Tucson Atheist Community Outreach Team

The TACO Team (Tucson Atheist Community Outreach Team) is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates the atheist/secular community in doing good works, as well as raising funds to help other organizations in their missions. Our activism and actions are informed by secular principles of humanism and social justice. We want to make our corner of the world a better place and we will accomplish that through actions, not platitudes. We provide community and support for the atheist/secular community.

A Spark in 2015- On a chilly Winter Solstice night in 2015, a small group of “heathens” gathered around a bonfire, dreaming up ways to uplift our community. That night, the seed of TACO Team was planted.

Growing in 2016- We launched our very first fundraiser in May—a car wash for Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter. In October, we donated to Emerge and hosted a “Halloween Carwash” for the kitties. By November, our Diaper Bank drive collected over 1,300 diapers, and in December, we sponsored three DES families for the holidays.

Expanding in 2017- From raising funds for Treasures for Teachers and Arizona Welcomes Refugees to bowling for Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA), we were on a roll. We also hosted our first Atheist Comedy Night in September, benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. By year’s end, we sponsored more families through DES and supported Emerge through a Justice League movie fundraiser.

Taking Flight in 2018- Early in the year, we screened Black Panther for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We held more comedy nights, car washes, and donation drives—supporting organizations like Treasures for Teachers, Emerge, and Youth on Their Own. We set up a RedBubble store for TACO Team swag and were thrilled to be approved for 501(c)(3) status (though we didn’t get the letter right away!). We wrapped up 2018 by adopting four DES families for the holidays.

Momentum in 2019- We teamed up with Captain Marvel (movie screening at Roadhouse) to raise funds for Emerge, collected clothing for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and organized a pet food drive for Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank. Our 3rd Annual PRIDE Bowlathon scored more donations for SAGA, and we brought the laughs again with an Atheist Comedy Night for the Abortion Fund of Arizona—raising over $1,000. By December, we turned our efforts to the Tucson Second Chance Community Bail Fund.

Challenges & Creativity in 2020- Before the world turned upside down, we held craft fairs (benefiting Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank) and an emergency pet food drive that brought in hundreds of dollars plus a truckload of supplies. Though many events paused, we kept our community spirit alive, by putting together a Cookbook!

New Directions in 2021- In July, we resumed our Emergency Pet Food Drive for Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank. Then in October, our Atheist Comedy Night raised over $700 for the Abortion Fund of Arizona. December marked a milestone: our very first direct-giving holiday campaign, with a matching donor helping us raise $2,176 to provide 16 families with gift cards, treats, and presents.

Naming the Tradition in 2022- Encouraged by success, we formalized our second direct-giving campaign as The Giving Saguaro. With generous matching support, we collected over $3,800, gifting 20 families with Visa gift cards, items from their wish lists, homemade treats, and even a last-minute Amazon surprise.

Community Pride & Action in 2023- We kicked off April with Secular Week of Action, raising $330 for Treasures for Teachers of Tucson. In May, we bowled once again for SAGA, boosting funds to nearly $600. By December, The Giving Saguaro was on its third run—over $4,500 in support for 21 families.

Biggest Year Yet in 2024- This December’s Giving Saguaro soared to over $5,300, assisting 23 families with holiday cheer and essentials. Each year we grow stronger, and none of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers, donors, and community partners.

From that first bonfire brainstorm to yearly direct-giving campaigns, TACO Team’s journey has been fueled by kindness, laughter, and a determination to help others. We can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us—thank you for being part of our story!