About Big Shoulders Fund
We provide support to schools with demonstrated need, which provide a quality, values-based education for Chicago and Northwest Indiana's children. Administrative expenses are supported by an endowment and other income so 100% of funds raised go to scholarships and enrichment, operational improvements, academic programs, and leadership development.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationScholarships and financial aidAcademic enrichment (STEM, literacy, math)Teacher development and professional developmentLeadership developmentAfter-school and extended day programs
Who They Fund
Small organizations / small grants (SM)Local communities or locale-specific beneficiaries (LA)Professional staff / practitioners (implied by PD)
Funding Style
About Big Shoulders Fund
Big Shoulders Fund’s giving is built around schools with demonstrated need, with a network model that ties funding to scholarships, enrichment, operations, academic programming, and leadership development. One of the clearest signals of that approach is the $100 million, 10-year Big Shoulders Fund Plus commitment for 30 highest-need schools, combining financial support with expanded operational and leadership partnership. The foundation also uses multi-year programs to shape school capacity. Its STEM Scholars program supports selected 5th through 8th grade students from Big Shoulders Fund schools with an 18-week/year enrichment experience and scholarships based on financial need. Another long-running channel is the Leadership Development Program, which funds degree work and ongoing preparation for school leader candidates committed to serving in supported schools. Scholarships are not treated as a separate side activity; they are part of the same school-centered structure, administered through partner schools and linked to access, stability, and school improvement. Recent awards show repeated support to individual schools over multiple years, reflecting a sustained relationship rather than one-off project funding.
What Big Shoulders Fund Funds
In K-12 school support, Big Shoulders Fund funded operating and programmatic grants for partner schools, including $2,059,588 to Aquinas Catholic School in Merrillville, Indiana, for school support. The foundation also backed school-level operational improvement work, such as $597,566 to Academy of St Benedict the African for operational and strategic support. Academic programming is another major lane. It gave $710,634 to St Ethelreda School for academic and operational support, and $465,194 to St Margaret of Scotland School for educational and student support. Teacher and leader development also appear in the grant record: $481,972 went to St Ethelreda School for professional development and program support, aligning with the foundation’s emphasis on staffing and school capacity. Across these areas, the common thread is support for schools serving students in need rather than stand-alone grants detached from school operations.
How Big Shoulders Fund Gives
Grant sizes are spread widely, from a 25th percentile of $19,150 to a median of $85,557 and a 75th percentile of $271,584. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same schools across multiple years, including St Ethelreda School, St Francis de Sales High School, Epiphany School, Holy Angels School, and Augustus Tolton Academy. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. Big Shoulders Fund is not a foundation that funds individuals directly, and it does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is structured through school-based programs, operating grants, scholarships, and capacity-building support. Some program areas accept unsolicited requests, including Academic Initiatives, while many of the named programs are invitation-based or built around supported schools.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$24.3M
Total Assets
$152.1M
Total Revenue
$53.2M
Total Expenses
$54.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $19K and $272K, with a median of $86K.
25th Percentile
$19K
Median
$86K
75th Percentile
$272K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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