Big Shoulders Fund

Analysis

Big Shoulders Fund is a registered charity in United States, based in Chicago, IL. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1987, 39 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education, which this site groups under education and training. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending June 2023, Big Shoulders Fund reported income of $65.7m and spending of $58.9m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2019 to June 2023, income grew from $39.1m to $65.7m (+68%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2021, when income rose by 94%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 66,972 United States charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Big Shoulders Fund sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile, and in the 99th percentile within IL. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Northwest Nazarene University Inc ($65.7m), Collegiate School Inc ($65.8m) and Brazos Higher Education Authority Inc ($65.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending June 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 87% and program service revenue 0.4% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.6m (2.8% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $4.0m. At year end it held assets of $135.4m against liabilities of $22.7m, net assets of $112.7m. It reported 87 employees.