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Desert Mission Inc
Scottsdale, AZ · EIN 860096941 · Form 990 · FY2020 · NTEE P75Z · Human Services · Large ($10M-$50M) · www.desertmission.com
revenue
$10.0M
expenses
$10.9M
net assets
$11.3M
employees
0
volunteers
1,846
program ratio
89%
mission · from form 990

Improving the Health and Well-being of our community through programs that embrace the power of resiliency and foster self-sufficiency.

profile · synthesized from sources

Desert Mission Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Arizona that provides a range of services to support individuals and families, including food assistance, adult day health care, and early childhood education. Their programs are designed to address immediate needs while fostering long-term well-being and self-sufficiency across the community.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $1.72M
    LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER - OFFERS QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS. LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC). LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER REMAINED OPEN TO SERVE FRONT LINE FAMILIES IMPACTED BY COVID-19. DURING THE 2019/2020 SCHOOL YEAR, 310 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN-CLASS SUPPORT AND REMOTE LEARNING ONLINE. THE CENTER'S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CURRICULUM PROVIDES YOUNG CHILDREN WITH THE STRONG START THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.
  2. #2 $497K
    ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE - DESERT MISSION, INC.'S ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE SENIOR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES A COORDINATED PROGRAM OF PROFESSIONAL AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICES FOR ADULTS IN A COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP SETTING. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL, INCLUDING INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER, AND SOME HEALTH SERVICES TO ADULTS WHO NEED SUPERVISED CARE IN A SAFE PLACE OUTSIDE THE HOME DURING THE DAY. ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE: MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDE CARE FOR THEIR SENIOR FAMILY MEMBERS. TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES, DESERT MISSION, INC. OFFERS ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE, A PLACE WHERE SENIORS CAN SPEND THE DAY IN A SETTING THAT'S FRIENDLY, DIGNIFIED AND STIMULATING WHILE CAREGIVERS ENJOY A BREAK FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE WELCOMES SENIORS INTO AN ACTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT INCLUDES HEALTH MONITORING BY A REGISTERED NURSE. SENIORS ENJOY ACTIVITIES BOTH ON AND OFF SITE, INCLUDING: - ARTS AND CRAFTS, - BINGO AND OTHER TABLE GAMES, - LADDER GOLF, HORSESHOES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, - DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS, - STRETCHING, - TRIPS TO MOVIES, MUSEUMS AND RESTAURANTS (INCLUDING DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION), - INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN AT LINCOLN LEARNING CENTER, - BREAKFAST AND SNACKS, - PERSONAL CARE AND HYGIENE, AS NEEDED, - AND MUCH MORE. CAREGIVERS ALSO ARE OFFERED SOCIAL SERVICES AND COUNSELING TO HELP THEM IN THEIR ROLE. IN 2020, COVID-19 IMPACTED THESE SERVICES, BUT THE CENTER REOPENED AS SOON AS INFECTION PREVENTION EXPERTS DEEMED IT SAFE. WITH 15 PARTICIPANTS PER DAY ON AVERAGE, RANGING IN AGE FROM 56 TO 100, SERVICES ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLLY FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS, WHERE 85 PERCENT HAVE DEMENTIA.
named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Adult Day Health Care
Offers social, cognitive, and recreational activities for seniors, particularly those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, including respite care and caregiver support
Food Bank
Provides emergency food assistance through monthly food packages, senior food boxes, infant food boxes, and nutrition education; serves over 137,000 individuals annually through onsite and offsite distributions
Holiday Adopt a Family
Annual holiday program connecting donors with families in need to provide gifts and support
Lincoln Learning Center
NAEYC-accredited early childhood education center serving children from diverse backgrounds, with financial assistance available and a focus on kindergarten readiness
Living Well
Provides personalized resource navigation to address root causes of food insecurity, including SNAP and AHCCCS enrollment, emergency rent and utility assistance, and connections to community services
Mobile Farm Stand
Offsite program bringing fresh produce to underserved areas through mobile distributions at community sites
School Pantry Program
Operates pantry sites at schools to increase food access for students and families; served over 3,000 households in 2025
Snack Pack Program
Distributes snack packs to children in schools, particularly in Washington Elementary and Deer Valley districts, to address childhood hunger
Turkey Distribution
Provides Thanksgiving meal boxes including turkeys and groceries to thousands of community members
activities · 12 groups

what they do

  • Holiday Gift and Family Support Programs 5 activities
    • Community Engagement and Volunteer Programs
      Engages individuals and groups in volunteer activities to support community members and facilitates programs like Holiday Adopt a Family.
    • Seasonal Community Support Programs
      Organizes and facilitates seasonal programs such as the Holiday Adopt a Family program, which connected 215 families with 153 donors, and the Back to School program, which distributed 1,377 backpacks to students.
    • Seasonal and Holiday Assistance Programs
      Distributes essential items during specific times of the year, such as backpacks to students through the Back to School program and turkeys and groceries for Thanksgiving dinners.
    • Seasonal and Holiday Distribution Events
      Organizes and hosts seasonal and holiday distribution events, including a Back to School program distributing 1,377 backpacks, a Thanksgiving distribution providing 2,000 turkeys and groceries, and a Holiday Adopt a Family program facilitating adoptions for 215 families by 153 donors.
    • Seasonal and Holiday Distribution Programs
      Organizes and executes seasonal distribution events such as the Back to School program for backpacks and Thanksgiving dinner groceries, including turkeys.
  • SNAP Enrollment Assistance 5 activities
    • Community Resource Navigation
      Provides individualized resource navigation services through Community Service Specialists, connecting individuals to public benefits, emergency assistance, low-cost health services, housing resources, and financial coaching, resulting in 842 accepted CommunityCares referrals and 47 SNAP enrollment applications.
    • Community Resource Navigation and Support
      Provides individualized resource navigation services, connecting individuals to public benefits, emergency assistance, low-cost health services, housing resources, financial coaching, and employment services. This includes facilitating SNAP enrollment applications and CommunityCares referrals.
    • Community Resource Navigation and Support
      Connects individuals to community resources such as public benefits, emergency assistance, low-cost health services, housing resources, and provides individualized resource navigation services, including assistance with SNAP enrollment applications.
    • Community Resource Navigation and Support
      Provides individualized resource navigation services, connecting individuals to community resources such as public benefits, emergency assistance, low-cost health services, housing resources, and financial coaching, employment, and career services. This includes facilitating SNAP enrollment applications and CommunityCares referrals.
    • Community Resource Navigation and Support
      Provides individualized resource navigation services, connecting individuals to public benefits, emergency assistance, low-cost health services, housing resources, financial coaching, and employment services. This includes facilitating SNAP enrollment applications and CommunityCares referrals.
  • Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness Programs 5 activities
    • Early Childhood Education and Childcare
      Provides early education and childcare services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including daily healthy meals and free annual developmental screenings for all enrolled children. The program served 284 children at Lincoln Learning Center, with 97% of pre-K graduates assessed as kindergarten-ready.
    • Early Childhood Education and Childcare
      Provides early education and childcare services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including daily healthy meals and free annual developmental screenings for all enrolled children. The program achieved 97% kindergarten readiness for pre-K graduates at Lincoln Learning Center.
    • Early Childhood Education and Childcare
      Provides accredited early education and childcare services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including daily healthy meals and free annual developmental screenings, with a focus on kindergarten readiness.
    • Early Childhood Education and Childcare
      Provides early education and childcare services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including free annual developmental screenings for 100% of enrolled children and daily healthy meals through participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, serving 284 children at Lincoln Learning Center with 97% of pre-K graduates assessed as kindergarten-ready.
    • Early Education and Childcare
      Provides accredited early education and childcare services for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, including daily healthy meals and free annual developmental screenings. The program served 284 children at Lincoln Learning Center, with 97% of pre-K graduates assessed as kindergarten-ready.
  • Food Preservation and Cooking Education 5 activities
    • Nutrition Education and Gardening Classes
      Offers nutrition education to clients to promote healthy and affordable eating using food from the food bank, and provides seasonal gardening classes to teach individuals how to grow nutritious produce.
    • Nutrition Education and Gardening Classes
      Offers nutrition education to clients using food from the food bank to promote healthy and affordable eating, and provides seasonal gardening classes to teach individuals how to grow nutritious produce.
    • Nutrition Education and Healthy Eating Programs
      Offers nutrition education to clients, providing free recipe resources and seasonal gardening classes to promote healthy and affordable eating and teach individuals how to grow nutritious produce.
    • Nutrition Education and Healthy Eating Programs
      Offers nutrition education, free recipe resources, and seasonal gardening classes to promote healthy and affordable eating and teach individuals how to grow nutritious produce.
    • Nutrition Education and Healthy Living Programs
      Offers nutrition education to clients using food from the food bank, provides free recipe resources, and conducts seasonal gardening classes to promote healthy and affordable eating and teach individuals how to grow nutritious produce.
  • Respite and Personal Care Support 4 activities
    • Adult Day Health Care Services
      Provides comprehensive adult day health care services, including therapeutic social and community activities, nutritious meals, nursing care, personal care assistance, social services, counseling, and transportation for participants and support for their care partners.
    • Adult Day Health Care Services
      Provides comprehensive adult day health care services, including therapeutic social and community activities, nutritious meals, nursing care, personal care assistance, social services, counseling, and transportation for participants and support for their care partners. The program increased enrollments by 19% and introduced a Virtual Reality system for engagement.
    • Adult Day Health Care Services
      Operates Arizona’s first licensed Adult Day Health Care center, providing therapeutic social and community activities, nutritious meals, nursing care, personal care assistance, and social services for participants, with a 19% increase in enrollments and the introduction of a Virtual Reality system.
    • Adult Day Health Care Services
      Provides comprehensive adult day health care services, including therapeutic social and community activities, nutritious meals, nursing care, personal care assistance, social services, counseling, and transportation for participants and support for their care partners. The program increased enrollments by 19% and introduced a Virtual Reality system for engagement.
  • Surplus Food Rescue and Redistribution 3 activities
    • Food Bank Operations and Food Distribution
      Operates a food bank that provides food assistance through direct service and community programs, distributing over 4 million pounds of food to 65,222 households and 137,234 individuals annually. This includes emergency food boxes, community pantries, and specialized programs for infants, seniors, and school-age children.
    • Food Bank Operations and Food Distribution
      Operates a food bank that provides food assistance through direct service and community programs, distributing over 4 million pounds of food to 65,222 households and 137,234 individuals annually. This includes emergency food boxes, community pantries, and specialized programs for infants, seniors, and school-age children.
    • School and Employee Pantry Network
      Expands food access through a network of pantries, including four cancer care pantries, two school pantries, one community housing pantry, two clinic-based food box sites, and seven HonorHealth employee pantries, distributing 65,488 pounds of food through 22 school pantry distributions.
  • Fresh Produce Distribution for Vulnerable Populations 3 activities
    • Mobile Farm Stand Program
      Operates a mobile farm stand that distributes fresh, seasonal, Arizona-grown produce, including organic options, to community locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale at affordable prices.
    • Mobile Farm Stand Program
      Operates a mobile farm stand that distributes fresh, seasonal, Arizona-grown produce, including organic options, to community locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale at affordable prices.
    • Mobile Farm Stand Program
      Operates a mobile farm stand that distributes fresh, seasonal, Arizona-grown produce, including citrus, root vegetables, and melons, to community locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale at affordable prices.
  • Back-to-School Supplies Distribution 1 activity
    • Back to School Program
      Distributes backpacks to students through the Back to School program, having distributed 1,377 backpacks.
  • Weekend and Supplemental Meal Provision for Youth 1 activity
    • Snack Pack Program
      Provides weekly bags of nutritious food to school-age children through the Snack Pack Program in partnership with local schools, distributing 14,190 snack packs to students across 22 schools.
  • Regular Food Pantry Distribution 1 activity
    • Team Member Pantry Program
      Operates team member pantries at eight locations within the HonorHealth network to provide food assistance to employees.
  • General Volunteer Support Services 1 activity
    • Volunteer Engagement
      Engages individuals and groups in volunteer activities to support community members and various programs.
  • Uncategorized 8 activities
    • Care Partner Support Services
      Offers respite, resources, and support groups for care partners of individuals enrolled in the adult day health care program.
    • Community Engagement and Volunteer Programs
      Engages individuals and groups in volunteer activities to support community members, including hosting events like the Annual Postal Drive, Walk-up Turkey Distribution, and the Holiday Adopt a Family program which facilitated the adoption of 215 families by 153 donors.
    • Community Engagement and Volunteer Programs
      Engages individuals and groups in volunteer activities to support community members, including hosting events like the Annual Postal Drive, Walk-up Turkey Distribution, and the Holiday Adopt a Family program.
    • Financial and Employment Support Services
      Offers financial coaching, employment, and career services to support participants' financial well-being.
    • Food Bank Operations and Distribution
      Operates a food bank that provides food assistance to individuals and families, distributing over 4 million pounds of food to 65,222 households and 137,234 individuals annually through onsite operations, emergency food boxes, and community pantries. This includes serving first-time visitors, providing monthly food packages, and distributing infant formula.
    • Paramedic Training
      Trained the first class of Phoenix Fire Department paramedics.
    • Senior Food Assistance
      Distributes monthly food boxes to income-qualified seniors within the Desert Mission service area.
    • Team Member Pantry Operations
      Operates team member pantries at eight locations within the HonorHealth network to provide food assistance to employees.
financials · form 990 · fy2020
revenue
Total revenue$10.01M
Contributions & grants$8.51M85%
Program service revenue$1.31M13%
Investment income$99K1%
Other revenue$93K
expenses
Total expenses$10.92M
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.43M
Grants paid out$5.80M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.34M
Cash$14K
Investments$4.84M
Liabilities$1.00M
Net assets$11.34M
Liquid reserves5.3 mo
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
TODD LAPORTE DIRECTOR/CEO, HONORHEALTH 1 $1.97M
SUE SADECKI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $204K
KRISTINE MENDOZA DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 40 $133K
JULIE ARVO MACKENZIE DIRECTOR/GOV. COMMITTEE CHAIR 1 $29K
board members · 11
  • APRIL JONES — DIRECTOR/PROG. COMMITTEE CHAIR
  • BARBARA HOOD — DIRECTOR/TREASURER/FIN. CHAIR
  • BROCK BARNHART — DIRECTOR
  • GREG BARTON — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN RAGAN — DIRECTOR
  • KARILEE RAMALEY — DIRECTOR
  • MIKE KING — DIRECTOR/SECRETARY
  • NICOLE MAAS — DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR
  • SHAD VERMEESCH — DIRECTOR
  • WAYNE FISCHER — DIRECTOR
  • WILLIAM SCARNATO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 21

who they work with

  • Child and Adult Care Food Program Government — Partnered with the program to provide healthy meals daily.
  • Deer Valley Partner — Distributes snack packs and operates school pantry sites in partnership with Deer Valley schools.
  • First Things First Partner — Recognized Lincoln Learning Center as a Quality Site due to its commitment to health and safety.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates on initiatives related to food and health, as indicated by shared imagery and programming focus.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates on volunteer onboarding and management through HonorHealth Volunteer Services.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates to operate the Team Member Pantry at eight locations within the HonorHealth network.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates with HonorHealth to expand food access across the HonorHealth network and through the Social Determinants of Health initiative.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates with HonorHealth to serve employees and patients through the mobile farm stand.
  • HonorHealth Partner — Collaborates with HonorHealth to serve patients and operates on the campus of HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center.
  • HonorHealth Partner — HonorHealth leadership serves on the Desert Mission Board of Directors, with Haeli Miceli as Executive Director of Desert Mission and Todd LaPorte and Michelle Pabis holding board roles
  • HonorHealth Partner — Partner organization associated with the Desert Mission Food Bank.
  • HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center Partner — Collaborates on community health initiatives and employee support programs.
  • HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center Partner — Collaborates on community health initiatives and employee support programs.
  • John C. Lincoln Funder — Primary financial benefactor who contributed funds to purchase the hospital campus and support construction projects.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children – Academy of Early Childhood Programs Partner — Accredited the Lincoln Learning Center since 1993.
  • Phoenix Fire Department Partner — Partner agency for which Desert Mission trained the first class of paramedics.
  • Presbyterian Church Partner — Original organizing body that initiated Desert Mission activities in 1927.
  • Sun Produce Cooperative Partner — Local farming co-op that supplies seasonal, locally grown produce for the mobile farm stand.
  • Washington Elementary School District Partner — Distributes snack packs and operates school pantry sites in partnership with the district.
  • Young Arts Arizona Partner — Partnership brought a teaching artist into intergenerational art experiences at the Adult Day Health Care program.
  • local schools Partner — Partners with local schools to distribute weekend food bags through the Snack Pack Program.