lutheran school christian education

READY TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION?
ABOUT ACSTO
LEARN MORE ABOUT ELCA SCHOOLS
There are several ways you can make your contribution.
The Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization was
incorporated in 1998 for the sole purpose of
implementing the Arizona Private School Tuition Tax
Credit Law passed and signed into law in 1997 as
A.R.S. Section 43-1089.
The number of ELCA preschools and schools continues to
grow both nationally and within the Grand Canyon Synod.
ACSTO is a tax exempt charitable organization
pursuant to federal tax law, Section 501(c)(3).
To learn more about the ministry of education in the
ELCA go to: www.elca.org/schools
Our 7 ELCA schools chose to partner with ACSTO and
work together to raise scholarship funds for students
attending our schools. Since the partnership was
formed, ACSTO has awarded more than $6,000,000 to
help children pay their tuition at ELCA schools. Not
only has the partnership been beneficial in helping
existing families with the burden of paying tuition, it
has resulted in more than a doubling of the number
of children able to attend a Lutheran school. This has
provided parents with the choice they desire as well
as resulted in a decrease in the cost to the state in
educating these children. The average expenditure by
the State of Arizona for each child in a public school
is just under $10,000. ELCA schools in Arizona charge
an average tuition rate of under $6,000 per child.
For resources and support of our ELCA schools check
out: www.ELEANational.org
READY TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION
A person may donate up until April 15 and claim it as
a tax credit for the previous tax year. For donations
made between January 1 and April 15, it is up to the
donor to determine whether to claim the tax credit for
the previous or current tax year.
WRITE AND MAIL YOUR CHECK
for up to $1,000 and complete the donor card and
mail both to ACSTO, P.O. Box 6580, Chandler, AZ
85246-6580, postmarked by April 15.
OR
CHARGE YOUR CONTRIBUTION
using the attached donor card and mail to ACSTO, P.O.
Box 6580, Chandler, AZ 85246-6580, postmarked by
April 15.
OR
CALL IN YOUR CONTRIBUTION
to ACSTO at 480-820-0403 and speak to one of their
representatives. Please remember to call in by April 15
in order to be eligible for a tax credit.
OR
MAKE YOUR DONATION ONLINE
at www.acsto.org. Please remember the deadline is
midnight April 15 in order to be eligible for a
tax credit.
To learn more about ELCA schools in our synod visit
the synod’s website at: www.gcsynod.org
To learn about ELCA colleges and universities visit:
www.elca.org/education
Helping Parents
choose a
CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION
for their child
at a LUTHERAN
SCHOOL
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TUITION
ORGANIZATION, INC. (ACSTO)
P.O. Box 6580 • Chandler, AZ 85246
(480) 820-0403 • www.acsto.org
To phone in your contributions
Call (480) 820-0403
To make your contribution online
Go to www.acsto.org
THE GRAND CANYON SYNOD
OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
IN AMERICA
7227 North 16th Street • Suite 260
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-957-3223
www.gcsynod.org
MAXIMUM TAX CREDIT NOW
$1000
for married couples
filing jointly
$500
for single or head
of household
Students in our schools come from all ethnic,
economic and religious backgrounds. They tend to
reflect the culture and ethnicity of their surrounding
communities. Contrary to popular belief, the Lutheran
schools they attend are often more diverse than
their neighboring local public schools. One third of
students and one quarter of staff in Lutheran schools
are persons of color. When visiting a Lutheran school,
one may hear a multitude of languages being spoken,
from Navajo and Swahili to English and Spanish.
LEARN ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS
Our ELCA schools have been faithfully serving families
and their children in the Synod for over 50 years. Over
1/3 of ELCA congregations in our synod now sponsor
an Early Childhood Learning Center. Seven of our
congregations in AZ sponsor a kindergarten and/or
elementary school. While a tradition of excellence in
education has always been a distinctive characteristic of
Lutheran education, a commitment to educating the
whole child, mind, body and spirit, has been the guiding
principle behind the Church's ministry of education. Our
Lutheran schools serve as an integral part of our
Church's witness to the Gospel and a public service in
our communities.
AZ SCHOOLS IN THE GRAND CANYON SYNOD
BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR
ACADEMY
Kindergarten
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Tucson, AZ
FIRST EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten
First Evangelical Lutheran
Church
Mesa, AZ
NAVAJO LUTHERAN
MISSION KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten
Rock Point, AZ
NOAH'S ARK SCHOOL
NEW COVENANT LUTHERAN
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CENTER
Kindergarten
New Covenant Lutheran Church
Scottsdale, AZ
HELP OUR STUDENTS
In 1997 the State of Arizona implemented the
Arizona Private School Tuition Tax Credit Law (A.R.S.
Section 43-1089). The legislation allows a married
couple filing jointly to make a donation to the
Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO)
up to $1,000 and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit
against the taxpayer's Arizona state income tax. A
single taxpayer can give up to $500. This legislation
therefore allows a taxpayer to make a sizable
contribution that essentially results in no cost to
her/him yet provides significant scholarships to
children attending a private school.
ELCA SCHOOLS
MEET OUR STUDENTS
DONATION CARD
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TUITION
ORGANIZATION, INC. (ACSTO)
P.O. Box 6580 • Chandler, AZ 85246
(480) 820-0403 • www.acsto.org
Donor’s
Name: ______________________________________________
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
(M.I.)
Last Four Digits of Social Security #: _____________________
(FOR TAX RECORDS ONLY)
Address: ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
CITY
STATE
ZIP
Telephone: __________________________________________
Donor Email:_________________________________________
Student(s) Name: _____________________________________
(RECOMMENDATION)
School: _____________________________________________
Donation Amount Enclosed: ____________________________
 Check (payable to ACSTO) - Check # ___________________
 VISA
 MC
 Discover
 American Express
______________________________________
CARD #
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CENTER
Kindergarten
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Oro Valley, AZ
TANQUE VERDE
LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Kindergarten
Tanque Verde Lutheran Church
Tucson, AZ
Kindergarten
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Mesa, AZ
____ /_____
EXPIRES
Your Address As It Appears On Credit Card Statement If Different
___________________________________________________
Signature ___________________________________________
NOTICE: A school tuition organization cannot award, restrict
or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of a donor’s
recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the
taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to
benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent.
Maximums & Deadlines: The maximum Arizona state income tax
credit for 2010 and 2011 is $1000 for married persons filing jointly
and $500 for a single taxpayer, or the actual tax, whichever is less.
A person may donate prior to filing taxes but no later than April 15
of the year following the tax year for which the donor wishes to take
the tax credit. (Donations must be postmarked or entered online no
later than midnight, April 15, per tax credit law.)
About Recommendations: To recommend a specific student to
receive a tuition grant/scholarship (hereafter referred to as a
scholarship) enter the name of the student and the school
attended. To have the award go to students at a specific school,
enter the name of the school. The Arizona statute prohibits any
designation of your own child or dependent as a potential recipient.
At least ninety percent of the donated funds received will be used
for scholarships.
To learn more about each school in our
synod, visit the website at
www.gcsynod.org
There you will find links to streaming video and
the individual school websites.
About Scholarships: Actual scholarships are subject to the
absolute discretion of ACSTO through its selection committees.
Scholarships will be awarded without regard to the student’s race,
color, handicap, familial status or national origin. Scholarships will
be used for K-12 students attending Christian schools in Arizona.
Mail check and/or completed donation card to ACSTO
Updated February 2011