Angel Scholarship Fund offers new Ohio tax credit program for Catholic school students
A new program that allows Ohioans to receive a 100% tax credit for up to $750 in cash donations to certified scholarship granting organizations has opened a new door for supporting tuition assistance to Catholic school students in the Diocese of Cleveland. The Catholic Community Foundation has established the Angel Scholarship Fund to accept donations that qualify for the new state of Ohio scholarship tax credit starting with the 2022 tax year.
The new program allows donors to choose how they will “spend” up to $750 of their 2022 Ohio income tax liability. The Angel Scholarship Fund will prioritize scholarships for low-income families (under 300% of the poverty threshold) that seek high-quality Catholic education opportunities for their children. Contributors to the Angel Scholarship Fund have the option of making a contribution that supports schools and students across the Diocese of Cleveland based on financial need or making a designated contribution to Archbishop Hoban High School specifically to benefit Hoban students' financial assistance. Students in all Catholic elementary and high schools across the eight-county diocese are eligible for these scholarships.
“Catholic schools serve their communities, and the Angel Scholarship Fund is a new opportunity for the community, in turn, to support students to attend a Catholic school," says Dr. Frank O’Linn, superintendent of Catholic schools. "This program holds tremendous potential for keeping irresistibly Catholic, academically excellent education as widely available as possible throughout our diocese,”
The Diocese of Cleveland Catholic schools comprise the largest school system in Ohio and the sixth-largest Catholic school system in the country. Currently, Catholic schools serve 38,312 students in Northeast Ohio. Students from every Catholic school in the diocese can apply for scholarships by completing a scholarship application form. Applications will be processed by the Diocese of Cleveland Office of Catholic Education. The Catholic Community Foundation anticipates beginning to award scholarships as soon as the fall of 2022.
For more information about the Angel Scholarship Fund, including an online donation portal, can be found at the Catholic Community Foundation. Or, call 216.902.1312.
3 Steps To Support Our Catholic School Students
- Can I Take the Full Credit? Take a quick look at your last year’s Ohio state tax return to estimate your 2022 tax liability. The maximum tax credit is $750 for single fliers, and $1,500 for married couples filing jointly.
- Make A Contribution in 2022* Select Archbishop Hoban High School to support a Hoban student's financial assistance. Your generosity is the key for providing the maximum number of scholarships to students in need. *Contribution can be any amount. The amount of the tax credit will be based on your tax liability.
- Claim Your Tax Credit On Your 2022 Ohio Income Tax Return The Angel Scholarship Fund will mail you a tax receipt as proof of your payment. Complete your 2022 income tax return and include your receipt from your contribution.
*This does not constitute tax advice. Always consult your tax professional.
“We now have a new and unique opportunity in our state to support our Catholic schools and students, a ministry that is at the heart of the Church’s evangelizing mission. This program has the potential to strengthen the viability of our Catholic schools and to lift up families by giving them the help they need to afford a Catholic education for their children.”
– BISHOP EDWARD MALESIC
