Charity Nonprofit Organizations in Arizona: How the Sector Is Organized

Arizona has a large, varied nonprofit sector, and the offices on this page show how wide it runs. Food banks in Yuma and Prescott, a community foundation in Flagstaff, a heart-health charity in Tempe and a veterans center in Bullhead all appear here under one heading. They share a legal form, but they do very different jobs.

The directory holds 311 entries across 40 Arizona cities and 12 counties. Most are in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Even so, small places such as Ajo, Parker and Cottonwood each have a listing that serves a large rural area. This page explains who oversees these organizations, how metro and rural Arizona differ, and how to reach the right office for what you need.

Nonprofit Corporation or Charity? What the Label Means in Arizona

People often use nonprofit and charity as if they meant the same thing. They do not. A nonprofit is a legal form. A charity is a nonprofit that the Internal Revenue Service has recognized as tax-exempt, usually under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code, because it serves a public purpose.

Arizona nonprofit corporations are created by filing articles of incorporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The state rules sit in Title 10 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which covers corporations and associations. Once formed, a nonprofit must keep a statutory agent in the state and file regular reports with the Commission.

This matters when you read the listings. Some entries are service providers, such as Prescott Community Cupboard at 434 West Gurley Street or Yuma Community Foodbank at 2404 East 24th Street. Others are foundations that raise and give money, such as Hearth Foundation in Tucson or Gray Matters Foundation in Cave Creek. A few are organized as nonprofits but do not run public programs. Apache Villa Homeowners Association in Apache Junction is one example. If you need help rather than a record, call before you travel.

Who Oversees Charities in Arizona: Corporation Commission, Attorney General and IRS

No single Arizona office runs every charity. Oversight is split among four bodies, and knowing which does what saves time.

Arizona does not require most charities to register with the state before they ask for donations. That registration requirement was repealed in 2013. The result is that more weight falls on the donor. A group's filings with the Commission and the IRS are the best public check you have.

Annual reports matter too. A nonprofit corporation that falls behind on its filings can lose good standing with the Commission. If an organization shows a poor status, ask the staff about it before you give money or sign up for a program.

Metro Phoenix and Tucson: Where Arizona's Charity Offices Cluster

Maricopa County and the Phoenix Valley

Maricopa County holds the largest number of listings. Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and Glendale are all well represented. Phoenix is also home to the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits at 5150 North 16th Street (602-279-2966), which works with nonprofits across the state. It is a useful contact if you want to understand the sector or find peers rather than a single service.

Specialist charities are common in the valley. American Heart Association has an office at 2929 South 48th Street in Tempe (602-414-5353). West Valley Child Crisis Center is at 14050 North 83rd Avenue in Peoria (623-848-8864). Agape Community Service is in Mesa on North Lazona Drive (480-233-4048). The valley covers many separate cities, so check which side of town an office serves before you go.

Getting there takes planning. Valley Metro light rail links parts of Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, but many offices sit away from the stations. Most people drive. If you rely on a bus, ask the office for the nearest stop when you call.

Pima County and Tucson

Pima County is the second hub. Tucson holds most of its listings, among them Hearth Foundation at 220 West Prince Road (520-207-9350). Sun Tran runs the city bus network. Far to the west, International Sonoran Desert Alliance has a listing in Ajo at 400 West Vananda Avenue (520-387-6738). It shows how a county's services can sit a long way from the main city.

Rural Arizona: Fewer Offices, Wider Service Areas

Outside the two big metros, one office often serves an entire region. That changes how you plan a visit.

Yavapai County listings include Prescott Community Cupboard (928-778-4622) and Camp Verde Adult Reading Program, listed at 1500 East Cherry Street in Cottonwood (928-649-9070). In Coconino County, Flagstaff Community Foundation is at 150 West Dale Avenue (928-526-1956). Further west, Mohave County listings include Veterans Resource Centers Of America in Bullhead (928-444-1135) and Salvation Army in Lake Havasu (928-680-3678).

Rural offices often have limited hours, small staffs and volunteer-driven schedules. A phone call usually works better than a website. Ask three things: which area do you serve, which days are you open, and what documents should I bring. Summer heat and the winter-visitor season can both change hours and demand, especially in Yuma and along the Colorado River.

How to Find and Use an Arizona Charity Office

A few habits make the process faster, whether you are seeking help or offering it.

Donors have a reason to check as well. Arizona offers a state income tax credit for gifts to qualifying charitable organizations, but only for groups on the Department of Revenue's list. Ask the charity whether it qualifies, and keep your receipt.

One last tip when reading any listing: the name tells you little. A foundation may give grants and never see the public. A council or committee may be a membership body. A pantry or crisis center will almost always take calls from residents. A short phone call tells you which kind of office you have found.

Nonprofit organizations operating in Arizona must register with the state attorney general's charitable trust section and comply with state solicitation licensing requirements in addition to meeting federal IRS requirements for tax-exempt status. Arizona's charity registration process helps protect residents from fraudulent fundraising operations.

Charity Nonprofit locations are available in 40 cities across Arizona. They are spread across 12 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, which typically host large concentrations of nonprofits serving regional populations across health, human services, education, and arts sectors.

Donors in Arizona can verify that a charity is properly registered with the state by contacting the Arizona Attorney General's office or searching the state's online charity registration database before making a contribution.

Charity Nonprofit by Counties

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Nonprofits seeking grant funding in Arizona should explore state-level grant programs administered through the Arizona Department of Health, Department of Education, or community services block grant programs. Many Arizona foundations also fund local nonprofits through competitive grant cycles that typically open annually.

Browse Charity Nonprofit by county across Arizona to find the nearest location.

Smaller Arizona Cities With Charity Nonprofit Listings

Beyond Phoenix and Tucson, listings turn up in suburbs and small towns, and they are easy to overlook. In the West Valley, American Tissue Services Foundation is in Surprise (13260 West Foxfire Drive, 623-444-9414). Unytus Foundation is in Avondale (602-499-2046), Donor Support Service is in Buckeye (623-535-0275), and Estrella Joint Committee is in Goodyear (623-386-3896). Abandoned Mine Safety Organization is in Glendale (623-388-4945).

In the East Valley and north Maricopa County, you will find A Special Connection Foundation in Chandler, International Save the Family Foundation in Gilbert, Jewels 4 Charity in Scottsdale and Gray Matters Foundation in Cave Creek. In Pinal County, Against Abuse La Paloma Center is at 1115 East Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande (520-421-1503). The name points to abuse-related support, so call to confirm what it offers. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 rather than a directory number.

Arizona Community Foundation has a listing at 500 East Fry Boulevard in Sierra Vista, in Cochise County (520-439-0595). Society Of St Vincent de Paul is in Parker, in La Paz County (928-669-2523). Use the questions below for the most common reasons people search this page.

Start with three free checks. Search the Arizona Corporation Commission's online business records to confirm the group is a real Arizona nonprofit corporation in good standing. Then use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm federal tax-exempt status and to read its recent Form 990, which shows income, spending and leadership pay. Finally, ask for a street address and a named contact. Arizona no longer requires most charities to register before soliciting, so a missing state registration is not a warning sign by itself. If a request feels deceptive, contact the Arizona Attorney General's consumer protection office.

Possibly. A federal deduction generally requires a gift to an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organization, and you must itemize. Arizona also offers a separate state income tax credit for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. These are groups the Arizona Department of Revenue has approved because they mainly serve Arizonans in need. A credit reduces the tax you owe directly, rather than lowering your taxable income. It has annual limits, so check current figures with the Department of Revenue. Not every nonprofit qualifies, so ask the charity directly and keep the written receipt it gives you.

Two listings cover this. Yuma Community Foodbank is at 2404 East 24th Street in Yuma, phone 928-343-1243, in Yuma County. Prescott Community Cupboard is at 434 West Gurley Street in Prescott, phone 928-778-4622. Hours, pickup days and any sign-up steps vary, so call first and ask what to bring. A photo ID and proof of address are common requests, but each organization sets its own rules. For ongoing help, you can also apply for SNAP through the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and dial 211 to find other pantries nearby.

Our listings in western Arizona include Veterans Resource Centers Of America at 1491 Palma Road in Bullhead (928-444-1135) and Salvation Army at 2049 Swanson Avenue in Lake Havasu (928-680-3678). Both are in Mohave County. In La Paz County, Society Of St Vincent de Paul is at 1015 South Joshua Avenue in Parker (928-669-2523). Towns in this region are far apart, so ask each office whether it serves your community and whether it offers phone appointments. Confirm hours before driving, since small offices may close for part of the week.

File articles of incorporation for a nonprofit corporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission and name a statutory agent with an Arizona address. Adopt bylaws and seat a board. Next, get an employer identification number from the IRS. To be recognized as tax-exempt, apply to the IRS using Form 1023, or the shorter Form 1023-EZ if you qualify. Ask the Arizona Department of Revenue about state tax matters. Then file annual reports with the Commission to keep good standing. Many founders also contact the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits in Phoenix (602-279-2966), which works with nonprofits statewide.

Usually not. Community foundations manage donor funds and make grants, and most of those grants go to other nonprofits rather than to individuals. Our listings include Arizona Community Foundation in Sierra Vista (500 East Fry Boulevard, 520-439-0595) and Flagstaff Community Foundation (150 West Dale Avenue, 928-526-1956). They are good contacts if you run a local program and want to ask about grant cycles, or if you want to set up a donor fund. If you need personal assistance, start with a direct-service provider such as a food bank, or dial 211.