Scholarship Granting Organization

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

• What is a Scholarship Granting Organization?

  A Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization certified by the Ohio Attorney General that receives contributions from donors and awards academic scholarships to eligible K-12 students in Ohio. The organization must prioritize awarding scholarships to low-income students as defined by the state; in this case, that means income below 300% of the poverty level.  

• What is the benefit of an SGO?

  The State of Ohio recently enacted legislation allowing a tax credit of up to $750 per individual or $1,500 for married couples filing jointly for donations made to certified scholarship-granting organizations. This credit is available to individuals and pass-through organizations who have an Ohio tax liability. The credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit, but is limited to the lesser of 1) $750 per individual; or, 2) $1,500 for married couples filing jointly; or, 3) your total tax liability.
  
  

  Ohio taxpayers benefit through a dollar-for-dollar reduction of their state tax liability, while choosing to re-direct those tax dollars in support of Andrews Osborne Academy students at no additional cost to them. 
  
  

  Andrews Osborne Academy benefits from the program by being able to award tuition assistance that prioritizes families in need who seek the opportunity for their daughters to receive an AOA education. 

• Does Andrews Osborne Academy have its own SGO?

  As a member of the Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS), Andrews Osborne Academy may receive SGO contributions through the OAIS SGO. To contribute, visit https://oais.gosgo.co/donations/new and when prompted, choose “Andrews Osborne Academy” from the dropdown menu. 

• May I designate my SGO contribution to a specific AOA student? 

  No. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the OAIS SGO does not accept contributions that are designated for specific students.

• Who is responsible for submitting SGO contribution information to the State of Ohio? 

  Each donor is personally responsible for maintaining the contribution acknowledgment receipt from OAIS in order to receive the tax credit. Andrews Osborne Academy does not issue tax receipts for the OAIS SGO. 

   

   

• If I contribute to the OAIS SGO, is that contribution considered a gift to Andrews Osborne Academy? 

  Your OAIS SGO contribution is a re-direction of your tax dollars – which is different than a philanthropic gift. We are grateful to members of the AOA community who choose to take advantage of this tax credit in support of our students. While they are among the many alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who choose to support AOA in different ways, a contribution to the OAIS SGO is not credited as a philanthropic donation to Andrews Osborne Academy. 

• If I have an existing pledge commitment to Andrews Osborne Academy, can my contribution to the OAIS SGO be counted against that outstanding balance?

  We hope that members of our AOA community choose to contribute to the OAIS SGO in addition to their regular philanthropic gifts to Andrews Osborne Academy, since the SGO contribution is a tax opportunity that represents no additional cost to them. If you have additional questions regarding a pledge, please email jfleminggifford@andrewsosborne.org or call 440-942-3600, ext. 235 so that we may assist you according to individual circumstances.