HCA works with Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO) to make sure your charitable donation is recognized by the Illinois Department of Revenue and that you, the donor, receive a tax credit for that donation.
Dear HCA family,
As you know, we are a school devoted to blessing you and your children. We understand this is a big task and we pursue this mission with the Lord before us. There are often times that these blessings depend on scholarship money to keep our students enrolled. Amazingly, the state of Illinois enacted the Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program in 2017. This act allows taxpayers to contribute to scholarships for the school(s) of their choice. This program offers a 75% income tax credit to individuals and businesses that contribute to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). The SGOs then provide scholarships for students whose families meet the income requirements to attend qualified, non-public schools in Illinois.
The scholarships must go to students whose families meet low-income thresholds. Meaning, these scholarships are designed to help our students who would not be able to attend HCA without a scholarship. In order to fund these scholarships, this new program allows taxpayers to receive tax credits of up to $1,000,000! The program is capped at $75 million which may seem like a lot, but that funding will go quickly. Donors interested in receiving a tax credit should register as soon as possible with mytax.illinois.gov in order to apply for the tax credit. Individuals can designate their contribution to HCA directly (Region 2).
This program is now in its fourth year and we hope to have more students’ tuition funded. For 2018-2019, HCA was granted five student scholarships and for 2019-2020 HCA was granted four student scholarships based on the donations given to the program. For 2021-2022 HCA was granted 2 student scholarships and for 2022-2023 HCA was granted 1 student scholarship.
We look forward to seeing what scholarship opportunities will be there for 2023-2024 school year!
In His Service,
Talbott Behnken
Scholarship Granting Organization ~ Empower Illinois
For the 2022-23 school year, HCA has one student receiving funds via this SGO. We would like for him to be able to return in 2023-2024. Consider this SGO for your tax credit donation.
Donors can provide direct scholarships for low-income K-12 students and receive a powerful 75% credit on their Illinois state taxes through the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship (TCS) program. 100% of recipients qualify based on need and 95% of donations go directly to scholarships. In order for your gift to help fund scholarships for the current school year, annual donations must be made by November 30. Donations made by December 31 each year still qualify for a state tax credit but will be used towards scholarships for the upcoming school year.
Empower Illinois is the state’s largest, most comprehensive Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) administering tax credit scholarships.
The Tax Credit Scholarship for K-12 students will cover up to 100% of private school tuition up to a maximum of the average Illinois cost to educate, which is roughly $13,000.
Students with unique learning needs, including those who are gifted, English language learners, or those with special education qualifications, may be eligible to receive larger scholarships — up to double— roughly $26,000.
Tax Credit Scholarships are need based and do not take academic performance into consideration.
The application is a two-step process. First, reserve your place in line by completing a brief online form. After reserving your place in line, you will be able to complete the full application. Your place in line can increase your chances of receiving a scholarship but it is not a guarantee.
Scholarship Granting Organization ~ Children's Tuition Fund
Children’s Tuition Fund (CTF), a ministry of ACSI, supports and advocates for educational choice and innovation through scholarship tax-credit programs that provide parents the opportunity to choose an education that is the best fit for their children.
State tax-credit programs, designed to support underprivileged families, vary in the amount and percentage of credits awarded. In some states, businesses alone are permitted to participate. Other states encourage individual contributions. Some programs require that families apply directly with Scholarship Granting Organizations, while others require that schools handle the application process. Whatever the distinctives of the program, all favor lower-income families who want to better the lives of their children.
CTF works in partnership with schools, contributors, and parents to bless students by offering relationship-oriented financial assistance through these programs. CTF currently operates tax-credit scholarship programs in AL, IL, PA, RI, VA, and MO. As a Scholarship Granting Organization in these states, CTF works directly with contributors (both individuals and businesses) to process and approve tax-credits with the state. We aid schools in raising support and identifying needy families within their community, and ultimately award scholarships to those needy families to open doors of opportunity to deserving students.
As additional states pass tax-credit legislation promoting these scholarship programs, we are poised to expand and are advocating for school choice programs that will allow an increasing number of deserving students to have a choice in deciding on the school that is right for them.
The Tax Credit Scholarship for K-12 students will cover up to 100% of private school tuition up to a maximum of the average Illinois cost to educate, which is roughly $13,000.
Students with unique learning needs, including those who are gifted, English language learners, or those with special education qualifications, may be eligible to receive larger scholarships — up to double— roughly $26,000.
Tax Credit Scholarships are need based and do not take academic performance into consideration.
This application opens January 18, 2023 @ 9:00 AM!
Helpful Links
For more information, please refer to these links:
Tax Credit Scholarships
The Tax Credit Scholarship will cover up to 100% of private school tuition up to a maximum of the average Illinois cost to educate, roughly $13,000. Key information about the program and donating to these scholarships can be found below.
Scholarship amounts vary according to family income. Refer to this chart which shows income levels by family size and the corresponding scholarship amounts.
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL) CHART
| Household Size | 185% | 250% | 300% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25,141.50 | $33,975 | $40,770 | ||
| 2 | $33,873.50 | $45,775 | $54,930 | ||
| 3 | $42,605.50 | $57,575 | $69,090 | ||
| 4 | $51,337.50 | $69,375 | $83,250 | ||
| 5 | $60,069.50 | $81,175 | $97,410 | ||
| 6 | $68,801.50 | $92,975 | $111,570 | ||
| 7 | $77,533.50 | $104,775 | $125,730 | ||
| 8 | $86,265.50 | $116,575 | $139,890 |
These guidelines will serve as a pre-qualification for applications.
Please watch for updated information.
Contact Mrs. Kristy Weidman, Director of Admissions, with questions. Please note this program is different and in addition to our own HCA Scholarship Fund program. Please apply to all, if you have a need for assistance!
