Ways to Give

Every contribution is important, no matter the size. Your gift strengthens our network of schools through scholarships, special education programs, instructional equipment, school facility improvements, faculty support, operating grants, and so much more!

Because of an endowment formed by early board members and income from investments, 100 percent of funds currently raised go toward programs that benefit Big Shoulders Fund schools and the students they serve. These schools serve as beacons of hope for generations of children and families regardless of their ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds.

For 14 consecutive years, Big Shoulders Fund has 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, compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of our organization in an efficient and stable manner. This consistency in our rating is an exceptional feat.

There are many ways to make a tax-deductible gift to support Big Shoulders Fund.

Cash Gifts

Mail checks to Big Shoulders Fund at 212 West Van Buren, Suite 900, Chicago, IL, 60607.

Click here to make a secure online credit card donation for unrestricted purposes, scholarships, or Auxiliary Board Membership.

Matching Gifts

Maximize your impact on the students and schools we serve by submitting your gift to your company for a matching donation! Use our online search tool to find out if your workplace has a matching gift program and find all the information you need to get started!  Over 22,000 companies offer matching gift programs on behalf of their employees.

Click here for more information on matching donations!

Planned Gifts

Make a planned gift arrangement or bequest, and join the Joseph Society, named in honor of the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin who helped start the Big Shoulders Fund. This group is comprised of friends who have made a special commitment, through a planned gift arrangement, to the children attending Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving visit our website http://thejosephsociety.org/ or contact Amelia Drozda at 312.751.3850 / adrozda@bigshouldersfund.org.

Gifts of Securities

Make a gift of securities (stock), and have your broker contact Big Shoulders to transfer the shares to our account. Please contact Malcolm Douglas for further information or to contribute your gift of securities at 312.751.5294 / mdouglas@bigshouldersfund.org.

Pledges

Make a multi-year pledge to Big Shoulders Fund to support one of our many programs, such as the Patrons Program, scholarship assistance, capital projects or for the greatest need.  For more information on how your multi-year pledge can make a difference, please contact Joshua Hale at 312.751.5395 /jhale@bigshouldersfund.org.

Help us to continue to be the Big Shoulders that carry a child’s dreams by Donating Now!

Tax Credit Scholarship Program Contributions

After reserving a tax credit through MyTax Illinois, donors will receive a Contribution Authorization Certificate.  Please send the Contribution Authorization Certificate to Big Shoulders Fund by mail(212 West Van Buren, Suite 900, Chicago, IL, 60607) or email (sgo@bigshouldersfund.org), and either mail your check or donate online here.  If mailing a check, include in writing any restriction on your contribution (e.g. Big Shoulders Fund schools). Please note designating Big Shoulders Fund as an Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) does not restrict contribution scholarships for students attending Big Shoulders Fund schools. Individual donors can restrict contributions to individual schools or subset of schools, but this additional step of putting that restriction in writing is necessary to do so.