Around 700 foster youth leave the foster care program each year in Georgia.  Georgia’s “Fostering Success Act” which went into place January 1, 2023,  will authorize individuals to take a tax credit of up to $2,500 ($5,000 for a couple filing jointly) for contributions to qualified organizations that support foster youth between the ages of 16 and 18 and former foster youth, possibly up to age 25, who aged out without permanency.

Qualified nonprofit organizations would be those operating or supporting either Georgia-licensed child placing agencies or organizations providing services to youth aging out of care.  Such services may include financial support for secondary education, mentorship services, and wraparound services such as housing, vocational education, medical care, counseling, transportation, and up to $150 per month in direct cash payments for these youth to use on personal necessities.

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), a unit of the Georgia Department of Human Services, recently began accepting applications from eligible Foster Child Support Organizations to qualify to receive tax-creditable contributions.

Contributions to the Technical College Foundation of Georgia and the University System to offset tuition costs for former foster youth will also be eligible for the credit.

The tax credits apply to both individual and corporate contributions.