Ohio Tax Credit Scholarship Program

Click here to make a scholarship gift to the OAIS SGO and have it directed to Ruffing. The OAIS SGO will send you a gift receipt you can use when filing your tax return. When you file your taxes this spring, you will get a tax credit of up to $750 per individual or $1,500 for a couple filing jointly. If you are filing jointly, be sure to include your spouse’s name on the gift. Under Ohio law, you can make your gift anytime before filing your tax return and it will count toward that tax year. Please note, individuals who contribute to the SGO are not eligible to apply for an SGO scholarship.

The SGO benefits Ruffing students and families who require need-based tuition assistance and all SGO contributions directed to us will be committed to this purpose. Additionally, with SGO contributions directly funding need-based tuition assistance, it allows gifts to The Ruffing Fund to work harder in other critical areas like classroom materials, professional development, service opportunities, field trips, and much more!

A tax credit directly reduces the amount you owe in taxes. A tax deduction decreases your taxable income – it does not provide a dollar-for-dollar benefit.

All Ohio taxpayers, including individuals donating through a pass-through business entity.  

You may make a scholarship gift in any amount. However, the amount you will receive in a tax credit is capped at your full amount of state tax liability or $750 (individual) or $1,500 (couple filing jointly), whichever is less. 

For example, if you give $750 to an SGO but your Ohio tax liability is only $500, you would receive a credit of $500 and would not get the other $250 back.

As your gift to the OAIS SGO is a re-direction of tax dollars (tax credit), it will not be recognized as a charitable donation to the school, but will be acknowledged in our annual report.  We strongly encourage donors to consider supporting both the SGO (tax credit) and The Ruffing Fund (tax deduction) not only for their different charitable and tax implications, but also given the distinct ways they support Ruffing’s people and programming.

Review your Ohio tax liability from last year (1040 IT, line 8c) to help estimate the amount of your Ohio state tax liability for this year against which the credit can be taken.

Visit Ruffing’s OAIS SGO webpage here to make your scholarship gift. Ruffing will be notified of your gift and OAIS will issue a receipt that can be used when filing taxes.

Questions? Contact Kelly Serra, Development & Database Management, at kellys@ruffingmontessori.net or 216-321-7571 ext. x305.