Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation for Catholic Schools
The generosity of individual and business donors who contribute to the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation provides an opportunity for families who need financial assistance to choose a Catholic education for their children. Gifts to our need-based Catholic Schools tuition assistance program help students reach their full potential in a faith-centered learning environment focused on strong academics and service to others.
Academic Angel Program
The Academic Angel program allows individuals to support our students and families directly through the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation. Your contribution is an investment in a child’s future… the outcomes speak for themselves. Our schools offer our youth an instructional environment that challenges the mind while inspiring and strengthening the spirit. You may restrict your Academic Angel gift to a particular school or be used where it is most needed.
Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program for Business Donors
Our Catholic School families are grateful to a number of Pennsylvania businesses that continue to support our Catholic schools through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (OSTC) offered through the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). This innovative program allows businesses to make donations to eligible scholarship organizations such as the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation and receive a significant State tax credit.
Full information and applications on the EITC program may be found by logging onto the DCED website: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/educational-improvement-tax-credit-program-eitc/
The OSTC program is similar to the EITC program with one additional requirement – eligible families who receive need-based tuition assistance through gifts given by businesses through the OSTC program must reside within the boundaries of an underperforming school district as determined by the State each year.
Information on the OSTC program can be found at https://dced.pa.gov/programs/opportunity-scholarship-tax-credit-program-ostc/
The EITC/OSTC Process for Approval:
1. A business must fill out the application on the DCED website above. Businesses that continue in the program each year can apply between May 15 and June 30. Businesses that have never participated or businesses that have had a lapse in their annual participation must apply on July 1.
2. The business then receives a letter of approval from DCED for participation.
3. The business submits their gift within sixty days to the Diocese of Scranton Scholarship Foundation.
4. The Diocese provides the business with an acknowledgment of the contribution.
5. The business submits the acknowledgment to DCED.
6. DCED communicates with the PA Department of Revenue and applicable credit is applied to business tax account. A notice is provided to the business.
7. Credit is applied as if paid at the beginning of the tax year.
8. The credit is taken as a payment of taxes on the businesses annual tax return filing.
This entire process must take no more than ninety days.
What Businesses Qualify?
Businesses that pay any of the following Pennsylvania State Taxes may apply for tax credits through the EITC/OSTC program:
Corporate Net Income Tax
Title Insurance Company Shares Tax
Capital Stock and Franchise Tax
Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax
Insurance Premiums Tax
Mutual Thrift Institutions Tax
Personal Income Tax of S corporation shareholders or Partnership partners.
Malt Beverage Tax (Tax Reform Code Article XX)
Tax credits can be distributed through more than one level of pass-through entities, and new changes now include spousal participation
How does the EITC/OSTC Tax Credit Work?
Grades K through 12: A tax credit of 75% of Pennsylvania State Taxes is granted for a one-year commitment. A 90% tax credit is granted for a two-year commitment. The maximum is $750,000 per year per business. All donations up to the maximum amount are accepted.
Pre-K: A tax credit of 100% for the first $10,000 of contribution to an eligible organization is granted to a business regardless of the number of years applied for. A 90% tax credit is granted for the remaining contribution up to a maximum of $200,000 per business.
For more details about this program and to discover the benefits of contributing contact:
For More Information
For more information about this program, please contact:
Jim Bebla
Diocesan Secretary for Development
Phone: 570-207-2250, ext. 1070
Fax: 570-207-1835
E-mail: Jim-Bebla@dioceseofscranton.org