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Job Title: Manager, Scholarship Program

Reports to: Senior Director, Scholarship Program

Date: Spring 2025

Big Shoulders Fund

Big Shoulders Fund is an independent tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support to schools with demonstrated need which provide a quality, values-based education for children. We serve 25,000 students and 92 schools in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. Each school is a vital community-based organization and an anchor to its surrounding neighborhoods.

For thirty-eight years, Big Shoulders Fund has helped Chicago’s children achieve their dreams through access to high quality education. Of the 25,000 students we serve, 83% identify as people of color and 69% reside in low-income households. We expand access and outcomes by investing more than $40 million annually in scholarship support and enrichment programming for students; operational improvements for schools; cultivation of talent pipelines for school personnel from new teachers through veteran principals; and professional development and support for educators and leaders – all with the goal of not just strengthening schools, but whole communities, while preparing students for life-long success. To that end, 80% of scholars matriculate to college and students earn a degree at two times the national average. Latino and Black scholars graduate at three-times and four-times their counterparts, respectively, and graduates go on to vote, contribute, and participate at greater rates than local and national outcomes.

In 2019, Big Shoulders Fund began an exciting new chapter in Northwest Indiana by making a long-term commitment to The Region. Since then, we have worked to bring our unique approach to building the capacity of local school communities to best serve students and families of Northwest Indiana, with special focus on areas of greatest need: Gary, Hammond and East Chicago. The long-term goals of our efforts include elevating the quality of values-based schools in Northwest Indiana through: academic investments, instructional and data coaching; marketing and outreach efforts; and enrichment and summer programs to expand opportunities for students. While some roles on our staff focus exclusively on Northwest Indiana or Chicago, all Big Shoulders Fund team members contribute to the success of our work across both sites.

Big Shoulders Fund has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of nonprofits, for 18 consecutive years, a distinction held by less than one percent of nonprofit organizations nationally.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Scholarships will support in leading the planning and implementation of the Big Shoulders Fund Scholarship Program. Big Shoulders Fund scholarship programming provides support and enrichment to scholarship recipients throughout our 92-school network.

The ideal candidate for this role believes passionately in the importance of ensuring that all children, regardless of income, deserve access to a quality, values-based education which will prepare them holistically to be contributors to their family, community, and nation. The candidate is one who possesses not only the experience and skills necessary to organize and execute programs, but also one who holds a deep commitment to excellence, and a conviction to unlocking potential in students, schools, and communities by strengthening and augmenting scholarship opportunities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Work in partnership with the Senior Director, Scholarships and with the Scholarship team to support student programming and to help the team to organize events, including scholar dinners, field trips, school visits with supporters, mentor-scholar meet ups, overnight trips, and more. NOTE: Big Shoulders Fund executes an array of scholarship enrichment programs such as: Farm and Frolic, White Family Scholars, Mazza Family Foundation, Beeson Family, and more
• Manage program operations, including but not limited to: scheduling, recruitment, curriculum and materials management, and coordination with school and program partners
• Communicate effectively and professionally with various stakeholders including school leaders, program partners, scholarship donors, scholars, chaperones, and families of scholars
• Work directly with scholars and be able to communicate, engage, and support them at a professional and age-appropriate level
• Support the planning and execution of scholar events such as luncheons, award ceremonies, parade marches, and more
• Be present for most events, as needed
• Support the build-out of student enrichment programming such as workshops, service days, trips, and more
• Maintain clear and clean record keeping and be able to document program records across digital platforms
• Engage with schools to ensure strong student participation in programming
• Work collaboratively with vendors and other third parties when planning scholar events
• Help manage program expenses and manage payments for program expenses

• NOTE: For a better understanding of the kind of scholarship programming that Big Shoulders Fund provides, here is an overview of one of the programs above, named Farm and Frolic.

Farm and Frolic currently supports 75 scholars across 12 Big Shoulders Fund schools and it will grow in time to as many as 200 scholars a year. The program is unique in its level of engagement, its extracurricular activities, and its growing out-of-state trip experiences. Through dinners, outings, and the quarterly trips, scholars make new friendships and build a warm community. The sense of community is intentional as Farm and Frolic was crafted to focus on overall student wellness.

The combination of mentoring and the engagement from the Tengelsen Family Foundation and its partners, help scholars feel highly valued and welcomed. The creative programming leverages outside vendors and partners to provide enrichment activities and introduce scholars to new experiences. Some examples from recent gatherings are yoga and stretching instructors, music producers, personal trainers, naturalists, and art instructors.

In the spring of 2025, the program will shift from daylong excursions to featuring overnight trips at a campsite in Indiana. Big Shoulders Fund is working closely with the Foundation and with our school partners – principals and program chaperones – to plan for this transition. The change is driven by the desire to provide more time and more opportunity for new activities and to further deepen the sense of community and attachment that the scholars have to their peers and to the program itself.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Demonstrate strength and skill in interacting with others, especially teachers, principals, students, and families from diverse cultural, economic, and ability backgrounds
• Hold a commitment to excellent customer service, promptly returning phone calls and answering emails
• Work cooperatively with Big Shoulders Fund staff in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, and perform other duties as assigned in support of the overall mission of the Big Shoulders Fund
• NOTE: This role requires availability to work some evenings and weekends for Big Shoulders Fund events

QUALITIES OF THE CANDIDATE WE SEEK

• 2+ years of professional experience
• Fluency in Spanish is not required but would be considered a strong plus
• Excellence in program oversight and management
• Exceptional organizational, problem solving, and time management skills; ability to set priorities among competing activities
• Access to reliable transportation required
• Strength in establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with others
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• High degree of responsibility, initiative, and professionalism
• Attention to detail and strong organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to work on several projects concurrently while meeting deadlines
• Flexibility to shift tasks and priorities as needed
• Proficiency in event management software, Microsoft Word and Excel
• Appreciation for the benefits of a Catholic education for students, families and communities; familiarity with Catholic schools in Chicago and/or Northwest Indiana a plus; experience with education in urban environments a plus
• Ability and desire to work effectively within a team
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people
• Commitment to and passion for improving access to high-quality, values-based education options for all children
• Highly motivated and adaptable with a strong work ethic; operate with honesty, integrity, and a positive attitude
• Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Some participation and attendance at school-sponsored events and meetings is required

INTERESTED CANDIDATES : Please send resume and brief statement of interest to hiring manager Dan Bennett at

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization and the students/schools it serves.