Register your school
Partner agreement and onboarding. One agreement, no fees, and six steps from signing up to a live giving page.
Overview
What registering means
Registering makes your school a CEN SGO partner school. Donors can then direct their donations to your school's fund, and CEN awards scholarships from it to families whose children attend your school. CEN SGO is a project of the Center for Christian Virtue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating scholarship granting organizations for Christian schools.
The Education Freedom Tax Credit gives each donor a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 a year for donations to a scholarship granting organization on their state's list. CEN handles what the law requires of the SGO: registering in your state, holding donations in separate accounts, verifying family income, issuing donor acknowledgments and filing reports. Your school confirms enrollment, applies each award to tuition and shares the campaign with your community.
Donations open January 1, 2027, and donors can pledge before then. Schools registered by the end of 2026 can run a pledge campaign with their parents before day one.
- $0 to register or take part. No fees.
- 6 steps from signing up to a live giving page.
- Jan 1, 2027 donations open. Donors can pledge before then.
Onboarding
Six steps to your first scholarship
Most schools finish within a few weeks. CEN does most of the setup.
- Step 1Enroll onlineSign your school up on the CEN SGO portal, on your own schedule. Want to talk first? Book a 30-minute walkthrough.
- Step 2Sign the agreementOne document. No fees.
- Step 3Portal accountsLogins for the people on your team who need them.
- Step 4Your giving page goes liveA page with your school's name that donors use to designate your fund.
- Step 5Your marketing kit arrivesLetters, emails and social posts ready for your parents and church.
- Step 6Set your application windowYou and CEN pick the dates families apply for scholarships at your school.
The agreement
Who does what
One document. Your school does six things. CEN does the rest.
Your school
6 jobsfor your team.
- Signs the partner agreement
- Confirms each scholarship student's enrollment
- Shares the campaign with parents, alumni and church partners
- Reports student changes: withdrawals, transfers, grade changes
- Applies each award to the family's tuition account
- Names one contact for CEN
CEN SGO
8 jobsCEN does the rest.
- Registers as an SGO in your state and stays on the state's list
- Holds donations in the separate accounts the law requires
- Issues every donor's acknowledgment and donor number
- Verifies every family's income
- Awards scholarships under the federal priority rules
- Pays your school directly, on schedule
- Files state and federal reports, and completes the annual audit
- Provides the marketing kit, family communications and portal training
The agreement sets how long it runs and how either side can end it. Ask us for a copy to review with your board.
What you get
Included for every partner school
- The school portalApplicants, awards and your fund in one place.
- A branded giving pageYour school's own page for donors.
- The marketing kitReady-to-send materials for your campaign.
- Family communicationsSent on your schedule, in your school's name.
- A named CEN contactOne person who knows your school.
Enroll your school online
Sign up on the CEN SGO portal, on your own schedule. No fees. Prefer to talk first? Book a 30-minute walkthrough with the team.
