The Steady Saguaro: Giving is Changing, Vol. 1

Giving is Changing, Vol. 1

Because we live with extremes, Southern Arizonans are savvy problem-solvers. We need only look out the window for inspiration. Take the agave, icon of the desert in a thousand pictures and key to many of our regional cocktails. Its rosette of leaves funnels our rare and precious rain directly to its roots—nature’s own blueprint for rooftop rainwater harvesting.

As I write this edition of The Steady Saguaro, the monsoon has sputtered out, and the government has ground to a halt. My inbox overflows with headlines that shout challenges too numerous and too deep to ignore:

• “Global demand for charitable services is increasing, report finds” ⁱ
• “Disrupted programs, staffing, and service delivery” ⁱⁱ
• “Government Shutdown Threatens Nonprofits’ Ability to Serve Communities” ⁱⁱⁱ

The shutdown slices through diminishing and drying funding streams—grants and contracts that nonprofits rely on to serve and uplift our communities. As one Pima County nonprofit leader recently told us: “We are in constant fear that funding for our programs will suddenly be cut, leading to layoffs of long-time employees, decreased morale, and most importantly, decreased services for the most vulnerable in our community.”

As giving season 2025 begins, I’m calling on Southern Arizonans to think creatively and act boldly. Now is the time to live out CFSA’s value of savvy—to support your generosity with strategy. Over the coming months, I’ll share bite-sized insights to help you build a savvy giving plan for year-end and beyond. If you’re one of the many community members who’ve told me, “I just want to DO SOMETHING,” this is your moment to plan your giving with intention this year.