Program areas at Big Shoulders Fund
Student Scholarship Programs: ADMINISTERED OVER 83 DISTINCT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE MENTORING, ENRICHMENT AND OTHER SUPPORT ACTIVITIES. 5,589 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO 5,403 STUDENTS AT 150 ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO ENABLE THEM TO ATTEND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Academic Enrichment and Leadership Development: Big Shoulders administers over 25 ongoing programs in 92 schools involving over 600 teachers and administrators to improve instruction and learning through leadership and professional development, professional learning communities and access to high quality curricula with focus on math, science, civics, and literacy. Provide a variety of other needed capital and programmatic support to ensure a safe, effective learning environment for nearly 26,000 students through ongoing enrichment programs including a science and leadership camp, afterschool programs, summer programs, and other opportunities for students.
School operations: Distributed operating and capital grants to multiple schools in an effort to prevent school closures; also assisted schools in improving marketing/recruiting, building new external funding sources, improving school business operations, etc.
Other program services: General academic enrichment activities for students, such as outdoor education, learning about investments and the stock market. Support for schools holding fund-raising events. Supporting volunteer school cleanup and maintenance activities. Grants to schools as designated by donors - agency (pass-through) transactions. In addition, Big Shoulders Fund provides support to students, teachers, and administrators at Catholic schools primarily serving low-income students in Northwest Indiana through a restricted grant.