Donate Today
Join us in Celebrating 18 years!
Join us in celebrating our 18th birthday and fuel our future impact "18 Years Strong: Fueling Futures, One Hero at a Time!" Our goal is to welcome 1,000 new Higher Ground Heroes - You could join us and make a significant impact on the lives of kids.
Support us with your monthly giving so we can continue our nationally recognized impactful work and plan consistently.
$18/month
Provides a family of four with personalized coaching and connection to critical resources like housing, food, and education
$188/month
Covers a full day of Judo programming for 60 students—teaching emotional regulation, physical fitness, and discipline
$1008, one-time gift
Funds a full week of entire school support for non-academic needs
Join our Higher Ground Heroes!
It's that easy to help. $18 is probably less than your monthly coffee habit! Yet it can unlock a world of opportunity for a child. Your consistent support is the bedrock of our sustainable, life-changing work.
Also we've also just released our 2025 Report to Our Community – see our incredible impact!
Thank you for your support!
Strengthen Arizona with Your State Tax Credits
EARN EACH DOLLAR BACK
Donate to Earn Back Arizona Tax Credit
Dollar-For-Dollar Back
The Charitable Tax Credit allows you to earn a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for your donation! It’s straightforward and not too complicated - Donate now, then we’ll send you a receipt for your tax forms. Arizona State Revenue will deduct your donation from your tax owed.
Qualified Charitable Organization
You can make a difference right now. Donate your tax credits to earn dollar-for-dollar back on your Arizona taxes paid - up to $470 for single tax filers and a max of $938 for married filing jointly or as head of household. Our QCO code is: 20864
(Don’t want to donate $470? No problem! That’s just the maximum amount each individual can earn back.)
Questions?
Please contact Jeanie McKnight Guymon at (520) 981-5872 or via email at Jeanie@HigherGround.me. Please contact a qualified tax advisor for questions about your taxes.
Why Donate to Higher Ground?
Your donations are put to use immediately. Donations directly support students, families, and communities in Southern Arizona.
Our in-school services help youth build executive function skills, provide food and clothing assistance, and strengthen social support for student success.
We support students, families, and schools, allowing teachers to teach and students to learn. Our work empowers one person at a time to reach, transform, and elevate their community.
Higher Ground is honored to have national and local recognition for our efforts in supporting Arizona’s youth and families.
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We earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency! Check out our nonprofit profile to keep up to date with our impact.
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We won the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Best Place to Work award in 2024 (in the 51 to 300 employee category).
The Best Place to Work Award is given to a business that has honest leadership with a clear vision and identity. Employees want to know where the company is pointed, what the company believes in and what everyone is working toward. They provide “flexible” growth for employees and a culture of collaboration. Great places to work are open about how the company is performing and craves honest feedback from its employees. They hire passionate people. And most of all these businesses create a fun atmosphere.
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2023 TEP Social Impact Copper Cactus Awards for the $2M+ category.
This award recognizes a nonprofit group that has made a significant contribution to Southern Arizona. In 2024 special emphasis will be noted to those organizations who are making social impact in our local community. We define social impact as having a positive effect on people and communities that happens as a result of an action, activity, project, program or policy. The winner in this category will demonstrate how they improved the quality of life for the individuals they serve specifically over the last year through their programs, services, and effective management. Organizations must also show how they provide an excellent work environment and culture for their employees, as well as stay current with emerging trends in their field of work.
How to Donate
Your support allows us to further our mission of empowering one life at a time to reach, transform, and elevate their community through love and building character.
Online - Higher Ground currently uses PayPal for
recurring donations
one-time donation
tax credit donation
Mail - Mail your donation check directly to:
Higher Ground (EIN 27-3585869)
101 W 44th Street
Tucson, AZ 85713
Ozzy’s Story
I am 21 years old, working hard as a contractor. And using what I learned at Higher Ground, I stayed disciplined, worked hard, and as a result, I just bought my own house.
I was in 7th grade when I joined Higher Ground. I was part of the students that were displaced to Hollinger during the closure of Wakefield. Combined with the lack of a father in my life and other trauma, I felt I had nowhere to go. I was consistently angry and was engaged in disciplinary actions at my school.
Due to Higher Ground's partnership with Hollinger and principal Brian Lambert, I met several Higher Ground staff at the Hollinger campus daily. Eventually, Mr. Lambert recommended that I begin attending Higher Ground to help me with some coping mechanisms. I joined the judo/BJJ program, and after months of constant mentoring and family support, I began to trust the staff at Higher Ground.
Along with my mother, I found comfort and holistic support at Higher Ground. I began to achieve some of my behavior goals and was soon doing better in school. By 8th grade, I joined the competition team and began traveling to different places.
Life continued to be difficult, and I had many ups and downs. Despite all of this, I found Higher Ground as a safe place to learn and grow. I felt a sense of belonging that motivated me to coach younger students in judo and BJJ.
I continued to compete, and one day, I was selected to travel to San Diego and compete for judo state championships. This was a life-changing and eye-opening trip for me. It was my first time seeing the beach and my first time out of the state. I realized that if it was possible for me to see other places because of how hard I have been working on the mats and the relationships I had built with Higher Ground, it was possible for me to achieve what I want in my life if I work hard enough and had the right people around me.
So I did. I graduated high school and found a great job that I liked. I worked hard and surrounded myself with people who wanted to make themselves better. And two years later, I am helping support my mom, bought my own house, and continues to get promoted at my work.
If Higher Ground hadn't been there for me, I wouldn’t see myself in the position I am currently in. I thank Higher Ground for showing me love and support in many ways, and that if I can make it out of a bad place, I want others to know that many youths in the same position can too.
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