournament is $150 per person ($600 for a team) and sponsorships are available. Registration is available through April 7.
For the fundraiser, We Care is partnering with the Sewailo Golf Club Junior Ambassador Program, which is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of golfers as players as well as leaders, role models, and community ambassadors. Participants in the program must maintain academic excellence, perform community service and support events connected to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Sewailo Golf Club, and Casino Del Sol.
“These kids are aware that it is a privilege to play golf. They know how expensive it is. We are happy to be partnering with another organization that is doing amazing things and making a difference in the lives of kids who are typically marginalized and don’t have access to those kinds of things,†said Aguila.
Go to for more information or to register.
