We have reached that time of year – when there are many opportunities to give and many worthy causes, especially in a brutal economy that has taken its toll on so many.
Arizona provides some unique opportunities to give in a way that actually costs you nothing – by allowing you to re-direct some of your existing tax liability to charities that are important to you.
PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
You are allowed to take a full credit up to $1,000 per couple or $500 per individual to organizations that provide scholarships to children who attend private schools. I serve as Advisory Board Chairman for Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, one of the largest such organizations in the state, and an organization with a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
You can also give up to $400 per couple and $200 per individual to public schools for extracurricular programs. We have appreciated the tremendous educational opportunities provided by public charter schools, including Scottsdale Preparatory Academy and BASIS Scottsdale, which was recently featured on CNN. But you can easily give to your kids’ school or the public school in your neighborhood through their website.
CHARITIES THAT HELP THE POOR
You can give up to $400 per couple and $200 per individual to organizations that work with the poor. Four tremendous organizations I am familiar with that qualify for this credit are Neighborhood Ministries, Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, Women’s Pregnancy Centers (Tucson), and the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
CORPORATE GIVING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POOR FAMILIES
If you own a “C” corporation, you can re-direct your Arizona tax liability to scholarships for poor children to attend private schools, through an organization called School Choice Arizona. Like the individual scholarship tax credit, this donation costs a corporation nothing.
OTHER WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS
I teach and serve on the Board of Trustees for Southwestern College, a non-denominational Christian college with full accreditation that is growing and gaining influence rapidly: Advance the cause of cultural conservatism through The Center for Arizona Policy and limited government through The Goldwater Institute. Advance the cause of life by ordering a Choose Life license plate or donating to the Arizona Life Coalition.
Finally, we would welcome your support for a new non-profit dedicated to preserving the values of Western Civilization and to equipping leaders to engage and climb the 7 Mountains of cultural influence by making a tax deductible donation in support of The Institute for Cultural Influence.
