Great Jobs KC is proud to announce the 2026 awarding class of its flagship KC Scholars 11th-Grade Scholarship Program. In its 10th anniversary year, 778 high school juniors across the six-county Kansas City region have been selected to receive scholarships of up to $50,000 each, representing a staggering total community investment of $38.9 million.
The Hidden Barriers: Why Kansas City Career Success Requires More Than Just a Classroom Great Jobs KC The Hidden Barriers: Why Kansas City Career Success Requires More Than Just a Classroom People often assume the road to a living-wage career is straightforward: get an education, build some skills, and land a great job. But
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The Kauffman Foundation’s generous grant helps Great Jobs KC get closer to its $100M goal, supporting 50,000 Kansas City residents with job training and education.
paid Summer stem program for manufacturing and construction Great Jobs KC Great Jobs KC x UMKC Launch Summer Tech Program for Manufacturing and Construction with Federal NSF Grant Great Jobs KC is expanding its impact alongside some incredible partners, providing one-of-a-kind education experiences for the KC community. The National Science Foundation has recently awarded
Financial literacy, an investment in your future. Great Jobs KC Having Financial Literacy is an Investment in Your Future. To ensure our Scholars are workforce-ready, they begin their programs with essential professional workshops. While skills specific to their trade are essential, soft skills are equally important. Our Scholars’ first four weeks are in
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Highlights from March, Women’s History Month Celebrating $680,000 toward advancing women in traditionally male careers. Are you a woman in a male dominated field or do you want to celebrate someone who is? Join us on Facebook or Instagram and let’s celebrate successful women TOGETHER! Instagram Facebook-f Table of Contents Message from our CEO Employee
Navigating Your New Reality as a First-Generation Student Great Jobs KC University. A new chapter. An experience entirely your own. To honor the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded access to education for many students across the nation, First-Generation Day was born. This day is celebrated annually on November 8th to
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Table of Contents Message from our CEO Employee Spotlight In the Community Development Team See our IMPACT Are you in need? scholarship application is now open! Are you an ADULT LEARNER 24+ and looking to earn your degree? CLICK HERE to START YOUR FUTURE Need help with your SAI? Here are some tools to help!
Don’t let life get in the way of your dreams, no matter your age Great Jobs KC Everybody has seen those college commercials on television designed to inspire by portraying adult learners who have gone back to college to get a degree. They attempt to capture, in 60 seconds, the sacrifices, challenges and hardships adults
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Before KC Scholars, college felt more like a dream than a plan Great Jobs KC Before KC Scholars came into my life, college felt more like a dream than a plan. I knew I wanted to pursue higher education, but I had no idea how I would get there financially, or even where to start.
Before KC Scholars, college felt more like a dream than a plan. Read More »
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.
Program offers:
Eligibility Requirements:
If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE
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.
