The State of Arizona provides tax credits for individuals who make contributions to Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations (QFCO), according to the Arizona Department of Revenue website http://www.azdor.gov/tax-credits-qcos-and-qfcos.

In order to qualify as a QFCO, an organization must meet ALL of the following provisions:

- Be exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3)
- Provide services that meet immediate basic needs
- Serve Arizona’s foster care population
- Spend at least 50% of its budget on services to the foster care community in Arizona
- Provide ongoing services to at least 200 foster children

Arizona Helping Hands (“AHH”) has qualified for this tax credit every year since the credit was originated in 2013. AHH is a tax-exempt organization and is the State’s largest provider of basic needs to the 14,000+ children who are presently in foster care. They continue to exceed all of the requirements for the tax credit.

“Is there a more immediate basic need than clothing, underwear and diapers?”, asks Dan Shufelt, the President & CEO of AHH. “In January, 2021, we provided 297 boys and girls with these basic needs, along with a bed to sleep on, educational supplies, birthday gifts and more,” Shufelt tells us. Through its array of programs, more than 500 children were given a helping hand in January alone, far exceeding the State’s minimal requirement of 200 children served in a calendar year, with eleven months to go in the year.

Individual donations through the foster care tax credit program are the primary support of the extensive services AHH provides. The organization received no governmental funding in its last fiscal year, and its audited financial statements reflect that 93% of every donated dollar is spent on programs supporting Arizona’s foster care population.

As a former CPA, Shufelt is very familiar with the benefits of Arizona’s tax credit program. “I love the fact that I can have a say about how my tax dollars are put to use,” Shufelt says. “To be able to donate to a cause that I believe in, and then get every dollar back when I file my Arizona tax return is a win-win.” Married couples can donate $1,000 to a QFCO per year (single taxpayers $500). Donations made through April 15, 2021 can be utilized as a credit against your 2020 State tax liability. At Arizona Helping Hands, those dollars will be put to use to buy beds, cribs, diapers and more for boys and girls who have experienced abuse and neglect.

You can make an impact in the life of a child, and thanks to the Arizona foster care tax credit, it will cost you nothing! Learn more about the essential services that Arizona Helping Hands provides and donate today at http://www.azhelpinghands.org. QFCO #10003