Fully Funded Tuition for 2025-2026 School Year

Dear parishioners and community,

I come to you today with truly exciting news for our St. Joseph and Holy Trinity parishioners and our wider community! Through the incredible generosity and vision of our supporters, we are now able to provide fully funded tuition for a Catholic education at St. Joseph’s Catholic School for all our students.

Can you picture what this means for our children and for families throughout our community? A faith-filled education, rooted in the gospel values we hold dear—an environment where children are nurtured in faith, challenged academically, and surrounded by a strong, loving community—now available to everyone, regardless of financial means or religious background.

That’s right—enrollment at St. Joseph’s Catholic School is open to all families, of all faiths—not just those from our Catholic parish. If you know someone seeking a nurturing, values-based education for their children, regardless of their church affiliation, our doors are wide open.

This wonderful opportunity at St. Joseph’s is a testament to our commitment to passing on hope, character, and academic excellence to every child who desires it. Our mission is to be a light and a source of strength in our community—preparing the next generation of servant leaders for lives of purpose and meaning.

But today, I need your help! We still have space for 35 more students before we reach our full capacity. Imagine: with every new enrollment, we are opening another door of opportunity and ensuring the continued vitality of faith-based education in our community.

So I ask you—reach out to friends, neighbors, and relatives, whether Catholic, of another faith, or no faith at all, who desire a caring, enriching school experience for their children. Please share this invitation, spread the word, and pray for our growth and success.

Together, let’s make sure our Catholic School remains a blessing for generations to come. Thank you for your faith, your support, and your love for our parishes, our community, and school family. 

Together, let’s make sure our Catholic School remains a blessing for generations to come. Thank you for your faith, your support, and your love for our parishes, our community, and school family. 

May God richly reward you!

Fully Funded Tuition At St. Joseph’s Catholic School

The combination of the EdChoice Scholarship and the SGO Scholarship may not cover the tuition for your child at St. Joseph’s. The SUPPORT Fund exists to pay the balance of what is owed so that your child can benefit from a Catholic education.  To receive the fully funded tuition, each family must apply for the EdChoice and SGO Scholarship.

The State of Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program provides state-funded scholarships to K-12 students who meet the eligibility criteria. The scholarship must be used to attend private schools that meet requirements for program participation. 

The Diocese of Toledo offers the SGO Scholarship. Any Ohio taxpayer can choose to send a portion of their Ohio Taxes to our school for student scholarships.   In 2021, House Bill 110 established a program for Ohio taxpayers to receive a 100% tax credit against Ohio income tax liability for contributions made to a certified Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO).  Prior to tax season, an Ohio taxpayer makes a donation to the SGO, specifying our school, up to $750, or $1,500 if married and filing jointly.  When filing taxes, the donation was applied to their Ohio income tax liability.  If they’ve met their tax liability, they’ll receive their entire donation back in their tax refund.  If they’ve not met their tax liability, their donation will be a credit to what they owe in state taxes.  They’ve just controlled where their state taxes go (to our school family’s tuition).  As part of registration, families of our school apply to receive these scholarship funds from the SGO.

The SUPPORT Fund is a compilation of generous, anonymous donors who desire to see the availability of a Catholic education not be limited by a family’s financial constraints. 

As Father Paul’s Letter States: 

“So I ask you—reach out to friends, neighbors, and relatives, whether Catholic, of another faith, or no faith at all, who desire a caring, enriching school experience for their children. Please share this invitation, spread the word, and pray for our growth and success.”

Please encourage the people you know to take the Principal’s Tour of St. Joseph’s Catholic School.  Click here to schedule.

Financial Aid

At St. Joseph Catholic School it is our goal to meet the needs of every family who enters our doors. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of people each year, St. Joseph is fortunate to offer a number of financial assistance programs to its families. Last year, St. Joseph provided 100% of St. Joseph K-8 students with financial aid.

EDCHOICE EXPANSION INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 2024-2025

Number in Family/ Household	200%	450%	500%	550%	600%	650%	700%	750%
1	$30,120	$67,770	$75,300	$82,830	$90,360	$97,890	$105,420	$112,950
2	$40,880	$91,980	$102,200	$112,420	$122,640	$132,860	$143,080	$153,300
3	$51,640	$116,190	$129,100	$142,010	$154,920	$167,830	$180,740	$193,650
4	$62,400	$140,400	$156,000	$171,600	$187,200	$202,800	$218,400	$234,000
5	$73,160	$164,610	$182,900	$201,190	$219,480	$237,770	$256,060	$274,350
6	$83,920	$188,820	$209,800	$230,780	$251,760	$272,740	$293,720	$314,700
7	$94,680	$213,030	$236,700	$260,370	$284,040	$307,710	$331,380	$355,050
8	$105,440	$237,240	$263,600	$289,960	$316,320	$342,680	$369,040	$395,400
For each additional person added:	$10,760	$24,210	$26,900	$29,590	$32,280	$34,970	$37,660	$40,350

All first-time EdChoice Expansion applicants must have their income verified by the Office of Nonpublic Educational Options. Scholarships for EdChoice Expansion are awarded based on the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of a family’s household. If a family’s household income is at or below 450 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, they will be awarded the maximum scholarship amount. If a family’s household income is at or above 451 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the student’s scholarship award will be prorated based on their specific percentage of the Federal Poverty Level. Please review the 2024-2025 EdChoice Expansion Fact Sheet for more information. The scholarship can only be used to pay tuition. Parents and/or guardians may have to pay registration fees, material fees and other similar types of fees. Families who qualify for low-income status (at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines) do not have to pay any tuition beyond the amount of the scholarship. If the private school’s tuition is higher than the EdChoice Expansion Scholarship amount and the family does not qualify for low-income status, the family may have to pay the difference.

The above information is according to the Ohio Department of Education, ODE, and is accurate to the best of our knowledge.

HOW TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATION (SGO)

Go to the website: WWW.DOTSGO.ORG

Once on the website, click on “MAKE A GIFT”

On the next page, click on either “DONATE ONLINE” or “MAIL A CHECK”

If you select Donate Online, you will have 2 options: Credit Card or Direct Debit from a bank account.

If you select Credit Card, follow the prompts to complete the form. Enter your donation amount. Select St Joseph School Galion (options are in alphabetic order by school name) as the school and your parish of either Holy Trinity Bucyrus or St Joseph Galion (also in alphabetic order by parish name). Enter the billing address for the credit card that you will use to make the donation. Click “Credit Card” and “Secure Payment.”

This is a secure site and you will have to verify by doing a “reCaptcha” which will ask you to click on certain pictures to insure you are not a robot. You may have to do this twice.

Once you have verified security via the Recaptcha, you will then be asked to provide your credit card information. Enter your credit card information and then click on “Finish and Pay $$$”.

If you elect to do a direct debit from your bank account, click on “Direct Debit”. A form will populate for you to enter your banking account information. Once you enter the information, click “DONATE” and a screen to do a reCaptcha will populate. Complete the reCaptcha.

If you elect to make a donation through the mail, click on “MAIL A CHECK”. A form will populate. Print the form and fill it out. Make your check payable to: Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Fund. On the form, under “CONTRIBUTION DETAIL” check the box for Diocese of Toledo School Name and City and enter Saint Joseph Galion.

Mail form and payment to:
Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Fund
Department of Catholic Education
1933 Spielbusch Avenue
Toledo, OH 43604

You will receive documentation indicating that you have donated to the scholarship fund. This document will be your proof that you can take the tax credit on your Ohio State Income Tax filing form.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Fund (DOTSF)?
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The Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Fund is a Scholarship Granting Organization registered with the State of Ohio’s Attorney General’s Office. DOTSF is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 organization that collects funds to assist students in grades K-12 to attend non-public schools within the Diocese of Toledo.

2. What is a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)?
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In the State of Ohio, a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that receives contributions from individual donors and grants educational scholarships to eligible students K-12 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 and is overseen by the Ohio Attorney General.

3. How do I donate to this fund? 
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It’s easy! Go to the Website: DOTSGO.ORG. To donate, click the “Donate” button. Follow the instructions on the “How To” document included in this mailing. Following your donation being processed, you will receive a donation receipt and a letter of acknowledgement for the tax credit. In both instances, you may designate your donation to a particular Catholic school or select “greatest need” for students throughout the Diocese of Toledo.

4. What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction? 
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A tax credit directly reduces the amount you owe in taxes. A tax deduction reducesyour taxable income. A tax deduction does not provide a dollar-for-dollar benefit. In this SGO program, each dollar you donate reduces what you owe in taxes by a dollar.

5. Who qualifies for a tax credit? 
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Any Ohio taxpayer or Limited Liability Company (LLC) donating directly to the SGO is eligible for the tax credit. The law now allows for donations eligible for a tax credit to be collected until the date that Ohio taxes are due to the State of Ohio, typically April 15, for donations to be applied to the previous year.

6. How much is my tax credit when I donate to this fund?
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The maximum tax credit is $750 per individual or $1,500 for those married filing jointly. However, there is no cap on donations to SGOs across the state. Any amount may be donated to an SGO. Donors should consider writing two separate checks if they are married filing jointly.

7. How much do I owe for my State of Ohio Taxes?
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On Form 1040 IT of your Individual Income Tax Return for the state of Ohio, reference line thirteen (13) or the Total Ohio tax Liability Line. For other tax-related questions, you are encouraged to consult a tax professional. 

8. How is my tax credit applied to my state taxes?
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After making a donation, you will receive via mail, documentation to ensure your tax credit for the previous year’s donation is applied to your state tax liability.

9. Is my donation also tax deductible for my federal taxes? 
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Consult your tax advisor to determine your specific tax situation. For more information, visit www.irs.gov or a tax professional for more information. 

10. I read that the donation is non-refundable, what does that mean?
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It means that once a gift is made, the SGO is unable to issue a refund to a donor. This term does not refer to the process of receiving a tax refund from the state.