I just spent four days in Chicago at the Partners in Mission National Advancement Summer Institute, in a room with more than 600 Catholic school leaders from across the country. I went to talk about the incredible impact that Tax Credits have had on Education in Pennsylvania, as well as our hopes for the Education Freedom Tax Credit. I left having talked with more than a hundred presidents, principals, and advancement directors, one conversation at a time, and I want to share the single most important thing I heard. It was not a question about Treasury rules (which are still pending) or opt-in deadlines. Instead, there was a major concern, and it surfaced again and again, usually phrased something like this: "This sounds great, but we do not have the major donors to make another program work." I understand the fear. But that understanding has the EFTC exactly backwards, which is part of what I find so exciting about this new program. Breadth, Not Big Gifts Here is the math that changes the conversation. 600 donors giving $1,700 each will generate approximately a million dollars in new scholarship money. Not six donors. Six hundred. Many of them are easily reachable within your current community and alumni network because this credit costs the donor nothing on net. The federal government returns the entire $1,700 contribution as a credit on the donor’s taxes. That changes the ask completely. You are not asking anyone to part with or give up their money. Instead, the ask is that they redirect money they already owe the IRS to children at your school instead. That is a conversation you can have with almost anyone: a parent, a grandparent, an alum, a parishioner, the owner of the hardware store or coffee shop down the street. Anyone and everyone with federal tax liability is a potential donor. Your Community Is Your Advantage Chalkbeat ran a piece this week suggesting that this credit could require enormous marketing spending, highlighting that one major school choice group estimated it might cost over $300, to persuade each individual taxpayer to give. The reason is simple: when considering this program on a national scale, it seems as if we have to convince millions of strangers, one by one.

Who this community is for - Private school leaders (principals, presidents, heads of school) - Advancement and development staff - Board members and finance committee volunteers Why this exists Parents will be asking about the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit this fall. It launches January 1, 2027, it is individual-donor only (up to $1,700 per tax return, dollar-for-dollar), and each state must opt in. Pennsylvania has not yet decided. This community exists so your school is ready before the questions arrive. What lives here - EDUCATE: Plain-English facts on the federal EFTC and a PA EITC refresher. What changed, what did not, and how the two programs work side by side. - EQUIP: Frameworks and checklists for your school's OWN communications -- welcome packets, back-to-school night, newsletters. You write the words; we give you the map and the facts. - ADVOCATE: PA opt-in status updates and tools to contact your legislators. Advocacy is not solicitation, and right now it is the most useful thing a PA school can do. Start with these 1. EFTC Back-to-School Kit (Classroom tab) 2. PA Opt-In Status: Where Things Stand (updated as news breaks) 3. EITC Refresher for 2026-27 House rules - Be generous with what works. Every school here serves families. - No selling. No pitches, no vendor promotion, no fundraising asks. - Keep student and donor information out of posts. - Disagree with ideas, not people. The standing disclaimer Everything in this community is general information for school leaders, not tax or legal advice. Nothing posted here asks anyone for a contribution. Donors and schools should consult their own CPA or attorney before acting. Donors may not earmark gifts for a specific student; scholarship organizations award need-based scholarships independently. Introduce yourself below: your school, your role, and the #1 question your parents asked about tax-credit scholarships last year.

Our marketing team is amazing. Look for me in the video.😀

Good morning! This is the first post in our tax credit scholarship Community. We are currently at the Partners in Mission Summer Conference in Chicago networking with Catholic schools from acroos the country.