Big Shoulders Fund

Use the link to review the qualifications to ensure you’re eligible to apply.

Big Shoulders Fund has been providing scholarships to deserving students since 1987. We provide more than 60 different types of scholarships that vary in duration and amount awarded — it all depends on the scholarship. 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.

Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund

Use the link to review the qualifications to ensure you’re eligible to apply.

Application Dates- May 1, 2025 – October 1, 2025

The mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund is to unlock educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. DMSF partners with Scholars, families, and schools through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs, and personal support so that each Scholar can reach their potential.

Link Unlimited Scholarship

Use the link to review the qualifications to ensure you’re eligible to apply.

APPLICATION Dates: October 3, 2025 – February 7, 2026

Since our founding in 1966, LINK has been driven by a mission to confront and close the racial gaps in education and access to opportunity for Black students. That commitment remains at the heart of our mission. Today, our Scholar community continues to reflect this legacy, with the vast majority of students identifying as Black while others identify with more than one racial background, including Latino/a, White, Asian, and Other.

HFS Chicago Scholars

Use the link to review the qualifications to ensure you’re eligible to apply.

Application Dates- August 1, 2025 – November 15, 2025
Application Deadline: November 15, 2025
HFS Chicago Scholars helps underserved Chicago high school students flourish in and out of the classroom by providing educational enrichment through our lifelong mentoring, college readiness and academic excellence programs, as well as providing financial assistance to attend top Chicago-area schools.

Highsight Scholarship

Use the link to review the qualifications to ensure you’re eligible to apply.

Application Dates- February 2026 – March 2026

HighSight provides scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, and college readiness programs that create new possibilities for Chicago high school students from low-income families. The HighSight experience empowers our scholars to excel in high school and graduate from four-year colleges across the country.

Standing Tall Charitable Foundation

The Rev. John P. Smyth Standing Tall Charitable Foundation was incorporated on July 15, 2005 to provide educational and vocational training scholarships and for the issuance of monetary awards to institutions whose purposes coincide with and further the Foundation’s mission, with emphasis on assisting those most at-risk and in need.

Contact us for more Information
By phone: (847) 294-1801
By email:  st**************@*ol.com