Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Donors can provide direct scholarships for low-income students and receive a powerful 75% credit on their Illinois state taxes through the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program.
125 Carmel Catholic students are on the waitlist.
Help Carmel Catholic raise $1,836,810 to "CLEAR" the waitlist.
What is the Illinois Tax Credit Program?
Illinois enacted the Invest In Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program in 2017. This program offers a 75% income tax credit to individuals and businesses that contribute to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) such as Empower Illinois and Big Shoulders. The SGOs then provide scholarships for students whose families meet the income requirements to attend qualified, non-public schools in Illinois.
All donations will go directly to Carmel Catholic students who demonstrate financial need in the form of 100%, 75%, or 50% scholarships depending on household size and family income.
Benefit to Donor: Multiply your donation by taking advantage of a 75% tax credit
Benefit to Students: Eliminates the financial stress of tuition payments for qualifying families
Benefit to Carmel: Grow, diversify and strengthen our student body while freeing up other fundraising dollars for building, equipment and program investments
A gift of $3,750 provides ONE student with a full CCHS scholarship and makes a total financial impact of nearly $24,000!
Financial Impact Overview
Scholarship Gift Amount |
Illinois Tax Credit Returned to You |
Your Total Out of Pocket Gift |
Total # of Full Scholarships Provided to CCHS Students |
Total $ of Financial Aid that CCHS can re-allocate as a direct result of your gift |
Total Financial Impact of your Gift |
$20,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
1.4 |
$11,891.89 |
$31,891.89 |
$15,000.00 |
$11,250.00 |
$3,750.00 |
1.0 |
$8,918.92 |
$23,918.92 |
$10,000.00 |
$7,500.00 |
$2,500.00 |
0.7 |
$5,945.95 |
$15,945.95 |
$5,000.00 |
$3,750.00 |
$1,250.00 |
0.3 |
$2,972.97 |
$7,972.97 |
$1,000.00 |
$750.00 |
$250.00 |
0.1 |
$594.59 |
$1,594.59 |
Lower Your Tax Bill
The program provides Illinois state income tax credits to individuals and corporations who contribute money to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). SGOs are independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that award scholarships to eligible students from low-income families. Individuals and corporations may receive a credit for their Illinois state taxes equal to 75 percent of donations to an SGO. Individuals can designate their donation to Carmel Catholic High School.
For example, donate $10,000, and receive a $7,500 credit against your Illinois income tax. You can direct your donation to Carmel Catholic. Carmel students who need financial assistance receive the total value of your $10,000 donation.
Types of Gifts
- Credit Card (3.25% processing fee)
- ACH
- Check
- Stocks & Bonds
- Wire
Matching Gifts
Empower Illinois accepts corporate matching gifts. Donations will be directed to the designated school. Learn more.Three Easy Steps to Give
- If you already have an account, enter your username and password to verify.
- If you do NOT have an account, click the ‘Individuals’ tab and follow the instructions. Your letter ID will be mailed within 7-10 days.
- Activate your account at mytax.illinois.gov “Sign Up Now.”
- Reserve your credit (when reserving, select Empower Illinois as the Scholarship Granting Organization).
- Individuals will direct their donations to the school or schools of their choice (make sure you select Carmel Catholic High School).
- However, when reserving a tax credit with the IL Department of Revenue, donors will need to select the region in which their designated school or schools are located in (CCHS is in Region 2).
- After donating, donors will receive a certificate of receipt from Empower Illinois and the Department of Revenue will be notified that a donation was made.