Open a door. Change a future.

A credit. A deduction lowers the income you are taxed on. A credit lowers the tax itself. A $1,700 gift could mean a credit of up to $1,700, limited to the federal income tax you owe and only once ECF is on Tennessee's SGO list. The full limit is up to $1,700 per individual; up to $3,400 for a married couple filing jointly if each spouse gives $1,700, under proposed rules.

Gifts made on or after January 1, 2027 can qualify, and you claim the credit on your 2027 return, filed in 2028. A gift counts once ECF is on Tennessee’s SGO list.

Use what you can in the year you give. The credit can take your federal income tax to zero but not below it. Whatever is left carries forward for up to five years. The calculator shows your numbers.

Yes. A donor may name a preferred qualifying Christian school. Donors cannot choose scholarship recipients or earmark gifts for individual students.

Yes. The IRS recognized Education Choice Fund as a 501(c)(3) public charity on September 24, 2026 (EIN 42-4473313). We intend to apply to the State of Tennessee as a scholarship granting organization, and a gift counts for the credit only once ECF is on Tennessee's SGO list. We will post that step on the Updates page when it happens.

Yes, they are designed to work together. ECF’s scholarship can cover up to 90% of tuition for the lowest income families and a smaller share as income rises. There is no fixed method yet for calculating an ECF award alongside the Tennessee EFS and school aid, and it may differ by school. Every family pays part of tuition. Some families qualify for one program, some for both. We confirm Tennessee EFS status with the state before finalizing awards.

Yes. Members of a congregation each give to ECF as individuals, and each may name a preferred qualifying Christian school. Donors cannot choose scholarship recipients or earmark gifts for individual students. An independent committee awards scholarships to qualifying Tennessee families in order of verified need. We provide pastors with a Church Communications Kit: the email, newsletter copy, website text, a bulletin insert and an announcement slide. There is no pulpit ask.

Education forms worldview. Public schooling is not (and was never designed to be) religiously neutral. ECF exists to extend Christian formation to families who want it for their children but cannot afford it. We partner with Christian schools across denominations: Catholic, Reformed, Episcopal, evangelical, and independent.

Christian education is ECF's mission, and ECF scholarships are for qualifying Christian K-12 schools in Tennessee. One narrow exception may be considered: where a child has documented needs that no Christian school in Tennessee can serve, the scholarship committee may review another accredited Tennessee school. It requires committee review and documentation, and it does not guarantee an award.

ECF's program depends on the federal § 25F tax credit remaining in effect. § 25F is permanent in the federal tax code, but future legislation could alter or repeal it. If § 25F is repealed: (1) ECF will prioritize current scholarship recipients over new applicants. § 25F itself requires SGOs to prioritize current recipients first, and ECF will continue that priority regardless; (2) ECF will apply any § 25F-qualified contributions received toward existing scholarships before new awards; (3) ECF cannot guarantee continuation of scholarships if § 25F-qualified donations stop, because ECF's funding model depends on the credit; (4) ECF will communicate transparently with all stakeholders within 30 days of any material change; (5) ECF will wind down responsibly if continued operation isn't viable. The commitment is priority, not an unconditional guarantee of continuation.