Playing for purpose: How Fiona Sauvé is turning music into impact through Public Allies Arizona
When Fiona Sauvé reflects on her path into nonprofit work, she returns to a moment that reshaped how she understands community. A few years ago, she spent over an hour in conversation with someone experiencing homelessness. It was not a formal interaction, nor part of any program. It was simply a conversation, but one that stayed with her.
“I just realized, you know, the human dignity of every person, especially those who are experiencing homelessness, and so I was really inspired,” she says.
It was a quiet turning point, one that would later guide her toward a career rooted in service, connection and purpose.
Today, that moment echoes in a very different setting. Under the Arizona sun at the Chandler Farmers Market, Fiona stands with her violin, a small sign beside her listing dozens of songs. People pause as they walk by, some curious, some smiling, some stopping to listen. Some step closer, scanning the list, choosing a song. Ten dollars per request. Each note played becomes a direct contribution to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness. She calls it Fiddling to Fight Poverty.
As a Public Ally placed at AZCEND, a nonprofit based in downtown Chandler, Fiona has found a way to bring together her passion for service and her love of music. What began as a simple idea has grown into a community-driven effort to create impact.
Each donation supports AZCEND’s Heat Relief Program. Running from May to October, it offers more than just shelter from the heat. It provides meals, hydration, overnight support and access to resources like case management, employment pathways and housing assistance. For many, it is a place of safety, rest and dignity.
Fiona first joined AZCEND in May of last year to support this program. What began as a seasonal role soon became something more. Around the time her program ended, she learned about Public Allies Arizona, a leadership development initiative at the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation that places emerging leaders in nonprofit organizations while equipping them with the skills, networks and support to create long-term social change. She applied and was selected as a Public Ally, allowing her to continue her work at AZCEND while deepening her leadership and expanding her impact.
Through this experience, Fiona didn’t just stay in the work, she grew within it. Public Allies is a leadership pipeline rooted in equity, designed to develop leaders committed to strengthening communities and addressing systemic challenges. Through hands-on nonprofit work, leadership training, mentorship and a strong peer network, participants are supported in moving beyond service delivery and toward long-term impact.
From idea to impact
Fiona has played the violin for over 13 years. Music has always been a part of her life, something that brings joy, expression and connection. But during her time working in AZCEND’s Heat Relief Program, she began to see it differently. She wondered if it could become something more.
The idea came quickly, and she wrote it down: Fiddling to Fight Poverty.
“I'm not the very best violinist in the world, and at times that's been a deterrent to me,” she says. “I thought, ‘Why doesn't somebody else do this work?’ The answer should be, ‘Why not me?’ Why shouldn't I be the one doing this work, especially if it's not being done?”
Once she began her Public Allies apprenticeship, she saw an opportunity to bring it to life. With the support of her supervisor and connections to the Chandler Farmers Market, Fiona launched the initiative.
The concept is simple but powerful. Visitors at the Chandler Farmers Market can request a song from a list of around 80 options. Each request is a $10 donation, and every dollar goes directly to AZCEND’s Heat Relief Program. In return, Fiona performs. The exchange creates something unique: a moment of joy that directly supports people in need.
“I love performing,” she says. “But I also love that it can be used as a resource for helping others.”
So far, Fiona’s efforts have raised over $600, contributing to essentials such as food, water, clothing and the development of a community closet for program participants.
But beyond the funds raised, the initiative does something equally powerful: it invites people into the work. Each song becomes an entry point, a way for community members to engage, contribute and see themselves as part of a shared effort to support their neighbors.
Leadership beyond direct service
Through her experience with Public Allies, Fiona has developed a broader understanding of leadership in the nonprofit sector. While direct service remains essential, she emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes.
“How can we really go to the root of an issue and solve it from there so that it does not continue to persist? I think that's a really great approach to leadership. How can we start from the ground up and work on creating solutions?”
The program has also reinforced the importance of initiative and connection, two elements she sees as essential to meaningful change.
“You really get out of it what you put into it,” she says. “There are so many opportunities to create something and make an impact.”
Her work stands as an answer to that question, a reminder that skills and passions, no matter how ordinary they may seem, can become powerful tools for change when paired with intention and action.
A story still unfolding
Today, Fiona continues her work in the nonprofit sector, blending service, creativity and leadership in ways that reflect her values and her vision. Through Public Allies, she has not only strengthened her path in the nonprofit sector, but she has also reimagined what that path can look like. And with every note she plays, she is doing more than performing. She is creating impact.
See how a Public Ally could increase capacity at your organization
Do you have a project that you would love to implement, but lack the staff capacity or other resources? We help our partners increase their capacity to achieve their mission by matching them with talented individuals from the community.
Public Allies Arizona places these emerging leaders in full-time or part-time service to nonprofits in Phoenix and Tucson communities. These nonprofits, called Partner Organizations, are chosen based on their ability to provide the Ally with significant work experience, as well as their need for an innovative leader who can help them take on a project they otherwise could not afford or infuse energy into an existing project.
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