Giving

SJA SGO

The Ohio General Assembly recently established a program whereby Ohioans can receive a 100% tax credit against Ohio income tax liability for cash contributions to certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) who grant scholarships for tuition to students. By creating an SGO, organizations will receive their contributions directly versus receiving them through a third party.
The State of Ohio now allows all donations made through April 15, 2024 to count as eligible donation credits on your 2023 State of Ohio tax return. 
Saint Joseph Academy has created its own SGO - the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization (SJA SGO). The SJA SGO is designed to allow members of our community to make donations for Saint Joseph Academy students while also receiving eligibility for an Ohio tax credit - dollar for dollar. This credit is limited to the lesser of $750 for an individual (or $1,500 if married filing jointly) or the related state of Ohio tax liability.

By contributing to the SJA SGO, you:
  • Have the power to direct your tax dollars
  • Directly impact our students
  • Help us award scholarships to students with the highest financial need
 
Your support will help ensure any qualified student who seeks one can receive an outstanding Catholic education from Saint Joseph Academy. We hope you will contribute to the SJA SGO to provide scholarship dollars to our students!

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 18 items.

  • What is a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)?

    It is an organization that is certified by the State of Ohio to be a Scholarship Granting Organization whose primary intent must be to award academic scholarships to low-income students who attend schools in grades K-12. Primary intent means the organization must spend more than 50% of expenses on scholarships with preference given to families with demonstrated income below 300% of poverty level.
  • What is the benefit of an SGO?

    The State of Ohio enacted legislation allowing those who make a donation to certified scholarship granting organizations a tax credit up to $750 per individual or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly. This credit is available to all individuals who have an Ohio tax liability. The credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit, but is limited to the lesser of $750 for an individual (or $1,500 if married filing jointly) or the related state of Ohio tax liability.
  • Why did Saint Joseph Academy create a separate SGO?

    Saint Joseph Academy created its own SGO – the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization (SJA SGO) – to allow members of our community to make donations to benefit Saint Joseph Academy students while also receiving this Ohio tax credit – dollar for dollar. Only donations made to a certified scholarship granting organization are eligible to receive this tax credit on an individual’s State of Ohio tax return. Should you prefer to make a donation to Saint Joseph Academy through the Catholic Community Foundation’s Angel Fund, we will still receive it.
  • Who will benefit from this program?

    Donations to the SJA SGO benefit Saint Joseph Academy students and their families by prioritizing scholarships for those with demonstrated financial need. It will also allow taxpayers to reduce their Ohio state tax liability. This is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against your tax liability or the taxes you owe to the State of Ohio. When you allocate your tax dollars to the SJA SGO, it goes to Saint Joseph Academy to help our students instead of going to the State of Ohio.
  • How do I estimate my state of Ohio tax liability?

    All individuals with earned income pay income taxes to the state - even if you received a refund in the previous year.  Your state tax liability is not the amount deducted from your paycheck or the amount refunded to you or owed to the state. Rather, the tax liability is the total amount owed to the state BEFORE determining whether there is a refund or a payment due. To estimate if you will have a tax liability in the coming year, review your tax liability from the previous year’s State of Ohio tax return (in 2022, this amount would be on Ohio IT 1040, line 8c). After considering whether there have been significant changes to your income this year, reviewing the prior year’s State of Ohio tax return will help to estimate whether you will have a similar liability in the current tax year. It is recommended that you contact your tax preparer with questions.
  • I received a refund on my state of Ohio taxes last year.  Am I still eligible for an SGO tax credit?

    Yes. The scholarship granting organization tax credit applies to the State of Ohio tax liability.  The liability is calculated before credits are applied for withholdings made by your employer or before applying other tax credits. As long as the liability exceeds $750 per individual or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly, you may be eligible for the SJA SGO tax credit. Please note, however, the tax credit is not refundable. Although credits are stackable, the SJA SGO tax credit in combination with other state tax credits may not exceed the tax liability.
  • How does a tax deduction differ from a tax credit?

    A tax deduction reduces a taxpayer’s overall taxable income. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit against the taxes paid to the State of Ohio up to the limits allowed by the credit. All donations of this kind are directed to the SJA SGO rather than to the State of Ohio.
  • How can I donate?

    You may donate online to the SJA SGO or mail a contribution directly to:

    The Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization
    3470 Rocky River Drive
    Cleveland, OH, 44111
     
    Please note, to receive the tax credit, the donation must be made to the SJA SGO to receive the credit. Any other donations made directly to Saint Joseph Academy are not eligible for this credit.
  • Can I direct my donation to a specific student?

    No. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the SJA SGO may not accept donations for a specific student.
  • Can I direct my donation to a specific scholarship fund or department?

    No. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the SJA SGO may not accept donations that are designated for a specific endowed scholarship fund or department. Only donations made to the SJA SGO are eligible for this tax liability credit. If you are interested in supporting Saint Joseph Academy students in a different way, please consider contributing to our Annual Fund or by contacting Vice President of Institutional Advancement Connie Sipple.
  • Is my donation to the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization limited to $750 per individual?

    No. Any amount of donation may be made, but the tax credit available through the State of Ohio is limited to $750 for an individual or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly.
  • If I would like to make a $1,500 donation on behalf of myself and my spouse, should I make two separate contributions or one single contribution?

    For married filing jointly, each spouse must make an individual contribution of $750. Therefore, there needs to be two separate transactions.
  • Can I make a recurring contribution?

    Yes. You may make a one-time contribution or a recurring monthly contribution.
  • My employer offers matching contributions. Will the SJA SGO accept a matching contribution from my employer?

    Yes. This is a great way to increase your impact! However, you will only receive a receipt and tax credit for your contribution, not your employer’s matching amount.
  • What students are eligible to receive an award through the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization?

    All students who attend Saint Joseph Academy are eligible to receive an award if there are enough funds but low-income students will be prioritized.
  • Does a student need to apply for an award through the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting Organization?

    Yes. Saint Joseph Academy students may apply for a financial assistance award through the SJA SGO by completing a FACTS Grant & Aid application. FACTS is a third-party company that secondary educational institutions use to conduct financial analyses to determine families’ financial needs. A link to that application is provided on the Saint Joseph Academy website here.
  • Who is responsible for submitting the contribution information to the State of Ohio?

    Each donor is personally responsible for maintaining the contribution acknowledgment receipt provided by the SJA SGO. That receipt will be needed to claim the tax credit through the State of Ohio.
  • How do I receive the SJA SGO tax credit with the State of Ohio?


    Step 1Step 2Step 3
    Estimate your State of Ohio tax liability 
       
    (In 2022, your liability was shown on Form  IT 1040, Line 8c)
    Donate to the Saint Joseph Academy Scholarship Granting OrganizationComplete your State of Ohio income tax return, include your contribution receipt and claim the tax credit
To learn more, contact Constance Sipple, CFRE, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at 216.671.0166 or csipple@sja1890.org.
 
Please note, this does not constitute income tax advice. Always consult with your tax professional for information on the impact of any charitable contribution.