How to Apply

Families interested in sending their child to one of our schools may be eligible to take part in one of our many scholarship programs. Please contact the principal of your local Big Shoulders Fund school to discuss your scholarship eligibility and the application process for these programs.

Traditional Big Shoulders Fund Scholarship

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 1: Contact the principal of your local Big Shoulders Fund school to discuss your scholarship eligibility and the application process.

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 is now open. Use the link here to access the application.

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.

The Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program, made possible by the Invest in Kids Act, is currently slated to sunset at the end of 2023 and we need your help to extend the deadline and keep this option available to families. We have made it easy for you to search, find, and contact your local lawmakers to express your support by clicking here.