Coordinator, Scholarship Program

Big Shoulders Fund; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Shoulders Fund in Chicago, Illinois seeks a Coordinator, Scholarship Program to manage day-to-day administration of the Illinois/Indiana tax credit scholarship program, provide high-quality customer support, process applications, maintain student records, and nurture school relations.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable communicating with diverse families in English and Spanish.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in a support/administrative role.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Strong attention to detail and organization in a fast-paced nonprofit setting.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with databases or CRM systems.
• Commitment to improving access to quality, values-based education for all children.

Responsibilities

• Provide general administrative support for the scholarship program.
• Respond to applicants, families, and schools via phone and email in English and Spanish.
• Review and process scholarship applications for compliance.
• Maintain student accounts and application records in internal systems.
• Build school relations and assist with scholarship awarding.
• Support information sessions and translate communications as needed.
• Maintain data and support reporting; update program materials and web content.

Skills

Excellent written and interpersonal

Bilingual English/Spanish

Attention to detail

Organization

Time management

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce)

Job description

Job Title: Coordinator, Scholarship Program

Reports to: Director, Scholarship Program

Based in: Chicago, Illinois

Date: Summer 2026

NOTE: This role has been created to support scholarships provided under the new Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). While there is at present no anticipated termination for this legislation, the continuation of this role is dependent on the continuation of ECCA.

BIG SHOULDERS FUND

Big Shoulders Fund is an independent tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support to schools with demonstrated need which provides a quality, values-based education for children. We serve 25,000 students and 90 schools in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. Each school is a vital community-based organization and an anchor to its surrounding neighborhoods.

For forty years, Big Shoulders Fund has helped Chicago’s children achieve their dreams through access to high quality education. We serve 25,000 students and 90 schools in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana regions. Each school is a vital community-based organization and an anchor to its surrounding neighborhoods.

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 Coordinator, Scholarship Program supports the day-to-day administration of a federal tax credit scholarship program for both the Illinois and Indiana Big Shoulders Fund offices, as well as supporting the Scholarship Team as a whole. This role focuses on providing high-quality customer support, processing applications, maintaining accurate student records, building school relations, and assisting with scholarship awarding. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable communicating with diverse families in both English and Spanish.

Note: The functions and expectations detailed in this position description reflect the anticipated implementation of the Educational Choice for Children Act in Illinois. While this position will support program administration in states where the legislation has been enacted, including Indiana, the scope and responsibilities of the role may be modified if the legislation is not adopted in Illinois.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide general administrative and operational support for the Educational Choice for Children Act scholarship program
• Provide customer support to applicants, families, and schools via phone and email in both English and Spanish
• Review and process scholarship applications to ensure compliance with program requirements
• Manage and update student accounts and application records in internal systems
• Track, organize, and follow up on application materials and requests for additional information
• Maintain a regular in-person presence in the Northwest Indiana region to cultivate strong working relationships with team members, school partners, and other key stakeholders in the administration of the federal tax program (travel to NWI can be supported by the organization and does not require personal vehicle)
• Support the scholarship awarding process, including matching applicants with available funds
• Assist with the facilitation of applicant information sessions (virtual and/or in-person) to guide families through application process
• Assist in preparing and sending communications to families and schools, including Spanish translations
• Maintain accurate data and support reporting needs as required
• Assist with updates to program materials, resources, and web content as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• This role requires availability to work some evenings and weekends for Big Shoulders Fund events.
• The Coordinator, Scholarship Program must also work cooperatively with Big Shoulders Fund staff in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, performing other duties as assigned.
• As a member of the Big Shoulders Fund staff, the Coordinator, Scholarship Program will attend and support the facilitation of fundraising events, service days, and other programs that further the mission of Big Shoulders Fund through its outreach to donors, communities, and schools. Additionally, the individual in this role will attend all required team and organization wide meetings.
• As this is a new role, this job description is not exhaustive and will continue to evolve over time.

QUALITIES OF THE CANDIDATE WE SEEK

• ~ 3+ years of professional experience
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with databases or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) a plus
• 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

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.