Ways to impact our community

Explore all of the ways to give back through volunteering, donations and community involvement and make a positive impact on lives while fostering a stronger sense of community.

Giving back to our community is one of our core values and an important part of everything we do. Here are a few ways for you to get involved and make a difference in the community.

Contribute money

Donating funds to local nonprofits is always a great way to help. Even a small monthly donation can help to sustain a nonprofit and aid them in continuing their work and services.

If you aren’t familiar with a particular nonprofit, research the organization online to look for ratings and information from independent charity review organizations. Charity Watch, Charity Navigator and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance all provide independent ratings of nonprofits. Remember that some smaller, local groups may not be rated, so you may need to do a little more research on them.

Also, be alert for scams, “sound-alike” nonprofit names and high-pressure telemarketers that may be keeping a large portion of your donations. When you research before you donate, you can be confident that your contributions are making a difference within the community.

Donate items

If you would rather donate physical items instead of cash, many organizations throughout Arizona would be happy to accept them. Look on an organization’s website for information and wish lists. Contact the group before donating to confirm their current needs and how and when you should deliver your items. Work clothes that you no longer wear could help someone find a new job, and an extra box of diapers that you buy at the store could help a working mom afford her rent for the month.

Volunteer

Each year, Desert Financial team members contribute thousands of volunteer service hours to demonstrate our commitment to the community. We want to help you get involved too and find volunteer opportunities that match your unique skills and interests.

Before you get started, think about your personality type and interests. Do you like to interact with people? If so, plenty of organizations provide opportunities to help adults, children, and seniors.

If you would rather work behind the scenes, there are hundreds of ways to help. Look for volunteer projects like cooking meals, packing food boxes, sorting donations, building playgrounds and helping with administrative duties. These types of activities are also great to tackle as a group – invite your friends and family to get involved!

Consider your special skills and interests when looking for ways to give back. Many organizations would be thrilled to have volunteers with skills in the areas of technology, writing, accounting, graphic design, sales/fundraising or handyman work.

An online search can help connect you to hundreds of organizations and opportunities. Look for groups that you know of, or search for opportunities based on what you would like to do. If you would like some ideas, check out some of the groups our team members regularly volunteer for.

Volunteer opportunities

• Assistance League of Phoenix
  School uniforms and other programs for children from low-income families
• Feed My Starving Children
  Meal packaging for hungry children around the world
• Future for KIDS
  After-school youth mentoring
• Free Arts
  Art therapy for children who have experienced abuse
• House of Refuge
  Transitional housing for adults with children
• Native American Connections
  Affordable housing, behavioral health and community services to improve the lives of Native Americans
• Prescott Meals on Wheels
  Delivering meals to homebound senior citizens
• St. Joseph the Worker
  Services to help homeless people find and maintain employment
• St. Mary's Food Bank – Phoenix
  Food support services including food boxes, multiple dining sites and pantries, kids backpacks and meals
• St. Vincent de Paul
  Feeding, clothing, housing and healing community members in Arizona
• United Food Bank
  Food boxes, meals, mobile pantries, programs for kids
• Vitalant
  Donate blood for those who need it most
• Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters
  Mentoring programs for youth facing adversity 

Learn more  about our commitment to giving back to our community.