Get Involved

We can make a difference together!

How many ways can you help? The Southern Lehigh SD community is made up of tremendous businesses and individuals whose passion for pushing the envelope of innovations could help SLEF achieve success in our program goals. Whether it is through unique partnerships, corporate or private monetary donations, offering assistance through your business offerings, or even by volunteering, there are so many ways YOU can help us achieve all of our goals.

Individuals

Volunteering

We are a volunteer based non-profit organization who could use talented community members like yourself. If you have any interest in helping by volunteering your time and efforts with SLEF, please reach out to us by selecting the “Contact Us” link at the top of the page.

Personal Donations

Individual monetary donations are a backbone to our program. Donations from generous individuals who value the need for increased innovative educational programs in SLSD allow us the ability to ensure the programs we initiate come to fruition. Any amount helps our efforts. If you have a business, please consider the Corporate Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which is featured at the bottom of the page. To make a personal monetary donation, please click the blue “Donate” Button at the top right hand side of the screen. Through our donation site, you can select your donation amount as well as set up reoccurring giving. If you would prefer to send a check, donation checks can be made out to “Southern Lehigh Education Foundation,” and can be mailed to:

Southern Lehigh Education Foundation
PO Box 291
5800 Route 378
Center Valley, PA 18034

Businesses

Local Business Partnerships

At times our initiatives may require a skillset that your business offers. If you own a local business and are interested in partnering to help in one of our current or future initaitives, please reach out to us! No matter what your business offers, SLEF might have something in the works that we would love to partner together to achieve. If you have any interest in your business partnering with SLEF, please reach out to us by selecting the “Contact Us” link at the top of the page.

Corporate Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program

Through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), eligible companies can receive tax credits for contributions to innovative educational programs, such as the Southern Lehigh Education Foundation (SLEF). Companies can receive tax credits equal to 75% of their contribution (up to $750,000 per taxable year) or up to 90% for two-year charitable commitments, while also helping to enrich the lives of the Southern Lehigh School District students. Offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the EITC program allows Southern Lehigh Education Foundation to properly fund and advance educational initiatives annually with Southern Lehigh School District.

For complete details on participation in the EITC program and the approval process through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, please visit their website.

EITC Application

Businesses must be approved before donating. Business guidelines and application information are available on Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development website.  All applications must be completed and submitted online. Paper applications are not accepted.

Applications for tax credits will be accepted beginning on May 15 for applicants who are in the middle of a 2-year commitment or for those who are reapplying after finishing a 2-year commitment. Applications for all others will be accepted beginning on July 1.  Funding for this program is limited, so it is important to apply as early as possible.

Tax Credits & Approval

Once the Commonwealth approves your application, you must make a contribution directly to Southern Lehigh Education Foundation within 60 days. There is a yearly statewide cap and tax credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Tax credits are applied against the tax liability of your business for the tax year in which the contribution was made.

Important Steps

  • Determine the amount of state corporate taxes that your company pays.

  • If your company has participated in the EITC program before, applications are accepted beginning May 15.

  • If your company is participating in the EITC program for the first time, you can apply online beginning July 1. Applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis by date received. This program is popular and only so many businesses can participate, so please submit your application as early as possible.

  • The business owner is given written notification from the Department of Community and Economic Development that their business is approved for tax credits. This can take approximately 30-90 days.

  • When you receive the approval letter from DCED, make your contribution to Southern Lehigh Education Foundation within 60 days. This can be done by check written out to “Southern Lehigh Education Foundation” or by selecting the “Donate” page on our website.

  • Southern Lehigh Education Foundation will mail you an acknowledgement letter and receipt for the amount of your contribution that you must send to DCED within 90 days of the approval letter.

  • Donation checks can be mailed to:

Southern Lehigh Education Foundation
PO Box 291
5800 Route 378
Center Valley, PA 18034