Apogee

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Still Waters International Academy partners with Apogee Scholarship Fund, a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO).  As of 2024, Apogee has awarded more than $133 million in scholarships to thousands of deserving students.  This past school year, 7 Still Waters International Academy students received financial assistance through Apogee Scholarship Fund.
Apogee Scholarship Fund is accepting tax credit applications through December 2024 for the 2025 tax year.
Please note that the Georgia Private School Tax Credit Program provides an opportunity for participants to redirect tax liability already owed to the State of Georgia to private schools for financial aid purposes only. Participation in the program, therefore, is not related to participation in the Still Waters International Academy Annual Fund or any other internal fundraising campaign. 
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Apogee FAQ

Georgia sets aside $120 million in tax credits for Georgia taxpayers, pass-through organizations, and C-corporations that donate funds to qualified Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs) each year. 
 
The SSOs, which are nonprofit organizations, then grant scholarships for qualifying students to attend Georgia’s independent schools, such as Still Waters International Academy.
 
A Still Waters International Academy constituent would redirect part of their Georgia state tax liability to Apogee, designating SWIA as their recipient, in exchange for a tax credit.
 
That donation, in turn, would become a scholarship grant for a student to attend Still Waters International Academy.

The State has defined parameters as to who is eligible to receive an SSO scholarship. Children eligible to enroll in a GA-qualified (public) school Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st Grade program qualify.  Students who are currently enrolled at GA public school qualify. From 2nd grade and beyond, Georgia policy requires that a student must have attended at least 45 days of public school immediately prior to enrolling a private school in order to be considered eligible.  Home School students, KIPP School students, Charter School students are also eligible.  Once a student receives an Apogee scholarship, they remain eligible for the balance of their career through 12th grade.

Anyone who pays Georgia state taxes would be eligible to participate, whether they live in Georgia or not.

 

No! If you file your taxes as a single or either “married” option, you have two options:
  1. You can carry forward the tax credits you filed for up to five years.
  2. You can also claim a return on the left-over tax credit. 
Unfortunately, if you are filing as a pass-through or
C Corporation, you will not be able to carry forward your tax credit.
John Panessa
Executive Director
Apogee Scholarship Fund
(404) 419-7123/27                              
 
Sharon O’Connor
Still Waters International Academy Apogee Representative
  1. The first step is to decide how you want to file your 2025 taxes:
    • Single, married (jointly or separately),
    • As a pass-through (LLC, S Corp, or Partnership) and at an entity level or not, or
    • As a C Corp or Trust.
  2. File your application for the appropriate amount, as determined by you or your accountant, on the Apogee website: https://apogee123.org
     
  3. On the first business day of January, Apogee will submit all applications to the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR will approve/prorate your application by mid-January and send you a written notification, including your 60-day payment deadline.

  4. Pay Apogee by check or credit card before your payment deadline (in mid-March).

  5. Apogee will send you a tax receipt in May 2025 to use when claiming the credit on your 2025 taxes.