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10 years of impact. 10 years of growth.

Great Jobs KC

Three graduates in caps and gowns smile and pose together, wearing white stoles with "Great Jobs KC Scholars" text, celebrating ten years of support in Kansas City. Our Scholars are learning and growing in our paid summer STEM program as they prepare for bright futures ahead.

 

July 20, 2026, is the 10th anniversary of the creation of Great Jobs KC/KC Scholars. Founded on Ewing Marion Kauffman’s belief that an education should be available to EVERYONE no matter their circumstances. Great Jobs KC has worked diligently across the KC metro to serve our community and support systemic change as Mr. Kauffman intended. 10 years later, Great Jobs KC has empowered 17,000 adults and youth to meet their education and career goals by providing access to financial and other resources for post-secondary credentials and opportunities to transition into high-demand, family-sustaining careers. Thanks to Mayor Lucas, we can celebrate this anniversary and honor Mr. Kauffman’s legacy with the official proclamation of  “Great Jobs KC Day” on July 20th, 2026. 

Honoring our core value of continuous improvement, we are always working to put Scholars first. Over the past decade, we have served as a vital engine for economic mobility and educational advancement by continuously evolving our programs. While we started as a traditional college scholarship, over the past 10 years, we have expanded to include short-term training programs for KC Metro adults ready to learn hard skills quickly and get back into the workforce.

We kept pushing boundaries for radical transformation within our city by expanding our support network to include a comprehensive workforce development strategy, delivered through our in-network Employer Partner Program, to match graduated Scholars with local companies hiring in their specific field. Being the bridge between local talent and regional employers, we maintain a forward-looking stance on community equity. As a result of our Scholars’ educational strides, over 3,000 have been placed in great jobs that not only support them and their families but also the Kansas City economy. 

As we mark one decade of community transformation and generational expansion, we honor those who helped make it all possible. Thank you to every donor, every partner, every person who has spoken about our programs so we can continue to grow and reach even more people, tapping into the talent in our own backyards. And thank you to our Scholars for knowing, seeing, and continuously cultivating your talent. It is because of you that Kansas City is stronger and the future is indeed brighter!

About Great Jobs KC

 

Great Jobs KC is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that provides access to college scholarships and tuition-free job training, along with job placement assistance for young people from low- and modest-income families in the metropolitan area, providing a pipeline of talent for a strong regional workforce. Please join us on our mission for economic independence for all. For more information, visit www.greatjobskc.org.

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A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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