Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit Calculator

When you give $250 or more to “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County, Colorado gives half of your gift back to you as a state tax credit. Use the calculator below to see what your gift could cost you and what it helps make possible for Dreamer Scholars and their families.

See how far your gift goes

Colorado taxpayers get half of a qualifying gift back as a state tax credit. Enter an amount to see your estimate.

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How do you file?

Your $1,000 gift could cost you about $368

"I Have A Dream" Foundation receives your full $1,000.

  • Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit (50%)
  • Potential federal deduction savings
  • Potential Colorado deduction savings
  • Your estimated cost

This is an estimate, not tax advice. Your savings depend on your situation, so please talk with your tax advisor before you give.

What $1,000 helps make possible

    Give now How the credit works

    Giving another way?

    Tap any topic to learn more.

    Gifts of stockAvoid capital gains on stock held more than a year

    If you own stock you've held for more than a year, giving the stock directly means you don't pay capital gains tax on its growth, and the full value is potentially deductible. "I Have A Dream" Foundation sells it with no tax due. Stock gifts don't qualify for the Colorado credit.

    Gifts from an IRA (age 70½ and older)Give straight from your retirement account

    A qualified charitable distribution goes straight from your IRA to the Foundation. It isn't counted as taxable income, and it can count toward your required minimum distribution. Colorado counts it as a cash gift for the credit, but claiming the credit can affect how the distribution is treated federally, so please talk with your tax advisor before you give. Then ask your IRA custodian to send the gift.

    Gifts from a donor-advised fundRecommend a grant from your fund

    Grants from a donor-advised fund don't qualify for the Colorado credit, but they're a wonderful way to invest in Dreamer Scholars. We walk alongside students from 1st grade to first job, support the whole student, and provide postsecondary scholarships.

    How we calculate thisThe rules and rates behind this estimate
    • Colorado credit: 50% of a cash, check or card gift of $250 or more to "I Have A Dream" Foundation. The credit is limited to your Colorado income tax for the year, up to $100,000 ($100,000 total for a couple filing jointly), and unused credit carries forward up to five years. It's available to anyone who owes Colorado income tax, including nonresidents with Colorado income.
    • Federal deduction: IRS rules reduce your charitable deduction by the state credit, so we apply your bracket to the other half of your gift. Starting in 2026, people who take the standard deduction can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts ($2,000 if married filing jointly). Itemizers can deduct only the part of their total giving above 0.5% of income, which this estimate doesn't include, and the 37% bracket is valued at 35%.
    • Colorado deduction: Colorado's 4.4% rate applied to the same deductible amount. Colorado limits deductions for people with federal taxable income of $300,000 or more, so we show no Colorado deduction savings in the 35% and 37% brackets.
    • Sources: Colorado Department of Revenue and IRS regulation 1.170A-1(h)(3).

    How to claim the credit

    1. Give $250 or more to “I Have A Dream” Foundation of Boulder County by cash, check or card. Gifts made by December 31 count toward this year’s taxes. Gifts made directly to IHDF and gifts made through Colorado Gives Day both qualify.

    2. We’ll send you a Child Care Contribution Credit Certificate (Colorado Form DR 1317) to include with your state tax return.

    3. Claim the credit when you file your Colorado income tax return. Your tax advisor can help you get the most from your gift.

    Questions? Email info@ihaveadreamboulder.org or call (303) 444-3636.