More than three dozen Arizona nonprofits have applied for 2021 A Community Thrives grants and are raising matching funds required for final-round consideration.
A Community Thrives is the fundraising and grant-making initiative from the Gannett Foundation. The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com are owned by Gannett Co., Inc.
In 2020, 15 Arizona nonprofits shared more than $203,000 in A Community Thrives grants. The largest ($50,000) went to Creighton Community Foundation, which was tackling food insecurity issues, and ($25,000) to support the Foster360 program at Helen’s Hope Chest.
Grants are awarded for specific projects or for operating funds. To qualify for final consideration, nonprofits must raise either $3,000 or $6,000 in matching funds, depending on their size. Fundraising began July 19 and ends Aug. 13.
Here’s how each of the grant applicants say they would use the money and a link to the organization’s fundraising page. You can also search applications nationwide at acommunitythrives.com:
1N10, Phoenix
The organization serves LGBTQ youth and young adults ages 11 to 24. Support is needed to provide educational workshops that promote self-esteem and resiliency. Basic needs are also provided to program participants.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/onenten-go
A Stepping Stone Foundation, Phoenix
Serves at-risk children and parents by providing tuition-free preschool, parenting classes and home visits. Program support provides the opportunity for children to attend a quality preschool while parents attend English classes. Home visits are also completed to help integrate and promote literacy within the family.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/A-Stepping-Stone-Foundation
Arizona Bach Festival, Phoenix
Shares the music of Bach and his contemporaries through performances, workshops and educational opportunities. Hosts an annual music festival featuring artists from the United States and Europe and local performers. Funding would help pay for the 2022 Arizona Bach Festival.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Arizona-Bach-Festival
Arizona Faith Network, Phoenix
Provides services to vulnerable populations such as extreme heat relief, faith education, social justice services, and criminal reform. Support is needed to fund cooling centers in vulnerable local communities.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Arizona-Ecumenical-Council
Arizona Masterworks Chorale, Phoenix
Serves people in the greater Phoenix area from various ethnic and demographic backgrounds with performances by classical and contemporary choral music. Support is requested to fund a live performance and honor those lost due to pandemic.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Arizona-Masterworks-Chorale
Arizona Science Center, Phoenix
A learning resource for science learning for families and students. The Center serves more than 500,000 people each year in Arizona. Program support is for free field trips and workshops for students at low-income schools.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Arizona-Science-Center
Back-To-School Clothing Drive Association, Phoenix
Providing school uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies to children in need. The program is open to all low-income schools in Maricopa County. Each year 25,000 families and children benefit from our support. Funding is needed to offer these services to the communities we serve.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Back-To-School-Clothing-Drive-Association
Banner Health Foundation, Phoenix
Support for the Big Pink Bus, a mobile mammography unit that goes around the state to provide education and breast cancer screenings.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Bannerhealthfoundation
BLOOM365, Peoria
Educating youth, ages 11-24 who are affected by interpersonal violence, by providing therapeutic support. Funding is requested for program materials, marketing strategies, and community engagement to reach young people who are affected by violence and abuse.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Gopurple
Boys & Girls Club of the Colorado River, Bullhead City
Serving approximately 1,600 youth from ages 5-18 from all demographic backgrounds through out of school programs and activities. Many of them come from low-income families. Funding is needed to expand program services at the Fort Mohave Clubhouse.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Clubriver
Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory, Mesa
Teaching and keeping the history of the Buffalo Soldiers legacy alive for all generations and cultures to help promote equality and inclusion. Funding is being requested to help the organization continue to educate people about their contributions and for the erection of a monument to memorialize and honor the group of African American soldiers who served in the West following the Civil War.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Buffalo-Soldiers-Of-The-Arizona-Territory
Building a Clean Playground for Vulnerable Kids!, Gilbert
Facilities serve children who have autoimmune disorders, cancer and heart defects, with hyperclean play facilities. Funds are needed to renovate a 5,800 square foot space that was gifted to us and to install a HVAC system.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Lilyspadaz
Cece’s Hope Center, Fountain Hills
Serving young adults who are victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking by providing basic needs, housing, mental health services and emotional support. Support is needed to continuously provide survivors with immediate needs and services.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Ceces-Hope-Center
Coping to Resilience Center, Tempe
Giving guidance to children of incarcerated parents with life skill classes and teaching them to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Program support is to help children break patterns of familial incarceration by teaching and modifying coping skills.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Coping-To-Resilience-Center
CSJ Foundation, Peoria
Promoting career opportunities for minority and female journalism students by providing real world experience through internships and programs. Requesting funds to provide these programs and focus on underserved communities within the state to promote diversity and inclusion in Arizona newsrooms.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Csj-Foundation
Dawgz Tailz and Wagz, Phoenix
Facilitating adoptions and fostering of dogs at risk in the greater Phoenix area. Funds are to help with adoption, spay and neuter services and vaccinations.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Dawgz-Tailz-And-Wagz
Detour Company Theater, Scottsdale
Dedicated to serving adults with developmental and physical disabilities by providing theater training and giving them the opportunity to perform on stage. Seeking funds to cover the costs of rehearsals and productions for upcoming musicals in 2022.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Detour-Company-Theater
Down Syndrome Network Arizona, Tempe
Providing individuals with Down Syndrome and their families with resources and educational programs. Surf’s UP program support is needed to help promote awareness, acceptance, and inclusion for all individuals with Down Syndrome.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Dsnetwork
Foster360, Mesa
Support for young adults that are aging out of the foster care system by providing housing, mentoring, social services and job placement services. Funds are needed to expand on a second residential campus to give the youth a safe stable environment and prevent them from becoming homeless.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Foster360
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, Phoenix
Providing support to over 7,000 children each year who have experienced trauma. Combining art and mentors into experiences where children can process their trauma through art activities and trusting relationships. Program support is needed for these children to build resilience and overcome challenges.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Free-Arts-Of-Arizona
Homicide Survivors, Tucson
Assisting the long-term needs of families of murder victims through support, advocacy and assistance with stabilization. The majority of survivors come from low income families. Funds are needed to provide emergency assistance.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Free-Arts-Of-Arizona
Hope House of Sedona
Providing transitional housing for homeless families and children from the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District. Assistance is needed to accommodate more families, residents and staff.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Hope-House-Of-Sedona
House of Refuge, Mesa
Providing homeless families with transitional housing and support services. Much of this population are below the poverty line and are victims of domestic violence. Funding is needed to provide housing and services to these families. The goal is for these families to reach self-sufficiency within 12 months.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/House-Of-Refuge
Hushabye Nursery, Phoenix
Serving an estimated 400 infants with exposure to substance abuse by mothers who are experiencing opioid use disorder. Many mothers are survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking. Program support is needed to connect infants with compassionate caregivers and assist 400 under-resourced families.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Hushabye-Nursery
Liberty Wildlife, Phoenix
Caring for more than 12,000 animals annually that are ill, injured or orphaned. We educate children and the public and provide conservation services. Program support is needed to enhance our new facility with signage in English and Spanish and to improve and add on to wildlife enclosures.
https://aco actommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Liberty-Wildlife
Phoenix Children’s Chorus
Serving a diverse community of nearly 400 children, ages 5-18 through performances, workshops, and community engagement. Seeking support to remove barriers for low-income students so they can get a choral music education. Funding will allow us to bring the music program directly to these students.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Phoenix-Childrens-Chorus
Phoenix Pride
Educating, uniting and engaging people to support the LGBTQ community and allies through events while reaching 80,000 people annually. Funding is needed to continue to create opportunities and provide financial support for LGBTQ programs and direct services.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Phoenixpride
Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity
Putting faith into action by building homes, communities and giving hope. The group has assisted 95 families by providing homes they own and live in. The group is seeking funding to build a three-bedroom home for a single mother and her three children.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Prescott-Area-Habitat-For-Humanity
Quality Connections, Flagstaff
Creating a more fulfilling world for people with disabilities and disadvantages by empowering them to become independent, productive members of the community. Services provided are job training, career exploration, employment opportunities, and teaching practical life skills programs. Program support is needed for the QCkids program, which was created to improve kindergarten readiness, increase high school graduation rates and prepare youth for leadership roles. Quality Connections also provides full-day, year-round, no cost Montessori day care and training program.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Quality-Connections-Incorporated
Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children, Phoenix
Serving 500 vulnerable students who come from low-income families who are underrepresented in the arts. Program support is for Leadership Development Programs that include service-learning opportunities, mentorship, and college readiness assistance. Music programs are offered to students in need by providing weekly music lessons and performance opportunities.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Rosieshouse
School Connect, Glendale
Creating connections with 2,200 K-12 schools to their communities so students can reach their full potential. Many of the students come from low-income families and are affected by low reading scores, poor health, behavioral challenges, and low attendance. School Connect schools engage with and create relationships within the community. Funding is needed to expand our program to school districts in underserved rural Arizona counties.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/School-Connect
Shoebox Ministry, Phoenix
Providing basic hygiene kits with nonprofit partners to individuals and children in need who are experiencing homelessness in the greater Phoenix area. Program support is needed to leverage resources and be responsive to clients’ hygiene needs.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Shoebox-Ministry
Southwest Lending Closet, Avondale
Lending home health equipment to anyone in need. We serve all backgrounds and assisted 4,390 people last year in Arizona. Funding is needed to add 2,200 square feet of space to our existing building.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Southwest-Lending-Closet
Tempe Community Action Agency
Provided services to over 31,000 people last year through a food pantry, community garden, rent and utility assistance and emergency shelter. The campaign will support the expansion of our emergency shelter, the only permanent shelter in Tempe for homeless adults, to assist an additional 100 people each year.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Tempe-Community-Action-Agency
The Be Kind People Project, Phoenix
Serving over 300,000 students, families, teachers and schools through programs that give youth opportunities to learn, relationship skills, accountability, health and wellness, through forming strong values. Funding is needed for the youth development programs to reach over 20,000 students who are from low-income communities and help them adjust and thrive after the pandemic.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Thebekindpeopleproject
United Cerebral Palsy Association, Phoenix
Serving individuals with disabilities and their families with physical and developmental support to build a foundation for independent living. Funding is being requested for a pediatric therapy clinic that would offer physical, speech and feeding therapy programs. Pediatric therapy is not easily accessible, our locations are based where these services are most needed.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/United-Cerebral-Palsy-Association-Of-Central-Arizona
Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition, Sedona
Providing 32,000 free trips to seniors and high need individuals to access healthcare, social services, and well being assistance. Majority of people assisted are elderly with low income and health conditions that affect mobility. Funding is needed to support these individuals. The group received an additional 400 members this year needing transportation to obtain COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/Verde-Valley-Caregivers-Coalition
Reach the reporter at 480-253-8584 or rdelarosa@azcentral.com.
