Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allows donors to claim up to a 90% state income tax credit for any contribution made to an approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO), such as JOSHWAY.
JOSHWAY is a registered EIO, and your contribution helps youth ages 8–18 access no-cost programs in financial literacy, leadership development, mental wellness, digital balance, public speaking, and future readiness — delivered through our signature JOSHWAY Bridge and Digital Knowledge initiatives.
Up to
90%
Pennsylvania income tax credit
Counts as
10%
Federal charitable deduction
Directly supports
JOSHWAY
Youth programs across the Lehigh Valley
Entities and individuals authorized to do business in Pennsylvania may receive tax credits equal to 75% of their contribution, up to $750,000 per taxable year, when donating to approved EIOs such as JOSHWAY.
Credits increase to 90% when the donor commits to the same amount for two consecutive tax years.
What happens when you give a $10,000 EITC gift?
Your $10,000 contribution costs you only $1,000 after the 90% tax credit – turning every dollar you spend into $10 of youth impact. This helps young people build confidence, reshape their relationship with technology, develop their voice, and discover their purpose through hands-on JOSHWAY experiences.
Speak with your tax advisor to determine whether you are eligible to participate.
Decide how much you wish to contribute to JOSHWAY's Creative Lab Experiences.
Notify the JOSHWAY team that you or your business intends to make an EITC gift. Contact us at: info@joshway.org
JOSHWAY provides critical educational programming and cultural enrichment to our community, and Pennsylvania businesses can support this mission while dramatically reducing their tax burden through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.
The PA Department of Community and Economic Development operates the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), a tax incentive program available to for-profit companies based in or conducting business in Pennsylvania that benefits eligible educational nonprofits, including JOSHWAY.
This tax credit program enables companies to direct contributions to specific educational organizations instead of paying the full amount in state taxes. Companies must apply and be accepted into the program through DCED’s application process, and thereafter renew their applications annually. The state allocates only a specific amount of tax credits for EITC every year, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. While most of these funds are directed toward scholarship organizations, 20% of the overall allocation supports Educational Improvement Organizations (EIOs) like JOSHWAY that supplement public schools.
Through this program, businesses can multiply the impact of their contributions by up to 10 times the net cost because they receive tax credits of up to 90% of their EITC contributions when committing to a two-year pledge. These are actual dollar-for-dollar tax credits that directly offset annual state tax liabilities, not merely deductions, with credits available from $3,500 to $750,000 per year.
By directing your business’s tax dollars to JOSHWAY instead of general state revenue, you ensure your contribution directly supports educational programs in your community.
To be eligible for the EITC program, a business:
JOSHWAY can help guide you through the application timeline to maximize your chances of securing tax credits.
Applications open at different times depending on your status:
Yes, the tax credit can be applied against your business’s eligible Pennsylvania tax liability for the tax year in which the contribution was made. However, credits are non-refundable and generally cannot be carried forward or backward. For pass-through entities like S-corporations and partnerships, unused credits can flow through to the shareholders’ or partners’ Pennsylvania personal income tax liability in the immediately following taxable year. The credit can only reduce your tax liability to zero; you won’t receive a refund if your credit exceeds your tax owed.
All applications must be submitted electronically through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Enterprise eGrants System. If your application is approved, you will receive a notification letter from DCED and have 60 days to make your financial contribution to an approved organization. The organization will provide written acknowledgement of your contribution, which you must submit to the Commonwealth within 90 days so your tax credits can be applied. You must also submit a tax clearance form through the PA Department of Revenue website if not completed during the application process.
JOSHWAY’s team is available to answer questions and provide the documentation you’ll need to complete your application and contribution process smoothly.
Contact JOSHWAY at info@joshway.org to discuss how your business can participate in the EITC program. We’ll walk you through the application process, help you determine the optimal contribution level and commitment term for your tax situation, and ensure you receive all required documentation for your tax credits. Your support makes a direct, measurable difference in the educational opportunities we can provide to our community—helping young people build confidence, manage their relationships with technology, develop life skills, and discover their purpose through hands-on JOSHWAY experiences.
