
Scholarships
Here at Big Shoulders, our mission is clear: to provide students access to a quality, values-based education that helps them reach their potential. This year, more than 4,200 students are benefiting from more than $8.5 million in scholarships. We provide more than 60 different types of scholarships that vary in duration and amount awarded- it all depends on the scholarship.
Fill out this form to learn more about our programs and see if you qualify for a scholarship!
Traditional Big Shoulders Fund Scholarships
For more than 35 years, we have been providing our traditional, privately funded group of programs to families. There are a wide variety of scholarships available with differing requirements. You can only apply for these scholarships through one of our Big Shoulders Fund supported schools.
Step 2: Your Big Shoulders Fund school principal will apply on your behalf.
Step 3: Families receiving scholarships will be notified by the school. Big Shoulders Fund directs all communication about privately funded scholarships to school administrators.

Big Shoulders Fund Tax Credit Scholarship
Big Shoulders Fund is approved to operate as a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) under the recently passed Illinois Invest in Kids Act. This new Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides an additional source of funding for scholarships that can benefit eligible students enrolled in, or applying to, qualified non-public schools, including the schools traditionally supported by Big Shoulders Fund.
Families apply directly to SGOs to obtain a tax credit scholarship. Scholarships are determined solely based on eligibility and family income as defined by the Invest in Kids Act. Payments are made to the scholarship recipients’ schools on their behalf.
The Big Shoulders Fund Tax Credit Scholarship application for the 2023-2024 academic year opened on January 12, 2023.
This program is made possible by the Illinois Invest in Kids Act.
Please visit www.bigshouldersfundsgo.org for more information about eligibility requirements and the application process.
