At Summit Schools, we believe financial circumstances should not stand in the way of a student accessing an exceptional education. Two tax-advantaged giving opportunities can help make a Summit education more accessible to families: Iowa’s School Tuition Organization (STO) and a new federal Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) tax credit beginning January 1, 2027.

Iowa STO — Give in 2026

We invite you to consider a donation to Summit’s STO for the 2026 tax year. All donations receive a 75% Iowa tax credit.

Summit Schools, together with Scattergood Friends School, and Bridges Outdoor School, is part of the Independent School Association of Eastern Iowa School Tuition Organization, Inc. (EISTO). Our STO (student tuition organization) enables us to provide funding to eligible families whose income during the calendar year does not exceed an amount equal to three times the most recently published federal poverty guidelines so that their children can attend Summit.

Our STO is a 501(c)(3) organization formed to help these families who seek a private education for their children that otherwise may be financially out of reach. As such, STOs are charitable organizations created to receive cash contributions from individual Iowa tax payers, and then allocate those funds to eligible families who attend accredited non-public schools represented by the STO. 

If you or anyone you know is in the 37% Federal Tax bracket and are seeking Iowa Income Tax credits or a Federal Income Tax deduction, this may be the perfect opportunity!

Here is an example of what a donation to Summit’s EISTO can do for you:

$10,000 donation to Summit’s EISTO $10,000
Iowa Income Tax Savings (75% credit) $7,500
Federal Income Tax Savings $925
Tax Savings for Donor $8,425
Donor Cost $1,575


Compared with a donation directly to Summit:

$10,000 charitable donation to Summit $10,000
Value of Federal donation at 37% tax bracket $3,700
Value of IA donation at 3.8% tax bracket $380
Tax Savings for Donor $4,080
Donor Cost $5,920

We recommend that you consult your tax advisor to see if this opportunity would be beneficial to you. Kirt Norris, the accountant who serves on the board for EISTO, would be willing to talk to you or your tax advisor to assist with any questions should you be interested.

We are currently working to fulfill our EISTO funds for the 2026 calendar year and have almost $110,000 to raise.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please complete the donor application form and mail it, along with your check, to BGHN Associates, P.C. Attn: Kirt Norris, 1845 51st St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. Donations will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and need to be made by December 31, 2026.

Eastern Iowa School Tuition Organization, Inc. Board members:
John Huiskamp, President
John Zimmerman, Vice President
Ethan Huelskamp, Secretary
Kirt Norris, Treasurer
Larisa Bickel
Shadia Igram
Sam Taylor
Lisa Wiebenga

Federal SGO — Beginning January 1, 2027

Beginning January 1, 2027, a new federal tax-credit opportunity will allow eligible individuals to support K–12 scholarships through approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).

Eligible individuals (US citizens and federal taxpayers) may receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying cash contributions to an approved SGO. The federal credit is nonrefundable, and unused credit may generally be carried forward for up to five years, subject to applicable federal requirements.

SGO funds may provide another source of scholarship assistance for qualifying K–12 educational expenses. Whether SGO funds can be used for Summit students will depend on the approved SGO’s requirements, eligibility rules, and scholarship policies. Summit will share additional information about participating SGOs and how this opportunity may benefit Summit families as details become available.

Two Opportunities. One Goal.

STO: Support eligible Iowa students through the current 75% Iowa tax-credit program now in 2026.

SGO: Beginning January 1, 2027, support K–12 scholarships through the new federal tax-credit program.

Together, these opportunities can help increase the resources available to families seeking a Summit education. Thank you for helping make a Summit education accessible to more students.

Tax benefits and eligibility requirements vary by individual circumstances. We encourage you to consult your tax advisor to determine whether either opportunity is appropriate for you.