Angel Scholarship Fund
Help Our Children Grow in Faith & Learning
A New Opportunity to Support
Our Holy Family Students
At Holy Family School, we are committed to helping more children access a faith-filled, Catholic education. Through the Angel Scholarship Fund, Ohio taxpayers can make a real difference in the lives of our students while receiving a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to seven hundred fifty dollars. If you file a joint return and both you and your spouse make eligible donations, each of you may claim the credit, for a total of up to fifteen hundred dollars.
Donations to the Angel Scholarship Fund are awarded as scholarships to elementary and high school students across the Diocese of Cleveland. By participating, you help families in our community provide their children with the gift of a Catholic education, while making a meaningful impact right here at Holy Family School.
How the Angel Scholarship Fund Impacts Families
✔ Helps provide high-quality Catholic education to more children
✔ Allows donations to be directed to any Catholic school in the Diocese of Cleveland
✔ Gives you the opportunity to choose how your tax dollars are used
The Angel Scholarship Fund provides a meaningful opportunity to expand scholarship support and make a Catholic education accessible to more families. Thank you for considering a gift that helps make tuition more affordable for our students.
REVIEW YOUR TAX LIABILITY FROM LAST YEAR
Use this to estimate tax liability for the current year. The maximum tax credit is $750 per tax payer
($1,500 for married filing jointly).
DESIGNATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION
You contribution can be designated to a school of your choice.
*Contribution can be any amount. The amount of the tax credit cannot exceed the amount of your tax liability.
CLAIM YOUR TAX CREDIT
A tax receipt will be provided that documents your Angel Scholarship Fund contribution. This receipt is then submitted with the Ohio 1040 tax form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the Angel Scholarship Fund (ASF)
Is an Upfront Payment Required?
When you participate in the Angel Scholarship Fund, you are letting the State of Ohio know that you would like a portion of your state income tax to support Catholic school scholarships instead of going into the state’s general fund.
To do this, you first make a contribution to the Angel Scholarship Fund in the amount you wish to designate as a tax credit. This contribution can be made all at once or spread out over recurring payments, depending on what works best for you.
When you file your Ohio tax return, you submit the receipt provided by the Angel Scholarship Fund. The state then issues a dollar for dollar tax credit, refunding the amount you contributed. In other words, the money you paid into the Angel Scholarship Fund comes back to you through your tax return.
For many first time participants, this process can feel intimidating because you are paying the amount upfront. However, once you receive your tax refund, the funds you designated are returned to you. After the first year, many donors choose to use their tax refund to fund their contribution for the following year, making the process much easier moving forward.
The state will collect this tax money regardless. The Angel Scholarship Fund simply gives you the opportunity to be intentional about where your tax dollars go by directing them toward tuition assistance for families seeking a Catholic education.
Please Note:
Tax situations can vary from person to person. We encourage you to consult with your tax advisor or tax professional to determine whether participating in the Angel Scholarship Fund is the best option for your individual financial situation.
Does My Tax Distribution Really Make a Difference?
By participating in the Angel Scholarship Fund, you:
• Help families who otherwise might not be able to afford a Catholic education.
• Support strong, faith-based learning in our community.
• Choose how part of your tax dollars are spent in a way that aligns with your values.
Many donors find that once they understand how the tax credit works, the fear of “hurting their taxes” disappears. Instead, they see this as an opportunity to make their tax dollars work for their community and their faith—often at no extra net cost to themselves.
Will This Hurt My Taxes?
Some people worry that participating in the ASF will hurt their taxes. The misunderstanding often comes from confusing this tax credit with a deduction:
This is not a tax deduction.
A tax deduction only reduces the amount of income the government taxes.
This is a tax credit, which means it directly reduces the amount of Ohio income tax you owe dollar for dollar. If you donate $750 to the Angel Scholarship Fund, your Ohio tax bill is reduced by $750. For married couples filing jointly, both spouses can each donate and claim up to $750, for a total of $1,500 in credits.
This essentially lets you use part of the money you were already planning to pay in state taxes to support tuition assistance, instead of sending it to Columbus with no designated impact.
Who Receives Support from the Angel Scholarship Fund?
The Angel Scholarship Fund prioritizes scholarships for families with financial need so that more children can access a faith-centered, Catholic education. But all Catholic school students in the Diocese of Cleveland are eligible to apply for an Angel Scholarship—so even if a family doesn’t qualify for the first priority pool, they can still benefit from the program.