Our Story

About Desert Knights Foundation

We serve students and young people, veterans and military families, seniors, and families facing hardship across Greater Phoenix, through education, mentorship, emergency assistance, and hands-on service. We did not wait for change. We built it.

501(c)(3) Nonprofit OrganizationEIN: 42-2830942

Lead. Serve. Impact.

2026

Established

Founding Directors

Programs

Where We Come From

A Foundation Built on Belief

Desert Knights Foundation was not born in a boardroom. It was born out of a conviction that the people closest to the struggle are the ones best placed to lead the way out.

We saw neighbors with real potential held back by circumstances beyond their control, veterans returning home without the support they earned, and young people waiting for someone to believe in them.

So we stopped waiting. We built it. Rooted in dignity, driven by purpose, built to last.

Anton Crosby Sr. with toys collected for the children at Ebony House in Phoenix

Toy delivery to Ebony House in Phoenix

How We Got Here

A Short History, Documented

We are a young organization, so we will not show you a decade of numbers we do not have. Here is what we have actually done, with the dates and records to back it up.

2026

Incorporated in Glendale, Arizona

Desert Knights Foundation, Inc. is formed as an Arizona nonprofit corporation by four founding directors. The board now numbers five.

March 23, 2026

Tax-Exempt Status Takes Effect

Our 501(c)(3) public charity status becomes effective, making contributions tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

July 1, 2026

IRS Determination Letter Issued

The Internal Revenue Service formally recognizes the Foundation as exempt under Section 501(c)(3). The letter is published in full, not summarized.

Read the letter →

Registered Through August 2027

Active in SAM.gov

Registration is active for all federal awards, with a Unique Entity ID and CAGE code on file, so we are eligible to pursue federal grant funding.

See our credentials →

Live Now

Four Campaigns Raising Funds

Equipped for Learning, Student Lunch Relief, Knights on the Move, and Bridge to Stability are open and accepting gifts across Greater Phoenix.

See where gifts go →

Programs Launching and Growing

Mentorship and Veteran & Family Support are being built for launch. Leadership development and community partnerships run through all four programs rather than standing as programs of their own.

Explore the programs →

The Meaning Behind Our Name

Keeping

Select a letter to reveal what it stands for

Keeping Neighborhoods Inspired Giving Hope Through Service

Who We Are

Mission & Vision

Our Vision

To be a beacon of hope within the communities we serve, creating opportunity, developing leaders, strengthening families, and empowering individuals to rise to their fullest potential. We are committed to being a trusted resource and responsible steward, leaving a lasting impact through service, education, and community engagement.

Our Mission

The mission of Desert Knights Foundation is to lead with purpose, serve with compassion, and leave a lasting impact. We advance education, develop leaders, and strengthen communities by supporting underserved individuals, families, and those who need it most. Through mentorship, scholarships, charitable service, veteran and family support, and strategic community partnerships, we create opportunity, build trust, inspire hope, and empower others to thrive.

A Message from Our Founder

Why We Do This Work

"We started Desert Knights Foundation because we believe service is not something you do on occasion. It is who you are. Every program we run, every scholarship we award, every veteran we support, every door we open is a reflection of that belief. We are here for the long haul, and we are just getting started."

Anton Crosby Sr. Founder & President, Desert Knights Foundation, Inc.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

"Lead with Purpose. Serve with Compassion. Leave a Lasting Impact."

We do not ask others to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves. We lead through service, action, and example.

What this looks likeOur directors are not signing off from a distance. They are the ones in safety vests directing traffic at a drive-through distribution, loading boxes, and carrying meals into a hospital for the staff working the floor.

Every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to succeed.

What this looks likeIt is why Bridge to Stability exists. A family facing an eviction notice or a utility shutoff needs help on the timeline of the crisis, not the timeline of a committee, and they are never treated as a case number.

Every volunteer, partner, and member of our community shares responsibility for advancing our purpose and fulfilling the Foundation's mission.

What this looks likeOwnership is built into how we are governed. Each program portfolio is assigned to a named director who answers for it to the board, and board meetings are held quarterly with recorded minutes.

Service is not something we do. It is who we are.

What this looks likeThe food distributions, the senior outreach, the meals delivered to frontline hospital staff. All of it happened before there was a campaign page asking anyone to fund it.

We strive to remove barriers and open doors through education, mentorship, service, and support.

What this looks likeEquipped for Learning puts supplies, hygiene items, and clothing in a student's hands, and Student Lunch Relief clears the meal debt that singles a child out at lunch. Both remove a barrier that has nothing to do with how hard that student is willing to work.

We measure success not by recognition received, but by lives improved and communities strengthened.

What this looks likeIt is why our IRS determination letter is published in full rather than summarized, and why our Form 990 and financial statements go on the Transparency page the moment they exist. Lasting means auditable.

Select a value to see what it looks like in practice