We have less than one week to meet a challenge grant for GO for Catholic Schools and could really use your help.
An anonymous donor who greatly values Catholic education has offered a $475,000 challenge match for every gift to GO that exceeds last year's level of support. In other words, for every dollar directed to GO in excess of the $820,000 contributed last year, this donor will match dollar for dollar up to $475,000. This challenge is good only through December 1, 2018, so we ask that you please contribute by this Friday!
GO for Catholic Schools is the result of a 2011 law passed by the Oklahoma state legislature offering tax incentives to support private education. A scholarship granting organization (SGO) was established for the purpose of helping Catholic schools located within the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma to receive these educational benefits.
The GO funds are appropriated to low and lower middle income families to help them afford a Catholic education for their children. Thanks to the $820,000 gifted through GO in 2017, about 1,000 students at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma received tuition assistance provided solely by GO this fall. This tuition assistance not only helps students and their families but it also helps schools meet their bottom lines.
GO funds are awarded annually to all students (both Catholic and non-Catholic) with a demonstrated financial need for assistance, whose families are working hard to afford a Catholic education for their children. Gifts to GO change lives!
Individuals and married couples as well as businesses are able to direct their state tax dollars to GO. Individuals and legal business entities (corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships) can contribute to the GO for Catholic Schools Scholarship Fund and receive a state income tax credit from Oklahoma.
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Individuals can receive up to a $1,000 tax credit annually.
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Married couples can receive up to a $2,000 tax credit annually.
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Legal business entities can receive up to a $100,000 tax credit annually.
All gifts to GO are also 100% tax deductible on the federal forms.
If your tax accountant tells you this is not possible, please have them reach out to Mark Ross at mjross@goforcatholicschools.com.
GO participants can direct up to 90% of their contributions to a particular Catholic school or combination of schools. With the 1:1 match, for every $1,000 you direct to GO, you can ensure that an additional $1,000 goes to help families within our Catholic schools.
The website for GO is www.GOforCatholicSchools.com. Additional details and FAQ’s can be found there.
Thanks in advance for your strong support of these efforts as they will benefit many families attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tulsa. GO is helping grow enrollment and GO is making schools more affordable to low and middle income families. Please check out the website and spread the word among your friends. You will be glad you did and the kids will be the real beneficiaries.
In Christ,
Rev. Gary Kastl
President, Bishop Kelley High School
