Mission Statement
The mission of the Big Shoulders Fund is to provide support to the Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. 100% of the funds raised by Big Shoulders are used for scholarships, special education programs, instructional equipment, much needed facility improvements, faculty support, and operating grants.

Efficiency and Transparency
For the fourth year in a row, Big Shoulders Fund received a Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that Big Shoulders excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an efficient and effective manner. This consistency in the four-star rating is an exceptional feat, especially given the economic challenges many charities have had to face in the last year.  Only 8 percent of the charities have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that the Big Shoulders Fund consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Big Shoulders Fund from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.

Through our endowment, 100 percent of donations to the Big Shoulders Fund go directly to the children and schools that we serve. Even taking into account the annual operating budget, which is fully funded through income on our endowment and investments, Big Shoulders operates at an efficiency of $0.11 cents per dollar including all administrative, fundraising and program expenses related to our staff. The standard benchmark from the Better Business Bureau is $0.35 per dollar.