Many Christian parents claim the Biblical promise that says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) Adventist education is a big part of that training. Our schools work hard to provide a positive spiritual environment for students, and studies show that those who attend Adventist schools are more likely to continue in their Adventist faith than those who do not. However, many families find it challenging to pay for Adventist education and cannot send their children without financial assistance from family members, their church, or other means. We have the opportunity to dramatically expand the outside sources of financial support through this program.

Donations to the Potomac Conference Education Foundation’s Virginia Education Improvement Tax Credits Scholarships Program provide scholarships for low-income new students. Individual or business donors receive a tax credit equal to 65% of the donation.

According to Seth Savoy, a Foundation board member, the net cost to donate to this program, after receiving tax benefits, is very minimal. “Donations may be deductible against taxable income as a charitable donation on both federal and state income taxes, subject to rules governing deductibility of charitable contributions, and can be made by check or stock transfer,” explains Savoy. “Donors also receive a tax credit against Virginia taxes equal to 65 percent of the donation amount.” As a result, one donor reports that his $10,000 gift that allows two students to attend C. F. Richards Junior Academy (Staunton, Va.) only costs about $165 after the tax credit and deductions.

Donors may earmark their contributions to support scholarships at specific schools but may not direct their funds to support a specific student. If, at the school year’s end, there are excess scholarship funds at any school, the excess will be distributed among the schools whose scholarship requests exceed donations earmarked for them.