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You can give a gift that costs you nothing, but means EVERYTHING!
When you donate to the Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization (OCEN SGO) for CVCA student scholarships, Ohio gives you a dollar-for-dollar credit toward what you owe in taxes (up to $750/person).
You can give a gift that costs you nothing, but means EVERYTHING!
When you donate to the Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization (OCEN SGO) for CVCA student scholarships, Ohio gives you a dollar-for-dollar credit toward what you owe in taxes (up to $750/person).
Friends of CVCA now have a virtually cost-free way to make a significant contribution to the students at CVCA. Thanks to Ohio’s new state tax credit for taxpayers who make a contribution to the Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization (OCEN SGO), you are able to provide a gift that will be designated for CVCA student scholarships. The Ohio Christian Education Network’s Scholarship Granting Organization is a 501(c)(3) entity certified by the Ohio Attorney General that serves OCEN’s member schools like CVCA.
How it Works:
- Visit the SGO website to contribute. Be sure to select CVCA in the drop-down menu so your contribution is designated for scholarships at CVCA. OCEN will provide you with a gift receipt.
- For gifts up to $750, you will receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit to use during the current tax year. In other words, assuming that you have an equivalent Ohio tax liability, you will receive 100 percent of your contribution back when you file your taxes for the year. The students at CVCA receive the benefit of your gift at essentially no cost to you.
- Married couples can receive up to two separate $750 deductions, totaling $1,500. To receive the maximum credit, spouses must make two separate $750 donations, one in each of their names. A single $1,500 will only return a single $750 tax credit.
- All donations received by April 15, 2025 can be included as a tax credit eligible donation when you file your 2024 tax return. Amounts received after that date will apply to your 2025 tax return.
OCEN-SGO Frequently Asked Questions
A Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that receives contributions from donors and grants educational scholarships to eligible students in Ohio. Individuals and entities that contribute to SGOs participating in the program can receive a tax credit. The SGO program was enacted in 2021 as part of Ohio House Bill 110.
OCEN stands for The Ohio Christian Education Network and has been established as an SGO, in which CVCA is a participating school. OCEN, a division of the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV), is a coalition that stands for freedom in education and wants to support initiatives that prevent the government from intruding on the right of Christian schools to teach Gospel-centered principles.
A tax credit is awarded to donors who contribute to CVCA through our SGO. Donors receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their state taxes up to $750 per individual taxpayer or $1,500 for married couples filing a joint return. Your gift can be designated to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy by selecting CVCA from the drop-down box on the website.
Your tax credit cannot exceed the amount of your state tax liability. For example, if your total 2023 state tax liability is $500, then the maximum you can take as a credit would be $500.
Any gift above the maximum allowable for the state credit may be claimed as a federal tax deduction since OCEN SGO is a 501c3.
The excess amount could also be carried over to the next tax year but it would reduce the total you could donate for that tax year, and the paperwork tracking might become a bit complex.
Additionally, amounts donated in excess of the eligible tax credit may potentially be recognized as a tax deduction on your federal tax return. Please check with your accounting or tax professional to see how this would apply in your situation.
Yes. You can indicate that online. Complete the requested information and a receipt will be sent to you once our SGO receives your check.
No, the tax credit is available only to individual taxpayers. Technically, businesses can donate but they are not eligible for the state tax credit. OCEN is a 501c3 so they are eligible for whatever other tax benefits come from donating to a 501c3.
No, the tax credit only applies at the state level.
For 2023, you record your tax credit on line 16 of your 2023 Ohio IT 1040. You also need to complete the Schedule of Credits form provided by the state. You will also need to send in the email receipt provided by OCEN when you first made your contribution as proof of your donation. Your accountant will be familiar with these forms. See a sample at this link: Tax Forms
All donations received by April 15, 2025 can be included as a tax credit eligible donation when you file your 2024 tax return. Amounts received after that date will apply to your 2025 tax return.
Your gift to OCEN SGO will be used to award scholarships to worthy students attending CVCA. Your gift must be used by CVCA to fund a tuition scholarship with priority given to students in financial need. Click HERE to donate.
We encourage you to speak with your tax professional to learn if contributing to the OCEN SGO is suitable for you and your family. Answers to frequently asked questions can be found by visiting the OCEN SGO website.