Manager of Scholar Financial Supports presso CHICAGO SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

Description

Position: Manager of Scholar Financial Supports

Reports to: Director of Scholar Supports and Scholarships

About Chicago Scholars

At Chicago Scholars, we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars.?Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are both essential to our strategy.?The first part of our work supports college acceptance, matriculation, persistence, and career access for our Scholars.?The second part allows Scholars to go beyond surviving to thriving, from achieving to excelling, from attending and working to belonging and exceeding. The first part of our work allows entry, the second truly opens up opportunity and redistributes power.?To achieve these goals we center diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and racial justice so that we can launch and lift our Scholars and enable them to lead and leverage their power wherever they are on their journeys. 

Chicago Scholars is transforming the leadership landscape of our city by resolving the fundamental barriers to success for academically driven, first generation college students from under-resourced communities. Through college counseling, mentoring, and by providing a supportive community to our Scholars through each phase of our program: College Access, College Success, and Career and Leadership Development, we ensure that they realize their full potential as students and leaders. 

76% of Chicago Scholars graduate college within 6 years. Per the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, only 49% of their peers earn a degree within 6 years. Upon graduation, our Scholars move into leadership positions across Chicago, helping to drive the economic future of their communities and our thriving city. 

READI Commitment  

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are essential to our strategy. To achieve these goals, we center racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI) in all that we do.  

Chicago Scholars’ commitment to READI encompasses all of our stakeholders—from our staff to our board, from our volunteers to our partnering organizations, and most importantly our Scholars.?This holistic approach is necessary for the sustained, long-term, positive impact that we seek for our Scholars, our neighborhoods, our city, and our world. 

To learn more about Chicago Scholars commitment to READI, please visit chicagoscholars.org/readi. 

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that education is social justice. That's why we're empowering Chicago's best and brightest first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation's best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago's next generation of leaders. Since 1996, we've impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young leaders in Chicago. 

Our Values
 

These are a set of guiding principles that apply to all stakeholders within the Chicago Scholars ecosystem. We select and retain stakeholders based on these stated expectations for how we achieve our mission and vision. Each are supported with core competencies and narrative for the sake of clarity. 

We Dream Big.?We speak up, innovate, push the boundaries, and keep the creativity flowing. We don’t accept the status quo because the stakes are too high. We have an incredible belief that growth and change are possible. While we dream big, we are laser focused on our intended goals and outcomes for our Scholars, our city, and the world. 

We Show Up.?We show up every day; not just physically, but with a positive attitude and willingness to work, connect, challenge, engage, solve problems, and have fun. We don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. We take action and get the job done. If we don’t know how, we figure it out through our knowledge, exploration, or our network. 

We Embrace Our Differences.?We represent a multicultural nation, and our collective backgrounds, experiences, styles, values, perspectives, and beliefs are an asset to the world. We recognize that together we achieve better outcomes more quickly. Justice and equity start with us using our collective voice. 

We Model the Way.?We exhibit the behavior that we want to see in others and in the world. Titles are granted, but our behavior is what earns us respect. In order to model the way, we must be clear about our guiding principles, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges and failures. 

We Care For Each Other.?We adapt to the needs of the person in front of us. We pause, reflect, and listen. We do our best work when we are in good relationship together. We care personally and challenge directly. 

We Keep Our Word.?When we commit, we are all in. Whether for events, a Scholar, a peer, or ourselves. Our words are as powerful as our actions and are the building block of trust, respect, self-worth, and integrity. 

Position Summary
 

The Manager of Scholar Financial Supports will work with the College Success Team in administering, tracking, and reporting Scholar-related financial supports and serve as a liaison with the finance and donor relations teams in the management of funds dedicated to Scholar financial supports. The Manager will use Asana and Salesforce to maintain accurate records and timelines to satisfy both the Scholar need and the donor need. The Manager will communicate directly with Scholars receiving financial supports throughout their experience, ensuring they have what they need to be successful to graduate on time and with as little debt as possible. The Manager will also support key aspects of the Program Team’s work as needed, including but not limited to enrollment verification, communications, and data tracking. 

Key Responsibilities  

Scholar Financial Support Administration (45%):

• Support recruitment, application review, candidate interview, and recipient selection processes for all Chicago Scholars’ exclusive scholarships 

• Manage scholarship application review and recipient recommendation process for external scholarships administered by Chicago Scholars, such as the SBB Research Group Scholarship 

• Track Scholar data in Salesforce, ensuring timely and accurate data collection and updates; prepare reports on scholarship recipients for donors

• Create and manage financial tracking and reporting systems in collaboration with the Finance Team for all “Scholar Dollar” initiatives (i.e., scholarships, Lifeline Emergency Fund, Educational & Leadership Development Grant)

• Support third-party Scholarship partnerships including outreach, recruitment, and tracking of Scholar applicants and recipients

• Participate in occasional meetings with external scholarship providers

• Manage digital resources regarding scholarship opportunities for Chicago Scholars (i.e., share external scholarships for the REACH Pathways Opportunities Board, coordinate with Marketing/Communications Team to update and maintain the Chicago Scholars scholarship website, and update online scholarship applications)

Scholar Outreach (25%):

• Conduct check-ins with Scholars who receive financial support from Chicago Scholars, including scholarship recipients to ensure they remain on track toward their goals 
• Support annual award and renewal process for scholarship recipients - update, distribute, collect, and track required paperwork  
• Support the team with application review, Scholar follow-up, and disbursements for the Lifeline Emergency Fund and Educational & Leadership Development Grant 
• Support the planning and implementation of informational programs regarding Scholar financial supports, such as scholarship partner and scholarship recipient info sessions, guest speakers, and scholarship application completion workshops
• Manage the scholarships email inbox

Scholar Success Support (25%):

•      Support with College Success Team-wide projects related to matriculation, persistence, and graduation, including Scholar enrollment verification projects and summer matriculation support

• Provide advising and support to college Scholars navigating financial concerns and financial aid questions; guide and connect Scholars to resources through Chicago Scholars, mentors, and partners to address Scholar needs, and create intervention plans as necessary

• Maintain accurate and timely records of interactions with Scholars to enhance knowledge management and support

• Support team-wide programs, events, and projects such as program application review, scholarship application review, and Scholar programming

 Additional Responsibilities (5%): 

• This role will occasionally work on nights and weekends for Scholar and Development events and programming, including monthly Scholar Workshop facilitation. This role is also required to attend and support mandatory All-Staff and Program Team events. 
• Other duties, as assigned. 

Requirements

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree required 
• Experience: 3-5 years of relevant work experience; experience with      Salesforce strongly preferred
• Must live in the Chicagoland area
  
   

Technical Knowledge & Skills

? Salesforce experience strongly preferred

? Asana experience strongly preferred

? Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications strongly preferred

? Ability to handle sensitive and confidential data with discretion

? Strong ability to utilize and adapt to new technologies 

Core Competencies

? Communication - The ability to read and interpret information effectively, clearly articulate a plan of action, and influence others by way of written and verbal mechanisms. Ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders (Scholars, partners, funders, families).

? Accountability & Project Management - Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high-quality work.  

? Problem Solving & Critical Thinking - Able to break down tasks into manageable sections in order to make informed decisions and solve problems. Able to perceive and resolve a gap and overcome obstacles between a present situation and a desired goal.

? Teamwork & Collaboration - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment. Demonstrates awareness and respect of cultural and individual values. Listens to ideas from others even when different from own. Shares time, energy, and knowledge with others to ensure they can succeed.

? Adaptability - Ability to remain flexible and adapt to changing needs and priorities. Willingness to adapt to new technologies.

? Continuous Improvement Minded - Ability to propose and implement new approaches, methods, or technologies to improve practices, processes, and outcomes.

Salary Range 

• Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 

Best Offer First Policy: The data nationally show for every $1 paid to white men, women earn 83 cents, black men earn 88 cents, and black women earn 80 cents. Women and black and brown people are also less likely to negotiate than their white male peers. Chicago Scholars has decided to offer our best offer first rather than wait for a potential negotiation. This allows us to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and ensure fair and equal pay for every role.?? 

If you have questions regarding any of Chicago Scholars employment policies, please reach out to the Human Resources team at [email protected] with the subject line: Policy Question.? 

To Apply? 

• Please visit the Careers page on the Chicago Scholars website and click 'Apply' to submit your application, which should include a resume and cover letter no later than Friday, October 17, 2025, at 12 pm Central Standard Time.? 
• Please include a cover letter that highlights your experience related to specific job functions listed above. Your cover letter should also include your unique strengths that could shine here at Chicago Scholars.  
• Applicants must reside in the Chicagoland area