Tax Credits
Better Together
Empower New Hampshire’s Youth: Partner with AIR Through CDFA’s Tax Credit Program
A Place to Belong
Arts In Reach (AIR) has been championing the mental health of teens for more than two decades by providing a creative and supportive space for them to move through challenges and stressors in their lives. AIR acknowledges that talk therapy and/or medication, while beneficial, are not for everybody, nor are they accessible to everyone. AIR programs are an alternative, or complementary, approach to support the mental health of participants – most of whom have been impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as housing instability, living with someone who has mental illness or depression, being a victim of violence or bullying, or experiencing the death of a caregiver.
AIR is dedicated to being a lifeline for young people. Through arts-based mentoring. AIR provides teens with a safe, creative space to express themselves, heal, and thrive when traditional support falls short.
Answering The Call
The mental health crisis facing teen girls and gender-diverse youth has reached an urgent level. More young people need access to consistent, supportive care from well-trained facilitators. According to CDC data, nearly 60% of U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021—double the rate of boys, marking the highest level in over a decade. In New Hampshire, 57.5% of teen girls reported depression, and 32% seriously considered suicide (Youth Risk Behavior Survey). A 2021 Trevor Project study also revealed that 47% of LGBTQ+ youth consider suicide, and 25% attempt it.
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey underscores how severe this issue has become. Girls report significantly higher rates of substance use, experiences of violence, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts compared to boys. In 2021, nearly 30% of girls reported drinking recently, 20% experienced sexual violence, and 14% reported forced sexual encounters. Close to 60% of female students experienced persistent sadness, and nearly 25% had made a suicide plan. Students who identify as LGBQ+ face even more stark challenges, with nearly 70% feeling persistently sad, over 50% reporting poor mental health, and almost 25% attempting suicide in the past year.
“AIR gave me power and confidence through my teenage years. That enabled me to move into the next stages of life better adjusted and more confident in myself.”
– AIR Alum
Together, We Can Make A Difference
Arts In Reach (AIR) has been awarded tax credits through New Hampshire’s Community Development Finance Authority’s (CDFA) highly competitive program to support the building of a new two-story community center in Durham, NH. This dedicated programming facility will allow AIR to expand its impact on New Hampshire’s youth, addressing the urgent teen mental health crisis that has only intensified since COVID-19.
The new facility will replace AIR’s current “floating” model, where finding accessible, affordable spaces has become increasingly challenging and inefficient. This new building will provide teens with a stable, trauma-informed space to engage in creative expression, self-discovery, and community. With a permanent home, AIR can increase opportunities for teens to participate in life-changing programs, scaling from 300 to 1,200 annual spots and enhancing safety, security, and consistency for youth and families alike.
AIR’s commitment to community-wide collaboration will only grow with the new facility. Our space will be open and welcoming to our partners and supportive of their needs. We have already been discussing with some of them the ways in which our facility can be used for joint efforts. The project will utilize research on trauma-informed design, and become an example to other organizations of what it means to build a trauma-informed space from the ground up and how such an environment supports the behavioral health of those who occupy it. We look forward to how the facility will allow for greater involvement and connection with AIR parents and guardians, to offering workshops to the general public, AIR for Adults programs, trainings (such as the upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid and Stop the Bleed trainings we are hosting), and events such as teen Showcases and career fairs in partnership with the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle and the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation.
Program Overview
CDFA’s Tax Credit Program is a competitive, community economic development investment program.
The program seeks to advance community economic development projects that: show a high degree of community support, build partnerships, and leverage other resources.
Grants awarded under this program are provided to organizations in the form of tax credit equity, typically over a two-year period. Businesses with New Hampshire tax liability support awarded projects by purchasing the awardee’s credits, resulting in the nonprofit receiving a donation and the business receiving a 75 percent New Hampshire state tax credit for their contribution. The purchased credit can be applied against the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or Insurance Premium Tax. The donation may also be eligible for consideration as a charitable contribution for state and federal tax purposes.
CDFA’s tax credit funds are allocated to specific projects that are of public benefit, for a public purpose, and can reasonably be expected to address one or more of the following objectives:
- Contribute to the development (or redevelopment) and economic well-being of a target area(s) or target population(s);
- Contribute to the economic development of the state;
- Increase or maintain threatened primary employment;
- Provide affordable housing opportunities to low- and moderate-income people.
CDFA’s founding legislation and foundational guidance for the Tax Credit Program can be found in New Hampshire RSA 162-L.
Helpful Links
AIR programs are are free of charge for all participants, including supplies, transportation, and technology assistance. They take place at local arts venues to enhance teens’ community connection.
- Tax Credit Basics
Additional information on how the Tax Credit works, including the donation process.
- Tax Credit Calculator
An interactive calculator in Excel to help your business understand the return on investment of supporting a project through the Tax Credit Program. - Tax Credit FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions - CDFA Tax Credit Program Pledge Agreement
The New Hampshire Tax Credit Program Pledge Agreement.
Let’s Build A Partnership
By investing in AIR through the CDFA Tax Credit Program, your business can reduce its tax liability while making a lasting difference for New Hampshire’s teens. Together, we can build a foundation for resilience, creativity, and mental well-being for generations to come.
This is more than a tax credit—it’s a transformative investment in our community’s future.
Ready to make a difference? Click below to start the partnership and tax credit process. Please reach out if you have questions about the tax credit process, our mission, or other opportunities for collaboration by emailing [email protected].