Denver archbishop champions tax credit to expand Catholic education
Archbishop James Golka described scholarship-granting organizations as a “bridge” between taxpayers redirecting a portion of their federal income taxes through the EFTC and students receiving the benefits of scholarships.
In a Nov. 12 statement, Denver Archbishop James Golka championed the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), a new federal program that helps taxpayers fund scholarships to make education more affordable for families.
The federal program, which will take effect in January 2027, will provide scholarship funding to help more families afford a Catholic education, the archbishop said.
“Catholic education has formed generations of young people to know and love Jesus Christ and to place their gifts at the service of others,” he said. “This new program gives us another opportunity to support that mission.”
Archbishop Golka explained that taxpayers can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for qualified contributions to approved scholarship-granting organizations, which fund student scholarships. The credit depends on taxpayers’ federal income tax liability and can total up to $1,700 for individuals or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly, he said.
ACE Scholarships, a Denver-based national scholarship-granting organization, is already preparing for the program, the archbishop said. Qualified contributions to approved organizations such as ACE could provide a new, long-term source of scholarship funding beginning in 2027, he explained.
The archbishop also emphasized the program’s role in supporting parents.
He said the EFTC presents a “tremendous opportunity to support parents in their God-given responsibility as the primary educators of their children and to help make a Catholic education possible for more families.”
The archbishop also emphasized that the scholarships are funded through private charitable contributions rather than direct government funding.
He highlighted that Colorado is positioned to participate in the program, noting that Gov. Jared Polis has opted in. States must choose to participate, and scholarship-granting organizations must be approved by their state before contributions qualify for the federal credit, he explained.
The archbishop concluded by urging the faithful to prayerfully consider participating in the program.
He said, “Together, our generosity can help open the doors of Catholic education to more families and help form young people who will carry the light of Christ into our communities for years to come.”
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