How Dioceses and School Networks Can Prepare for the 2027 Scholarship Opportunity

A diocese can prepare for the federal scholarship opportunity before every implementation detail is settled. The most useful work now is coordination: identify your schools, choose responsible contacts, organize onboarding, and make sure communities hear a consistent explanation of what the program can and cannot do.

Start with one accountable coordinator

Name a person who can manage the relationship between the diocese or network, its schools, and CEF. That coordinator should know who can approve program participation, who handles school data, and who reviews public communications.

The role is practical. Without a common contact, school lists can become outdated, principals may receive conflicting instructions, and unanswered questions may stall participation. A coordinator helps local leaders move through preparation together.

Build a reliable school roster

Assemble the school names, locations, websites, and primary contacts your team will need. Check whether contact details are current and identify schools that need an additional point of contact. A usable roster matters more than a complicated tracking system.

Keep institution-level onboarding information separate from student application information. A list of schools helps organize partner preparation; it is not a list of eligible families or approved scholarship recipients.

Begin partner onboarding, then coordinate schools

CEF has separate pathways for dioceses and networks and for individual schools. A partner organization should begin with its own onboarding process, then share the appropriate school instructions with the schools under its care.

Completing a form is a preparation milestone. It should not be described as federal approval, automatic inclusion on an SGO list, or a guarantee that scholarships will be available by a particular date. Verify the next steps with CEF before announcing that a school is ready to receive program funding.

Separate donor communication from family communication

Donors need to understand qualifying contributions, tax-credit limits, and gift timing. Families need information about eligibility, applications, qualified expenses, and award availability. A parent may belong to both audiences, but the two processes should not be confused.

As of October 1, Treasury’s proposal explains up to $1,700 per individual taxpayer and a potential combined $3,400 for married joint filers when each spouse makes qualifying contributions. Pair those figures with the nonrefundable-credit limitation and the requirement to give through an eligible SGO.

For families, explain that an application and income review are needed. Avoid telling every family it qualifies or implying that a parent’s contribution buys a scholarship for that parent’s child.

Protect the school’s existing giving relationships

Scholarship-credit giving can expand support for access to Catholic education. A school’s annual fund may pay for different needs, including operations and facilities. Explain the purpose of each appeal so donors can make informed choices.

Review joint communications with development and finance teams. A clear message should help a donor understand how the new scholarship pathway fits alongside existing generosity, rather than accidentally undermine the school’s ordinary support.

Use a simple readiness checklist

• A coordinator and backup contact are assigned.
• The school roster is accurate.
• Partner and school onboarding steps are understood.
• The legal SGO recipient and state eligibility are being verified.
• Donor and family messages have separate calls to action.
• The team knows who will update materials when guidance changes.

Where can leaders begin?

Start diocese or network onboarding. Schools seeking their own pathway can read our independent school guide. For the broader partnership model, see why CEF partners with ACE.

Sources and guidance status

Reviewed October 1, 2026. Sources: Treasury and IRS proposed regulations, REG-117199-25 (advance publication PDF supplied to CEF; scheduled publication October 2, 2026), including the statutory background and explanation of provisions.

Proposed provisions are identified as proposed; actual giving and scholarship participation require verification of the applicable rules and recipient eligibility. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances.