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Contributions Given to SGO Benefit Both You and St. John’s


As you file your taxes this spring, keep in mind that the SGO* Tax Credit Program for the State of Indiana can help reduce your tax liability while you support our school’s ministry!  (*SGO = Scholarship Granting Organization)  Currently less than $2 million in tax credits remain for this fiscal year (as of April 7 exactly $1,882,849).

Each year about a dozen or so donors from St. John’s take advantage of this credit which provides a 50% tax CREDIT towards your Indiana state tax liability. It usually means a larger REFUND from the State of Indiana.

Here’s how it works:

  1. A donor makes a gift to the St. John’s Scholarship Fund at the Lutheran SGO of Indiana (lutheransgo.org)
  2. The Lutheran SGO of Indiana provides a gift receipt AND certifies your credit for 50% of the amount of the gift.
  3. Your gift is placed in our SGO Scholarship Fund and SJLS makes scholarship awards to eligible students beginning in August, 2025.
  4. When you file your Indiana State Taxes sometime after January 2026, you claim the 50% credit that is applied toward any tax liability and (assuming you have now overpaid) you get a refund!

However, the State Legislature LIMITS the amount of credits available, and this fiscal year they may run out!  So be sure to make your gift TODAY!

By the way: Gifts from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can be made IN PLACE of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) through what is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).  So be sure to have your financial adviser get more information before just sending you a check for this year’s RMD.

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