Mission
We provide support to underserved schools which provide a quality, values-based education for Chicago's children. In 2020, Big Shoulders Fund's programming was extended to the Northwest Indiana region.
Public Charity
Big Shoulders Fund
Big Shoulders Fund is a Public Charity headquartered in Chicago, IL. Financial data from the 2025 filing: $53.2M revenue, $54.9M expenses, $152.1M total assets. 156 publicly reported grants to this organization, totaling roughly $56.2M, appear in IRS filings.
EIN: 363490557
Chicago, IL
Fund Raising & Fund Distribution
NTEE: B12
Latest filing: 2025
Total Revenue$53.2M
Total Expenses$54.9M
Total Assets$152.1M
Grant Records156
Funding Total$56.2M
Filing Years2021–2025
Where $100 goes at Big Shoulders Fund
How Big Shoulders Fund divides every $100 it spends, from its own Form 990 filings, averaged across 7 years.
$94
Programs
the work itself
$4
Management
running the organization
$2
Fundraising
raising the next dollar
Inside the $94 for programs
$44
School operations
$25
Student scholarship programs
$22
Academic enrichment and leadership development
Plus 1 more program. Cost per person served and the full program breakdown are on the full profile.
Source: Form 990 filings with the IRS, latest fiscal year 2025. Shares are from the organization's reported expenses. Data by Imperigo; not affiliated with the IRS.
Sample Grants Received
GENERAL SUPPORT
$89,569
$37,500
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
$25,000
GENERAL SUPPORT
$9,500
For grant recipient's exempt purposes
$2,379,571
Showing up to 5 of 156 total records — full history available with membership.
Officers & Directors
Chief Advancement & Development Officer
Amelia Drozda
Board of Trustees
Arthur R Velasquez
Board of Trustees
Charles K Bobrinskoy
Board of Trustees
Cherryl Thomas
Board of Trustees
Christine E Kelly
Board of Trustees
Christopher Valenti
Officer compensation and complete director data available with membership.
Top Grant Purposes
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53.2M | $54.9M | $152.1M |
| 2024 | $84.8M | $75.9M | $150.1M |
| 2023 | $65.7M | $58.9M | $135.4M |
| 2022 | $62.9M | $52.6M | $126.0M |
| 2021 | $61.7M | $42.1M | $110.5M |
Between 2021 and 2025, reported annual revenue declined from $61.7M to $53.2M (-14%), with total assets most recently reported at $152.1M.
Interactive year-over-year charts and full filing details available with membership.