Giving to SJGS

Giving Opportunities

We are grateful for your interest in supporting Saint Joseph Grade School. Your gift will help ensure that SJGS remains at the forefront of Catholic education, providing an enriching and formative educational experience to our students. If you would like to speak with a member of the development team regarding any of our giving opportunities, please contact Tim Cleaver at (574) 234-3134, ext. 122, or tcleaver@stjoeparish.com.

SJGS Excellence Fund

The SJGS Excellence Fund is our annual fund that supports the essential pieces of Saint Joseph Grade School — the pieces that help us live out our mission of educating hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition, making God known, loved, and served. Learn more about the SJGS Excellence Fund!

SJGS also participates in Giving Tuesday each year in support of the SJGS Excellence Fund. In 2023, our Giving Tuesday campaign raised over $24,000 for our school!

Fundraising & Sponsorships

Saint Joseph Grade School offers a number of opportunities for businesses and families to support our mission through event participation and sponsorship.

Auction

SJGS organizes a benefit auction every two years. The 2024 auction raised over $125,000 to support the mission and advancement of SJGS.

Giving Tuesday

All of the proceeds we collect on this annual day of giving support the SJGS Excellence Fund. In 2023, we raised over $24,000!

“For the Kids” Golf Benefit

Our For the Kids Golf Benefit takes place each fall, raising over $20,000 annually to support financial aid and other essential needs for SJGS.

Trivia Night

Our fun-themed Trivia Night draws 300 participants each winter, raising around $5,000 to support the SJGS Excellence Fund.

Saint Nick Six

This festive 6K/3K community road race takes place in early December each year, raising as much as $17,000 to benefit the SJGS Excellence Fund.

“You Can Lend A Hand” Coupon Books

This diocesan-wide fundraiser to support Catholic schools raises about $8,000 for Saint Joseph Grade School.

Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO)

The Scholarship Granting Organization of Northeast Indiana (SGO-NEI) offers a win-win opportunity for individuals and businesses to provide scholarship funds to Saint Joseph Grade School students. Indiana offers a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit for up to half of the donation to the SGO.

Because an Indiana School Choice Scholarship does not cover the full cost to attend SJGS, the family of a qualifying student can also apply for an SGO scholarship. SGO funds can also support Pre-K students who aren’t eligible for Indiana School Choice Scholarships.

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend formed the SGONEI to solicit contributions from donors for tuition assistance for qualifying families whose children attend diocesan schools. Each school, including Saint Joseph Grade School, has its own account within the larger SGO-NEI umbrella. The SGO-NEI is approved by the Indiana Department of Education as a certified SGO.

Any individual, business entity, or corporation that has any Indiana income tax liability can contribute to the SGONEI and earn an Indiana state tax credit for 50% of their contribution amount. A donor who contributes $1,000 to the SGONEI receives a state tax credit of $500, which makes the net cost to donate only $500. Those who itemize deductions for federal tax purposes may see an additional benefit to contributing to the SGO, though this depends on the donor’s tax circumstances. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

While there are no limits to how much a donor can contribute, the state of Indiana has a cap on how much in tax credits that can be awarded to a taxpayer. The entire tax credit program cannot award more than $18.5 million in credits for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.

Click the button below to make an SGO contribution. For more information, please contact Mrs. Jennifer Fortener at jfortener@stjoeparish.com or (574) 234-3134, ext. 119. Thank you for your support in helping families afford Catholic education!

Ways to Give

Our St. Joe staff is pleased to work with you in structuring gift opportunities that ensure your philanthropic goals are met while best supporting the needs of the school. SJGS is a 501(c)(3), and contributions to the school are tax deductible upon compliance with the Internal Revenue Code.