The American GOAL Scholarship Program is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Diocese of Knoxville, which has selected American GOAL as its Scholarship Granting Organization partner for the new federal scholarship tax credit program.
The federal scholarship tax credit program, which will launch January 1, 2027, provides individuals with a unique opportunity to support K-12 students while receiving a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 (or $3,400 for a married couple) for qualifying contributions to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations. Through this program, donor contributions can help expand access to Catholic schools, funding scholarships for eligible students and families by directing dollars that would otherwise be paid in federal income taxes toward educational opportunities.
American GOAL will work alongside the Diocese and its Catholic schools to help implement the new program, providing fundraising support, donor stewardship, technology, compliance, and scholarship administration designed to maximize access to a Catholic education for families across East Tennessee.
“We are honored that the Diocese of Knoxville has chosen American GOAL as its Scholarship Granting Organization partner,” said Ben Saylor, President and CEO of GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc. “The Diocese has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to providing students with an exceptional Catholic education rooted in faith and academic excellence. We are excited to build on that foundation by helping more families access these educational opportunities through the historic new federal scholarship tax credit.”
American GOAL is modeled after the nationally recognized GOAL Scholarship Program in Georgia, which has successfully administered scholarship tax credit programs for more than 18 years. During that time, GOAL has received more than $558 million in tax-credit contributions and awarded more than 94,000 scholarships, helping thousands of families choose the K-12 educational environment that best meets their children’s needs.
“Providing families with access to a high-quality Catholic education is central to our mission, and this new federal scholarship tax credit presents an exciting opportunity to further that commitment,” said Martha Mundine, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Knoxville. “We look forward to partnering with American GOAL and leveraging their experience and expertise to help make Catholic education more accessible to families throughout East Tennessee.”
The Diocese of Knoxville serves students and families across East Tennessee through 10 Catholic schools, including eight elementary and middle schools and two high schools. Its schools are dedicated to providing academically excellent, Christ-centered educational environments that foster faith formation, personal growth, and service to others.
As states prepare to implement the federal scholarship tax credit beginning January 1, 2027, American GOAL is partnering with Catholic dioceses, independent schools, and school associations to provide a proven, turnkey solution for administering the program while allowing schools to remain at the center of their fundraising and financial aid efforts.
Families, donors, and schools interested in learning more about the federal scholarship tax credit and American GOAL may visit www.americangoal.org.
About American GOAL
American GOAL is a program of GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc., a national Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) with more than 18 years of experience implementing scholarship tax credit programs in an effective, efficient, and ethical manner. American GOAL partners with schools and education organizations across the country to expand educational opportunity through the new federal scholarship tax credit.
About the Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville serves East Tennessee through 10 Catholic schools located in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Kingsport, Johnson City, and Oak Ridge. Its eight elementary and middle schools and two high schools provide faith-based education rooted in Catholic values, academic excellence, and service to others. The Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools are committed to nurturing students' spiritual, intellectual, and personal development while partnering with families to prepare young people to become leaders grounded in faith and dedicated to serving their communities.