Kim Kirschner, Exec. Director of IBE, and DEB Preach, CDO for CEA, Discuss Putting Kids First and the Partnership Between IBE & CEA That Can Fully Fund Families

Some might say that The Institute for Better Education (IBE) and Catholic Education Arizona (CEA) are a match made in heaven. With such similar and specific missions, it only makes sense that the two organizations would join efforts to increase their spheres of influence. Kim Kirschner, executive director of IBE met recently with Deb Preach, CEA’s Chief Development Officer, on CEA’s podcast to talk through the beliefs that these two organizations share and how they accomplish their goals.

Transparency Builds Trust

Working together in the mission to make high-quality education more available to children creates strong bonds and lasting partnerships. Those directing their tax credits feel confident in these partnerships when they know exactly how tax credits work, as well as how their money is being spent. Kirschner discusses the myriad of understandable questions that IBE receives, from both taxpayers and CPAs. Kirschner claims, ‘Being an STO [School Tuition Organization] means being transparent, making sure everybody that’s donating to you and receiving scholarships, understands everything that you do, how the funding works.’ Clarity is something that CEA, as a Catholic charity, and IBE prioritize in their day-to-day operations.

Clarity is especially important when defining the constraints surrounding varying tax credits. For example, IBE is very specific when discussing recommendations. Recommendations are an option for those with specific intentions for how their tax dollars are used. Taxpayers may request that their dollars be directed towards a specific student demonstrating financial need — notably, not their own child.

Defining Financial Need

The phrase ‘financial need’ can mean something different to each and every family. Both Catholic Education Arizona and IBE recognize this. Preach stresses, ‘We both take such pride in the way that we handle our applications to make sure that, if we can, we’re helping everybody regardless of income.’

Kirschner elaborates on how sometimes you may have to dig a little deeper to truly understand a family’s individual situation. She says, ‘Maybe their income looks like they should be able to afford their private school education. And then you look at their special letter circumstance, and their youngest child has cancer. And all of a sudden, this family has a need.’

IBE is looking for more ways to make great education accessible to children with not only financial needs but disabilities, as well. ‘We’re working right now to make sure that funding can be increased, again, making sure this very vulnerable, very at-risk group of children have the funding that they need,’ Kirschner conveys. According to Dosomething.org, teacher quality is one of the biggest factors in regard to student achievement. This is exceptionally true for students dealing with disabilities.

If you want your tax credits to help IBE and Catholic Education Arizona’s missions of aiding children in need, reach out to our team today.