GA Dept of Ed: Georgia Foundation for Public Education, Innovation Fund Foundation merge, expanding opportunities and outreach for public-school tax credit

Governor Brian Kemp last week signed legislation merging the Innovation Fund Foundation – currently housed within the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement – with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, the philanthropic arm of the Georgia Department of Education. 

The two organizations will operate under the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) name beginning in January 2022. The merger expands the two nonprofits’ capacity to fund innovation and meet financial needs in Georgia’s K-12 public schools and adds capacity for fundraising through the Qualified Education Donation (QED) Tax Credit, which allows individuals and corporations to donate to public education in Georgia and receive a dollar-to-dollar credit on their state income taxes.

“Merging with the Innovation Fund Foundation is an enormous opportunity for us to expand our ability to serve Georgia public schools and students,” GFPE Executive Director Paige Pushkin said. “Over the next year, we’ll be working to increase donations made through the Qualified Education Donation Tax Credit and ultimately provide more funding to support innovation and expand opportunities for students.”

“The IFF/GFPE merger is a great thing for public schools and districts in Georgia,” said Jaclyn Colona, Executive Director of the IFF. “Both foundations bring strengths that are highlighted when we partner, which was first evident when we launched the COVID-19 Relief Fund in 2020. Together, we can truly be a powerhouse in education philanthropy and continue GFPE’s mission of supporting educational excellence for Georgia’s 1.7 million students.”

How to Support Public Schools Through the Qualified Education Donation (QED) Tax Credit
While the merger of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education and Innovation Fund Foundation is not effective until January 1, 2022, individuals and corporations can donate through the Qualified Education Donation (QED) tax credit beginning now. Funds will come to the GFPE in January 2022 and will be directed toward innovation in Georgia public schools, with a specific focus on the lowest-performing 5% of schools.

If you are interested in learning more about donating through the QED, please contact Paige Pushkin at ppushkin@doe.k12.ga.us.

About the Georgia Foundation for Public Education
Created in 2010 by the Georgia General Assembly, the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) exists for the single purpose of supporting educational excellence for students in Georgia. GFPE provides simple ways for donors to support students in Georgia’s K-12 system – by investing in a current GFPE project or working with GFPE to fund their vision. Click here to view GFPE’s 2020 annual report.

About the Innovation Fund Foundation
The Innovation Fund Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation authorized pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-14-26.1. The Foundation supports the work of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement in supporting eligible organizations as they develop, pilot, implement, and scale innovative education programs. This work will continue and expand under the merger with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education.​