Recommended Funds Program

A program allowing families to solicit donations from friends and family members to support scholarships for eligible students. Families can recommend specific students or schools to receive donations through the tax credit programs.

Eligibility

• Eligible for families applying through Original Individual, PLUS/Switcher, Low-Income Corporate, or Disabled/Displaced Corporate programs
• Students must meet base eligibility requirements of the respective scholarship program they are applying under

How It Works

• Families solicit donations from friends and family members
• Donors direct their Arizona tax credit donations through IBE on behalf of the recommended student or school
• No deadline for Recommended Funds applications submission
• Recommended Funds are released to schools on the 1st-15th of each month (except June)
• A current application must be on file with IBE before funds are released to the school

Recommended Fund Amounts

• 2025 tax credit limits available for solicitation vary by program:
  • Original Individual: Up to $769 (single) / $1,535 (married)
  • PLUS/Switcher: Up to $766 (single) / $1,527 (married)

Important Notes

• Families may solicit Recommended Funds while student is enrolled in the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program for use after they are no longer under ESA contract
• Cannot recommend one's own dependent as a recipient
• While donations are honored when possible, there is no guarantee
• For PLUS/Switcher program, eligibility requirements must be met

Organization Information

• Organization: Institute for Better Education (IBE)
• Status: Arizona Certified School Tuition Organization (STO) and 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
• Contact: services@ibescholarships.org, (520) 512-5438
• Address: 921 N. Swan Rd., Tucson, AZ 85711
• EIN: 23-7102832

Application Process

Timeline:

• Applications typically released at the start of February for the following school year
• No deadline for Recommended Funds applications submission
• Recommended Funds released to schools 1st-15th of each month (except June)

Requirements:

• Family must submit a current application to IBE
• Student must be eligible for the respective scholarship program (Original Individual, PLUS/Switcher, Low-Income Corporate, or Disabled/Displaced Corporate)
• Family solicits donations from friends and family
• At minimum one current application must be on file before funds are released to school

Application Materials:

• Same application required as for the respective scholarship program
• Specific materials not detailed in provided content

Note: Contact IBE for detailed application requirements and materials.