Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC)

If you pay taxes in Pennsylvania, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs (EITC/OSTC) allow you, as an individual or business, to redirect your state tax dollars to our Jewish day schools upon eligibility. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provides state tax credits to approved eligible businesses that contribute to qualified organizations such as the Pittsburgh Jewish Educational Improvement Foundation (PJEIF).

Be a Part of Our Special Purpose Entity 

Individuals and businesses can join our Special Purpose Entity (SPE) to participate and lower their tax liability. By joining our SPE with a two-year commitment, you will receive 90% of your contributions back in tax credits while touching the lives of so many students, families, and schools. Simply put, when you contribute money for educational scholarships, the EITC program lowers your state tax liability. 

Businesses or corporations qualify if they pay any of the following taxes:

• Corporate Net Income Tax
• Capital Stock and Franchise Tax
• Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax
• Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax
• Insurance Premiums Tax
• Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax
• Shareholder and Partner personal income tax (S Corps and Partnerships with pass-through tax liability)

Step 2: Apply

Once approved by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), your business must contribute to a qualified organization such as the PJEIF within 60 days. The PJEIF will send an acknowledgement letter as proof of your contribution, and you are required to send a copy of this letter to DCED within 90 days of the approval.

Your EITC Contribution Changes Lives

Highest Levels of Academic Success

Your support for day schools and preschools transforms the lives of children, many of whom would not be able to afford the schools without EITC funding.

• Day school gives children the academic tools to thrive, as well as the confidence and caring to get involved in helping the community.
• EITC Research from the Cohen Center at Brandeis University showed that Jewish day school alumni achieve the highest levels of academic success while becoming more likely to identify with Judaism as adults.
• An AVI CHAI Foundation study found that Jewish day school graduates account for 40% of young Jewish leaders.
• Research from Ukeles Associates found that both the children attending Jewish early childhood programs and their parents increased their participation in Jewish life.