Take advantage of the Illinois Gives Tax Credit in 2026

In 2025, the State of Illinois introduced a powerful incentive to encourage charitable giving permanent endowment funds that benefit Illinois nonprofits and causes—and interest in the program continues to grow. The Illinois Gives Tax Credit allows donors to invest in the long-term well-being of their communities while also receiving a substantial tax benefit. With increased awareness and participation, credits are expected to be claimed much sooner in 2026, making early planning essential. 

The Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program offers a 25% state income tax credit to taxpayers who make donations to permanent endowment funds held by Qualified Community Foundations, such as Galesburg Community Foundation. Credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and once they are gone, no additional credits are available for the year. 

Endowment funds are designed to exist in perpetuity, with the principal invested to generate annual earnings that provide reliable, long-term support for charitable grants. 

“Connecting donors to causes they care about is what we do best, and we’re thrilled to offer a way for donors to support their favorite nonprofits while also receiving a tax benefit,” said Sarah Grant, Vice President of Development at Galesburg Community Foundation. “Because we anticipate the Illinois Gives tax credits will run out much sooner in 2026, we strongly encourage donors to start planning early and submit their applications as soon as the program opens.” 

To participate, donors must make their gift to a Qualified Community Foundation. Galesburg Community Foundation is proud to be among those eligible and is happy to guide donors through the application process. The maximum tax credit per taxpayer is $100,000 annually, making this an especially impactful opportunity for individuals and businesses with Illinois income tax liability. 

If you are interested in taking advantage of the tax credit, please contact Sarah Grant, Vice President of Development at sgrant@yourgcf.org or 309.344.8898 to learn more. To view the full list of the eligible funds at Galesburg Community Foundation, click here.