Feb. 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day, a holiday celebrating and encouraging thoughtful everyday gestures. While random acts do not need to be constricted to a single day of notoriety, the observance incentivizes the “do-gooder” within us, and recognizes that a single action, planned or impulse, has the potential to enact lasting positive impact in the lives of others.
Whether one of your New Year’s resolutions was to become more charitably involved, or if you are simply looking to maximize a random act of kindness, Arizona has made it both easy and advantageous to do so through its state tax credit program. If you donate to a qualifying nonprofit organization, you may be eligible to receive deductions to your state income taxes.
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation is one such qualifying organization in which donations cited in one’s tax filings can result in additions to one’s refund or deductions to money owed. For over 40 years, AFFCF has worked to ensure Arizona’s foster care population can participate in the same activities as their non-foster care peers; achieve self-sufficiency through employment, education and housing programs; and pursue post-secondary success, all through its extensive suite of programs and resources. Its evidence-based Keys to Success program serves current and former foster youth aged 16 to 26 and provides comprehensive education and workforce development support services to ensure their successful transition to independence. In 2024, AFFCF served 473 youth through Keys to Success.
AFFCF’s Childhood Activities program for youths aged 0 to 20 facilitates moments of joy for foster youth, helping cover costs for everything from yearbooks, field trips and extracurricular activities to summer camps, music lessons and bicycles. This fund is a pillar of stability and normalcy throughout the childhood of youth, ensuring that foster children can participate in the same skill-building enrichment opportunities as their peers whose support systems are more concrete. AFFCF served 3,309 children in 2024, and help was requested through the Childhood Activities fund 14,455 times — a feat impossible without the assistance of acts of kindness from donors.
If you are interested in making your random act of kindness a donation to either AFFCF (QFCO #10023) or another organization during 2025, donations of up to $618 for single taxpayers and up to $1,234 for married taxpayers filing jointly can be deducted directly from your state income taxes as a qualifying foster care organization contribution.
It is still possible, however, to donate until April 15 (the 2024 filing deadline) and count charitable contributions toward the 2024 tax year. For 2024 tax filings, contributions of up to $587 for single taxpayers and up to $1,173 for married taxpayers filing jointly can be filed for the foster care tax credit.
If you expect to break even or get a refund on your Arizona state taxes, the amount you donate will be added, dollar-for-dollar, to your refund. If you expect to owe income tax to the state, your contribution will directly reduce the amount of your debt, also dollar for dollar. This means that your contribution constitutes a win-win — the strengthening of a nonprofit’s ability to continue their important, often life-saving work, while you reap a boon for your budget.
For National Random Acts of Kindness Day, the decision to empower a nonprofit through funding can result in lasting benefits for both you and, potentially, an Arizona foster child in need.
Editor’s note: Luis De La Cruz is president and CEO of the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that empowers children and youth in foster care. He lives in Buckeye. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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