Families
Scholarships for Tennessee students at member Islamic schools.
- Check your household income against the limit for your county.
- Apply online when applications open in spring 2027.
- Scholarships are paid directly to your child's school.
Tennessee Islamic School Scholarship Alliance
Opening doors to Islamic education across Tennessee.
Your gift becomes a K–12 scholarship for a Tennessee student — and can come back to you as a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit.
$1,700
Federal tax credit per person
$3,400
Per married couple when both give
$0
Cost for member schools
K–12
Grades served
A dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit
Turn your federal taxes into a child’s education.At zero cost to you.
Give up to $1,700 — or $3,400 for a married couple — and the federal tax credit gives it all back when you file, as long as you owe at least that much in federal income tax.
This isn’t just a donation.It’s your tax allocation.
Your gift is a charitable contribution — and up to $1,700 of it comes back to you as a federal tax credit. Instead of sending those dollars to Washington, you decide they fund a Tennessee child’s education.
Donors
Redirect up to $1,700 of your federal taxes to a student's education.
- Give a cash gift to TENNISSA once donations open.
- Receive your acknowledgement and donor number by January 31.
- Claim the credit on your federal tax return.
Schools
Join as a member school at no cost and receive scholarship tuition.
- Register your school.
- Complete verification and sign a memorandum of understanding.
- Confirm enrollment and receive tuition payments.
Advisors & leaders
Help clients and congregations understand the new federal credit.
- Learn the Section 25F basics.
- Share our explainer and calculator.
- Invite us to present at your firm or masjid.
Every dollar has a clear path.
At least 90% of what TENNISSA receives goes to scholarships. Gifts that earn the credit are kept in a separate account and are never set aside for a specific student.
1
You donate
Give online in a few minutes once donations open. The federal credit is up to $1,700 per person each year — $3,400 for a married couple filing jointly when each spouse gives. Give by December 31 to claim it for that tax year; gifts made from January to April 15 count toward the new year, not the return you're about to file.
2
We award a scholarship
Need-based scholarships go to K–12 students at our member Islamic schools from Tennessee households earning up to 300% of their area's median income. As federal law requires, returning students come first, then their siblings; after that, TENNISSA gives priority to the families with the greatest need.
3
The school applies it to tuition
Funds are paid straight to the school and credited to the student's tuition — never as cash to families. At least 90% of what we receive goes to scholarships, as federal law requires; the rest covers only essential costs such as legal and audit fees, our scholarship platform, outreach and web hosting.
4
You claim the credit
Keep the acknowledgement we email you by January 31 — it includes your unique IRS donor number. Report it on IRS Form 8525 with your federal return, and your federal income tax drops dollar for dollar, up to $1,700 per person. Any credit you can't use that year carries forward for up to five years.
Be first to know.
We'll email you when donations and scholarship applications open, and share updates as TENNISSA completes its Tennessee certification.