Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County

From the red rocks of Flagstaff to the far corners of the state—our Arizona Community Foundation family was back together! 🏠🌵

Our annual Board of Advisors meeting in Phoenix was a beautiful reminder of the power of partnership. We spent the day diving into the incredible work happening across the state, like the Habitat for Humanity Starter Home project, and brainstorming ways to bring more fundholders into the fold of giving.

One of our favorite moments? A "story bank" activity where we shared real-life examples of how ACF is mobilizing support and building deep trust in the communities we serve.

Our regions are breaking records, but the real win is the local impact driven by our amazing volunteers. We are so grateful for this network!

The Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County grant guidelines are on our site at https://www.azfoundation.org/ways-to-give/give-locally/acf-of-yavapai-county/ and our Grant Application Workshops are coming up this month! Here are the dates and locations for our workshops:

January 8, 2026
Prescott Public Library, Founders Suite
1:00PM - 3:00PM

January 13, 2026
Camp Verde Public Library, Terracotta Room
2:00PM - 4:00PM

January 20, 2026
Virtual Workshop, Zoom
9:00AM - 11:00AM

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County is seeking an experienced and community-minded leader to serve as Regional Director for Yavapai County. This position plays a key role in advancing ACF’s mission by creating a culture of philanthropy across the region.

The Regional Director leads the Yavapai office in asset development, donor engagement, professional advisor outreach, volunteer development, and community leadership. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact by connecting people, resources, and ideas to strengthen local communities.

The ideal candidate brings:
• Proven experience in management, relationship building, and philanthropy.
• Deep knowledge of and connection to the Yavapai County community.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire collaboration and civic engagement.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose and help grow a thriving culture of giving in Yavapai County, we invite you to apply today:
https://www.azfoundation.org/about/careers/career-opportunities/

Thank you to the Quad Cities Business News, the judges, and the community for awarding the ACF of Yavapai County office with the 2025 ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award! It was an honor to share the spotlight tonight with the many exceptional organizations and women in business across Yavapai County!

Yavapai Connects is back for year two! There is still time to register for this great event, being held in Clarkdale this year.

Yavapai Connects - United Way Yavapai County This is a half-day seminar designed to give Non-Profit Leaders the tools they need to be better Board Members, Avoid Fiscal Malfeasance, and better understand YOUR Legal responsibilities. The topics include Board Governance and Fiscal Responsibilities, Board Succession Planning, Board Recruitment, H...

Last week, ACF staff and friends visited Sharlot Hall Museum! We learned more about the beautiful Territorial Women's Memorial Rose Garden and the incredible work that went into becoming an accredited arboretum. The Sharlot Hall team also spotlighted the many past and upcoming interactive educational experiences they provide to the community! If you want to learn more about the Sharlot Hall Museum, visit https://sharlothallmuseum.org/

Earlier this week, we visited the Yavapai Humane Society and learned about the many services they provide to our community. One of these services is the Safety Net program, which helps keep pets and their families together during challenging times, such as when a pet owner is hospitalized.
We also toured the new Serenity House, a peaceful space where families can say their final goodbyes to their beloved pets in a comforting, home-like setting.
To learn more about Yavapai Humane Society and how you can support their mission, visit https://yavapaihumane.org/

ACF of Yavapai County’s Joy of Giving event brought together more than 250 community members to celebrate generosity in action. Shining Stars—Agape House of Prescott, Gardens for Humanity, and PUSD Education Foundation shared inspiring presentations about their impact, and over $15,000 was awarded to support their work. ACF of Yavapai County announced its $100M milestone, honored Summit 4x4 Company as our Business Philanthropist of the Year, and recognized Alan & Alice Hendrickson as our Legacy Philanthropists for their historic $13M bequest. This transformational gift will translate to hundreds of grants and scholarships over the coming years, ensuring lasting support for organizations and students across Yavapai County.

Today is the last day to register for the Joy of Giving event hosted by the Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County.

Join us on August 8 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM as we celebrate philanthropy and recognize individuals whose generosity and leadership continue to shape our community.

Tickets are $60 and the location will be provided upon confirmation.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a meaningful afternoon. Register now. https://acf.cventevents.com/YMeO2d

ACF of Yavapai County has officially reached a major milestone, surpassing $100 million in assets under management. That translates into more dollars to impact the community. Thank you to our generous donors for continuing to put your trust in us to help you meet your philanthropic goals. This achievement speaks to the deep trust our community places in local philanthropy and the collective work of donors, nonprofits, and leaders across the region.

Congratulations to Regional Director Lisa Sahady and Hector Ramirez for their leadership in helping bring this long-standing goal to life. The impact of this milestone will be felt across Yavapai County for generations to come.

Tickets for our annual Joy of Giving are now available! https://acf.cventevents.com/event/jog25/summary

Excited to share our 2025 Shining Star organizations:
Agape House of Prescott
Gardens for Humanity
PUSD Education Foundation

Attend the Joy and learn more about these amazing organizations.

Summary - Joy of Giving 2025

Last week, we had the opportunity to visit AARF Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. AARF has utilized their large, beautiful space in Mayer to provide off-leash play areas, build multiple air-conditioned bunkhouses for rescue dogs, and maintain multiple paths for volunteers to walk dogs, providing daily exercise to all the rescues currently at AARF. The AARF team also strives for transparency, providing many updates and photos in each of their digital newsletters which cover the organization as well as the dogs. To learn more about AARF Animal Rescue and Sanctuary and their current dogs in need of adoption, visit https://aarfrescue.net/