Scholarship Granting Organization
A Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) is a nonprofit that receives tax-advantaged donations from individuals and businesses and distributes those funds as scholarships to help Orthodox families afford an Orthodox experience of education at faith-focused schools and homeschool programs.
Through OCEN’s SGO, generous donors make tuition assistance possible, removing financial barriers so more children can be formed in the Orthodox Faith, Holy Tradition, and academic excellence.
What is an SGO?
Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) are nonprofit organizations that connect generous donors with families who desire a Christ-centered Orthodox education for their children. Through specific SGOs, donors can contribute to scholarship funds—often receiving valuable tax credits or deductions—while the funds are distributed as tuition assistance to students attending Orthodox Christian schools and faithful educational programs.
At the Orthodox Christian Education Network (OCEN), our SGOs serve as a practical expression of the Church’s mission to form the minds and souls of the next generation. We make Orthodox education more accessible by lowering the financial barriers that many families face, allowing more children to be nurtured in the fullness of the Orthodox Faith, Holy Tradition, and the life of the Church.
How SGOs Work
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Donors give to the SGO and may qualify for significant tax advantages.
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Scholarships are awarded to families based on financial need and commitment to Orthodox education.
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Funds support Orthodox day schools, classical Christian academies, and approved homeschool cooperatives.
By participating in OCEN’s SGO programs, donors, parishes, and the broader Orthodox community actively invest in the spiritual formation of young people. In a culture increasingly hostile to Christian values, these scholarships ensure that faithful education remains a viable and vibrant option.
As the Scriptures teach, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). OCEN’s support of Orthodox SGOs help make this command a lived reality for more Orthodox families.
We invite you to join this important ministry — whether as a donor offering generous support or as a family seeking scholarship assistance.
