Great year for Catholic Schools Opportunity Fund

Individuals, couples and businesses gave a combined $1.95 million to the Catholic Schools Opportunity Fund in 2024, which will help hundreds of students attend archdiocesan schools in the next school year.

The Catholic Schools Opportunity Fund provides donors with an Oklahoma state income tax credit for their gift. Those who make a two-year pledge receive a 75% tax credit each year; one-year pledges are eligible for a 50% tax credit.

The amount raised in 2024 was an increase from $1.77 million in 2023 and resulted from gifts by 458 donors. Of that total, 89 donors – 19 percent – gave for the first time.

Donors included 322 couples and 103 single filers. In addition, 33 gifts came from business owners who combined to give $1,050,417.

The program is especially beneficial to business owners because qualified businesses can get a state tax credit up to $100,000 annually. If the business operates as a pass-through, the tax credit on the gift can pass through to the owner’s personal tax liability.

By comparison, the maximum tax credit available to couples is $2,000 per year and for individuals it is $1,000.

This school year, 494 students are attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City thanks to help from the CSOF program. Eighty-five percent of recipients are from families who qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

Fundraising for 2025 is underway. Donors may complete a pledge form now and pay their gift any time before Dec. 31. We also are happy to accept gifts paid out monthly via credit card or bank draft.

For anyone who pays Oklahoma state income taxes – particularly business owners -- the Catholic Schools Opportunity Fund is a tremendous way to support Catholic education in the archdiocese. Through the program, donors redirect their state tax dollars to help students attend Catholic schools.

To make a pledge or learn more, contact me at (405) 709-2700 or [email protected], or visit csofok.org.

Owen Canfield is director of the Catholic Schools Opportunity Fund.

• 458 donors gave $1,946,595.67. 
• Of those, 89 —19 percent of all donors – gave to the program for the first time.
• 33 gifts came from business owners, totaling $1,050,417
• 322 couples gave $767,533
• 103 individuals gave $128,525