FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW

What is the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund?

What is an SGO?
Ohio law defines a “scholarship granting organization” as an organization certified by the Ohio Attorney General as satisfying three criteria. First, it must be a religious or non-religious charitable organization with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Second, it must primarily award academic scholarships to primary and secondary school students. Third, it must prioritize awarding scholarships to low-income primary and secondary school students. The organization must also comply with all applicable registration and reporting requirements with the Ohio Attorney General in order to be certified.

Is the Emmaus Road Scholarship different than the Diocesan tuition assistance fund?
Yes. While the same process is used for parents to apply, eligibility and award amounts differ.

Who benefits from this program?
All students can benefit from this program! Tuition assistance is provided to families with increasing and substantial need in each of our 52 schools. These donations make a high-quality Catholic education accessible and affordable for all our school families.

Scholarship Recipients

Who can apply?
Any student can apply for a scholarship. Scholarships will be prioritized for low-income students (designated as 300% of the federal poverty line).

How can I apply for a scholarship?
Families apply through a third party company that the Diocese uses called FACTS. Families will be asked to input financial information (such as sources of income, assets, and household expenses) including their most recent tax return and W2s. FACTS then uses an internally built program to determine award amounts based on each individual student’s tuition rates in comparison to their financial ability to pay. This is a similar process to the one used for awarding tuition assistance through the Diocesan tuition assistance fund. Please contact your school to apply.

When are scholarships awarded?
The application period opens on November 1st and closes on March 15th. Calculations of scholarships are determined in the month of April. In September, schools must confirm the enrollment of scholarship awardees and those payments are sent to the schools in November and credited to the student’s tuition account.

DONORS

Who can donate to the Emmaus Road Scholarship fund?
Anyone can donate to the scholarship! Only taxpayers will receive a tax credit.

How much can I donate?
There is no gift too big or too small! For purposes of the tax credit, $750 per person per year ($1,500 for those married filing jointly) can be claimed.

Can my spouse and I both donate if we are married filing jointly?
Yes! You can donate up to $1,500 if you are married filing jointly ($750 per person per year).

How do I make a donation?
Fill out the form below to make an electronic donation or by check, made payable to "Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund", and mail to Office of Catholic Schools, 197 East Gay St., Columbus, OH 43215.

Can I do a monthly donation?
Yes! There is an option to make a monthly payment on the online giving form below. Keep in mind that the tax credit cannot exceed Ohio tax.

Can I donate to a specific school?
Yes! While we encourage donors to consider donating to our unrestricted fund so that our students most in need can get help, donations for specific schools are accepted. Please indicate this on your check and on the school designation box online. Low-income students in the designated school will be prioritized.

Can I donate to a specific student?
No.

Who receives the contribution?
All SGO funds are held in a checking account at Huntington National Bank. Donations can also be made via online gift giving through Our Catholic Schools website. Any checks mailed to the Diocesan offices are first documented in the Office of Catholic Schools. The Office of Catholic Schools handles all the tracking and documentation of received checks, sends them to the Diocesan Finance Office for their documentation and deposit into the bank, and is responsible for mailing donor receipts in accordance with tax credit and charitable gift qualifications for tax purposes.

Can I contribute more than once a year?
Yes! Keep in mind that the tax credit cannot exceed Ohio tax.

Tax Credit

How do I qualify for a tax credit?
To qualify for the tax credit you need to file an Ohio tax return and have an Ohio tax liability. When you file your taxes you may need documentation of your donation, which the Office of Catholic schools will generate and mail to you.

Is the amount a tax deduction?
Your donation is a tax credit! A tax credit can reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar, whereas a tax deduction only reduces the amount of your income before calculation of the tax you owe.

How do I get the credit?
The credit should be entered on your Ohio Tax Return Schedule of Credits, line 15.

What year does the tax credit apply for?
Donations received or postmarked by December 31 will be receipted for that tax year.  For example, if you donate to the Emmaus Road Scholarship Fund during the 2022 calendar year, then you will receive the tax credit on your 2022 tax return when you file your taxes in the Spring of 2023.

Do I get a receipt for tax purposes?
Yes. The Office of Catholic Schools will generate and mail donor receipts in accordance with tax credit and charitable gift qualifications for tax purposes.

Can I participate in more than one tax credit?
Yes. As long as you have enough of a state tax liability, you can “stack” tax credits (subject to State of Ohio limits). Please note that a taxpayer’s aggregate tax liability (against which this SGO tax credit is applied) may be reduced by other credits before it is applied. Contact your tax advisor with additional questions or for further assistance.

Can I still itemize? 
Those who itemize may still claim additional charitable donations on state and federal taxes AND receive the Ohio tax credit.