Support our Work

Frequently asked questions:

How will my donation be used?

Your donation will be used to support promising students and projects aiming to improve the world. We award scholarship funds prioritizing high achievers who are need-based and impact-driven. 

With each scholarship awarded we also make a direct donation to a highly-impactful charity working on a pressing global problem. We expect roughly ⅔ of programming spend to go toward scholarships and ⅓ to direct charitable donations. 

What is the tax credit? Is it really no-cost to donate?

Yes! Donations to Global Horizons SGO are eligible for Ohio’s Scholarship Donation Credit, a 100% dollar-for-dollar credit on your Ohio income taxes. This is essentially redirecting the state tax dollars you would pay anyway to a qualifying scholarship granting organization (SGO).Your donation comes back to you as a tax credit when you file your tax return - essentially making it no-cost to you. 

The maximum amount of your tax credit, and donation, is the lesser of: (a) $750 per individual or $1,500 for joint filers, and (b) your total Ohio ‘tax liability’ - the amount of taxes you owe for the year, including estimated payments and paycheck withholdings. 

How do I claim the tax credit?

1. Confirm your Ohio tax liability.

2. Donate this amount to Global Horizons SGO, up to the state limit of $750 for an individual or $1,500 for married, filing jointly.

3. When you file your Ohio income tax return, claim the scholarship donation tax credit in the amount of your donation. You should see your tax refund increase by the exact amount of your donation!

4. Keep your donation receipt for your tax records.

See our donor guide for further detail and information!

How can I determine my Ohio tax liability and maximum tax credit/donation amount?

There are a few ways to do this. 

When filing your Ohio state income tax return, you can estimate your tax credit before making a donation. 

1. If you pay a tax prep professional to file your taxes, simply tell them you want to use the scholarship donation credit to contribute to an Ohio SGO and ask them to calculate your maximum donation amount. 

2. If you use software to prepare your own tax filing:

• Input all of your federal and state tax information as usual, and verify all information is accurate. 

• Then, search for the ‘Scholarship Donation Credit’ within the Ohio state section and input that you have made a $750 donation (or $1,500 if you are married, filing jointly). 

• If your estimated Ohio tax refund increases by $750 (or $1,500) after doing this, this means you’re eligible for the maximum donation and tax credit. If your Ohio refund increases by a lesser amount, that amount is is the maximum you are eligible to donate and receive the 100% tax credit. 

You can also estimate your tax liability using the following methods anytime during the year:

1. Use Ohio’s online tax calculator, under Individual  → Calculate my income tax liability 

2. If your tax situation is similar to last year, check your previous year’s Ohio tax return (Line 8c on the IT 1040) to estimate your liability.

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. This is not tax or legal advice and we cannot be responsible for any errors made by you, your tax professional, or tax preparation software, when estimating your tax liability. 

I don’t usually owe Ohio state income tax (or I get a refund) when I file, because this tax is withheld from my paycheck throughout the year. Can I still use this tax credit?

Yes! Your Ohio tax liability includes all state tax withheld from your paychecks throughout the year, plus (or minus) the amount you owe (or are refunded) at tax time, before applying any other credits. 

Example: Ohio withheld $800 from Isabella’s paychecks during the 2025 tax year. When Isabella files her 2025 taxes, she does not owe any additional tax payment because her tax withholdings matched her tax liability for the year. Since Isabella’s tax liability of $800 exceeds the maximum tax credit amount of $750, she can still contribute up to $750 to an Ohio SGO and claim the Ohio Scholarship Donation Credit on her 2025 tax return to get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit (additional refund) for her donation.

Why donate to Global Horizons SGO instead of other state-certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs)?

Global Horizons prioritizes students who both need financial support and want to improve the world. We remain independent and unaffiliated with any specific schools, which allows us to be impartial and direct funds to students who need them most, regardless of which school they attend. Many other SGOs are affiliated with specific schools and will only award donations to students attending those schools, limiting their potential for impact.

Do Scholarship Granting Organizations divert money from public schools?

No. The Ohio SGO tax credit is funded through individual tax credits, not direct transfers from the public-school budget. Public schools receive the same per-pupil state funding regardless of whether a taxpayer claims the credit. 

We also support increased public-school funding and wish that every student had access to excellent educational opportunities, which is sadly not the case. We believe that our scholarships can help low-income, impact-driven students right now, and award scholarships to students attending both public and private schools.

Are donations to Global Horizons tax-deductible at the federal level too?

Typically, yes. Global Horizons SGO is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is also eligible for federal tax benefits for donations made to charitable organizations, in addition to the Ohio tax credit, unless otherwise disqualified. Always consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.

Still have questions?

Feel free to contact us at info@GlobalHorizonsSGO.org