Georgia businesses and taxpayers are seizing an unprecedented opportunity: redirecting their state income taxes to fund higher education for foster youth. The Fostering Success Act (FSA) today reported a 350 percent increase in youth served this academic year from its launch in 2023.

“Corporations, LLCs, partnerships—any Georgia taxpayer can claim this dollar-for-dollar credit,” said Heidi Carr, executive director of the Fostering Success Act (FSA), the largest non-profit that collects tax credit funds and distributes grants. “Instead of sending checks to the state, they’re funding tuition, housing, and healthcare for students who would otherwise have no support system.”

The $20 million annual credit is transforming lives while giving businesses a way to fulfill both tax planning goals and corporate social responsibility commitments. FSA helps taxpayers submit applications to the state for the dollar-for-dollar income tax through its new Easy Button https://fosteringsuccessact.org/apply-now/ on its website. There is no limit on how much married couples, individuals, and companies that file as LLCs, Partnerships or S Corporations may donate to reduce their state income taxes.

Each year, more than 600 Georgia foster youth turn 18 with no parents, no safety net, and nowhere to go. Many fall into poverty, human trafficking, or addiction. The $20 million tax credit diverts tax dollars into life-changing support, giving these youth what most of their peers have: the resources and stability to focus on education.

In 2025, FSA is serving 384 youth – an almost 350 percent increase in young adults served. During its initial year, FSA served 87 young adults. This academic year, there are 200 students pursuing two-year programs and 151 students enrolled in four-year programs. In addition, eight students are pursuing advanced degrees. FSA also assists some young adults in earning their GED.

For students like Eryka McNulty, an art major at SCAD, the program is transformative: “Without FSA, I don’t know what I would be doing with my life. Now, instead of couch-surfing like so many of my peers, I can focus on becoming an artist.”

Beyond financial aid, the program connects students with mentors—trusted adults to guide them through challenges, from job applications to personal relationships. “A mentor can keep these young adults focused and hopeful,” Carr added. “It’s the family they never had.”

Carr added that this program’s growth is a win for Georgia business and the youth who will be the employees of the future.

“Would you rather pay state taxes, or pay for a young person’s education and future?” Carr asked. “This program makes the choice easy.”

For more information about the Fostering Success Act, go to: https://fosteringsuccessact.org/

For more information about the tax credit or to speak with officials with the Fostering Success Act, contact Susan Meyers at Oak Grove Communications: 404-518-2271 or [email protected]