Community Homes of Patagonia, Inc. (CHOP), a longtime local nonprofit focused on housing stability, has been designated as a Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO) for 2026 by the Arizona Department of Revenue. The designation allows Arizona taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state income taxes when they donate to CHOP, up to the annual limits set by the state.

CHOP is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served Patagonia and surrounding communities for almost two decades. The QCO designation was granted on January 23, 2026, based on the organization’s work providing immediate assistance to income-qualified households for home repairs, one of the eligibility requirements under Arizona law.

For taxpayers, the designation offers a financial incentive to support local housing initiatives in a town that many love for its natural beauty, what it has to offer, and most especially the people they meet. Arizona residents who donate to CHOP may claim a state tax credit of up to $506 for individuals or heads of household, or $1,009 for married couples filing jointly on their 2026 returns. Unlike a deduction, the QCO credit directly reduces the amount of state tax owed. Taxpayers are also able to continue to support other worthy causes, like the school, church, and foster care programs to their maximum amounts because each entity has a different Arizona Department of Revenue designation code. Community Homes of Patagonia’s QCO Code is #20423. 

CHOP’s programs address housing needs across several stages of homeownership. Its Home Repair Program assists low-income homeowners with health and safety-related repairs that might otherwise go unaddressed due to cost. Since 2012, this program has completed 39 repair projects, helping residents remain safely in their homes.

Many CHOP clients are elderly, long-time Patagonia residents living on fixed incomes who face unexpected repair costs. Others include younger households who have purchased older or pre-1976 mobile homes and find themselves overwhelmed by the many things deteriorating in their home.

In order to sustain its operations, Community Homes of Patagonia (CHOP) continues to participate in, solicit, and explore other avenues for fundraising.   On Tuesday, April 7, CHOP encourages local, state, and national supporters of affordable housing to participate in the Arizona Gives Day 2026: One Day, One Purpose. A lifetime of Impact.  Enter keywords like Patagonia, CHOP, and Community Homes of Patagonia to find this nonprofit and donate at www.azgives.org. 

Funds raised through programs like Arizona Gives allow CHOP to offer a Homebuyer Education Program, which guides first-time buyers with very low to moderate incomes through the process of purchasing a home. The program includes access to a HUD-approved education course required by many lenders and is offered at no cost to participants. Classes are held periodically in Patagonia and Nogales, extending services throughout Santa Cruz County.

In November, one homebuyer education participant was awarded a new home loan in Rio Rico through the Chicanos Por La Causa homeownership program, an outcome CHOP describes as an example of long-term support making a measurable difference.

CHOP’s third major initiative, the Affordable Homes Program, focuses on expanding long-term affordable housing options through rehabilitation and new construction projects, including the Community Land Trust property known as Gopher Field on Third Avenue. Community land trusts are designed to preserve affordability over time by separating ownership of the land from the home itself.

The organization operates with a five-member volunteer board of directors and a part-time program manager. Funding over the years has come from a mix of individual donations, grants, capital campaigns, and in-kind community support. Now, it will include Arizona tax credits. 

CHOP’s Board of Directors hopes that the Qualified Charitable Organization designation not only strengthens CHOP’s funding base but also highlights the role small, community-based organizations play in addressing housing affordability in rural areas. By directing tax dollars to local programs, Arizona residents have a way to support housing stability while investing directly in this community.