Give to Lake Center for

Free

Give to Lake Center for

Free

Give to Lake Center for

Free

If your taxable income is $44,250/yr, you will pay over $750 in taxes,  

why not designate that money for Lake Center Christian School?

Taxpayers now have a cost-free way to make a significant contribution to the students at Lake Center Christian Schools (LCCS). Thanks to Ohio’s new state tax credit, individuals who donate to a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) can receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit up to $750. You may even designate your gift specifically for Lake Center Christian School.

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use your tax dollars

to support student scholarships at
Lake Center Christian School

HOW IT WORKS

HOW IT WORKS

$500 Donation = $500 Tax Credit
$750 Donation = $750 Tax Credit
$1200 Donation ($600 Husband; $600 Wife) = $1200 Tax Credit
$1500 Donation ($750 Husband; $750 Wife) = $1500 Tax Credit
Donations can be made through OCEN, our Scholarship Granting Organization, and may be claimed when you file your Ohio taxes for the year in which you make your gift. The credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your state tax liability up to $750 per taxpayer. A married couple filing jointly can make two gifts and claim a credit of up to $1500.* To receive the full tax credit, you must have an Ohio tax liability equal to or greater than the amount of the credit. When you designate your gift for LCCS you are providing scholarships for students to attend or stay at Lake Center Christian School. Students with a demonstrated financial need are prioritized, but all students are encouraged to apply. Additionally, your gifts help relieve a significant portion of the school budget that is committed to financial aid, freeing those funds for other operational uses. Thank you for partnering with Lake Center Christian School. If you have any questions, please contact our Advancement Director Dawn Campanelli at 330-877-2049.
*Contact your tax professional with questions specific to your tax situation.

WHAT IS TAX CREDIT?

State tax liability can be converted to scholarship donations. Instead of paying the state taxes, up to $750 of your donation to OCEN SGO can be claimed as a credit. What you give is what you get: The amount you donate will reduce your state tax liability by that amount. Click the download below to see an infographic explanation.

FAQs

You may do so! In that case, the first $750 will be granted a $750 state tax credit, and the amount of the gift beyond the initial $750 may be claimed as a federal and state tax deduction. Consult with your tax specialist to review your specific tax situation. In the meantime, find more information at: www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contribution-deductions.

Your OCEN SGO donation can be claimed when you file your Ohio taxes for the year in which you make your gift. The credit is a dollar-to-dollar reduction in your state tax liability up to $750 per taxpayer. A married couple filing jointly can make two gifts and claim a credit of up to $1500. To receive the full tax credit, you must have an Ohio tax liability equal to or greater than the amount of the credit. 

OCEN will announce award recipients on July 15, 2022 for the 2022-2023 launch school year. These awards will go to the students’ accounts at their schools by the beginning of the fall term.

OCEN will accept donations year-round. For your donation to apply for the 2022-2023 school year, please donate by June 1, 2022. Any donations received after this date will fund scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year.

Yes, you may select at which participating school you would like your gift to fund a scholarship. If you do not have a preference, simply leave the drop-down box empty and your gift will go into the unrestricted fund to provide scholarships to worthy students at any of our participating schools.

Yes, you may. However, you will need to submit it as multiple gifts, designating a different school for each separate gift.

Yes. The tax credit is on a per-individual taxpayer basis. 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.

Yes, OCEN SGO is certified by the Ohio Attorney General. You may view the list of certified SGOs here.

Anyone whose taxable income is over $44,250 owes a minimum of $878.42 in state tax. A $750 donation to an SGO would reduce this amount to $128.42. That means $750 of tax money to a scholarship to help a student receive a quality Christian education and $128.42 remains for the state. You can use the chart below from Ohio Department of Taxation to determine your tax liability if you know your Ohio Taxable Income amount.

Taxable state income can be found on page 2 of your state income tax return (Ohio IT 1040) line 13.

For taxable years beginning in 2021:

Ohio Taxable IncomeTax Calculation
$0-$25,0000.000%
$25,001 – $44,250$346.16 + 2.765% of excess over $25,000
$44,250 – $ 88,450$878.42 + 3.226% of excess over $44,250 
$88,450 – $110,650$2,304.31 + 3.688 % of excess over $88,450
more than $110,650$3,123.05 + 3.990 of excess over $110,650

House Bill 110 was passed September 2021
Section 5747.73 | Credit for donations to scholarship organizations
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5747.73

Without membership in OCEN, Lake Center would not be eligible to receive scholarship dollars from this Ohio tax reduction credit. Only organizations that have completed the process to become a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) can receive donations and issue a credit for the tax credit contribution. Lake Center is not a qualified SGO, nor do we have staff capacity to manage this program.

To expand scholarship resources for our students, Lake Center’s Board of Directors approved our school to join as a member of the Ohio Christian Education Network. Among the benefits is the ability to receive scholarship dollars designated for Lake Center Christian School, as well as a portion of the general donations to the program.

OCEN supports Lake Center ability to participate in the SGO program through: 1) a developed system and oversight Board of Directors to receive donations and tracking school designated funds that meet state requirements; 2) issuing proper receipt per Ohio law; 3) creation of print and digital marketing materials; 4) access to attorneys and management team well versed in application of the House Bill 3110; 5) receipt and
scoring of scholarship applications from Lake Center students, 6) distribution of scholarship awards to LCCS.

For this service a 9% administration fee is charged on each donation. This is a nominal fee and Lake Center benefits from OCEN’s management of Lake Center’s account and scholarship applications, as well as advocating for expansion of the program contribution levels at the State level, and keeping Lake Center Administration apprised of policies changes that can help/hinder school choice and religious freedom in education to promote a biblical worldview.

1. The Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) will send an email thank you upon your donation.
2. OCEN will designate funds donated on behalf of Lake Center to our school account – not specific students.
3. OCEN provides monthly and on request reports of donations designated to Lake Center Christian School to school admin.
4. In January, OCEN will also send a tax receipt to file for the tax credit reduction. Up to $750 per individual (married couples filing jointly, $1500 total if made as separate checks).

More Ways to

Support

Lake Center's Ministry

Individual Gift

By giving an Individual Gift, you can support all of Lake Center Christian School’s day-to-day operations.

Corporate Gift

Become a Corporate gifting partner and impact your community by supporting an organization that shares your values.

Tuition Assistance

Our Tuition Assistance funds provide opportunities to financially help Lake Center Christian School  ‘say yes’ to students in need.

LCCS Employee
Payroll Deduction

A little each pay adds up to an explosive blessing for our school! Please contact Advancement Director Dawn Campanelli for more information.

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