Arizona Tax Credits Empower K-12 Students

Business leaders and taxpayers can support scholarships for underserved, disabled, and foster children through Catholic Education Arizona.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:39pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating pattern of stacked textbooks in bright, vibrant hues, conceptually representing the impact of educational scholarships funded through tax credits.Innovative tax credit programs in Arizona are empowering businesses and individuals to directly support educational opportunities for underserved students.Phoenix Today

Business leaders and Arizona taxpayers can directly empower K-12 students by supporting scholarships for underserved, disabled, and foster children in Arizona. The Arizona Individual and Corporate Tax Credits, along with traditional charitable donations, make it possible for individuals and organizations to support Catholic Education Arizona and its mission of transforming the lives of students in the community.

Why it matters

Arizona's tax credit programs allow businesses and individuals to redirect their state tax dollars to support education for underprivileged students, providing essential scholarship funding for those in need. This helps expand access to quality education and gives underserved children more opportunities to succeed.

The details

Through the Arizona Individual and Corporate Tax Credit programs, taxpayers and businesses can redirect their state tax liability to Catholic Education Arizona, funding tuition scholarships for K-12 students attending Diocese of Phoenix Catholic schools. This allows contributors to support causes that align with their values and make a direct impact on the lives of children in their community.

  • The Arizona Individual and Corporate Tax Credit programs have been in place since the late 1990s.
  • Catholic Education Arizona has raised more than $383 million and awarded 161,000 scholarships since 1998.

The players

Catholic Education Arizona

A nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for families attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix, with the goal of transforming the lives of underserved, disabled, and foster students.

Nancy Padberg, MBA

The President and CEO of Catholic Education Arizona.

Lorena Contreras

A parent of a Catholic school student who has benefited from the scholarship programs offered by Catholic Education Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“Through Arizona tax credits and charitable giving, tax contributors and traditional donors can make a lifelong impact on children. Help us educate underserved, disabled and foster students who are our future work force, neighbors and friends.”

— Nancy Padberg, MBA, President & CEO, Catholic Education Arizona

“To be able to send my daughter to a school that supports her faith with like-minded individuals surrounding her has helped steer her high school journey into the right direction from the very start. Without CEA, our family would not be able to find the loving and caring environment of the Catholic school.”

— Lorena Contreras, Parent of a Catholic School student

What’s next

Individuals and businesses interested in supporting Catholic Education Arizona can visit the organization's website at www.ceaz.org or call (602) 218-6542 to learn more about the tax credit programs and how to make a donation.

The takeaway

Arizona's innovative tax credit programs empower businesses and individuals to directly invest in the education and futures of underserved children, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can expand access to quality schooling and transform the lives of students in need.