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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Be a Volunteer

Want to lend your support to our Scholars?

JOIN US IN MAKING AN IMPACT ACROSS KANSAS CITY

Become a Volunteer

Become a volunteer as a way to give. Find the role that is right for you!

If you have any questions or have another way you can volunteer to support our mission, reach out and let us know.

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A young woman with braided hair, wearing a pink shirt and a backpack, smiles while looking slightly to the side, excited about new volunteer opportunities in Kansas City.
A man with a shaved head wearing a gold necklace, brown and blue shirt, and an earring poses against a green background, ready to learn about volunteer opportunities Kansas City has to offer.
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2,000 & Counting!

We’ve made a significant impact over the last nine years, hear from our CEO and Scholars about how much our support has meant to them and the Kansas City Community. Join us in continuing the impact by volunteering your time, skills, and expertise in one of the following ways.

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

Great Jobs KC – KC Scholars Scholarship Program seeks individuals with knowledge, understanding, and experience with the challenges related to enrolling and completing college to serve as volunteer Community Reviewers. Scholarship Reviewers evaluate application essays and recommendations each December – January and March – April. Reviews are completed online, allowing volunteers to participate from anywhere.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

    • Career Preparation: Help set our Scholars up for career success with resume reviews, interview preparation, and more.

 

  • Scholar Workshop Presenter: Scholars in the Great Jobs KC Job Training Program attend workshops on life and workplace skills. Lead a workshop* that expands upon these principles and provides further professional and personal education.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

*Topics will be discussed and reviewed prior to approval of a workshop presentation.

Event Support: We host a handful of events throughout the year to support our Scholars. Event support could involve setup and teardown of the event, registration assistance, and other related tasks.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

Laptop Setup: Laptops are provided to students for the duration of their training when needed. Assist in distributing laptops to Scholars and setting them up.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

SCHOLARSHIP REVIEWER QUESTIONS

Complete the Scholarship Reviewer Application. The Applications Team will contact you with more information for the next review window. If you have any questions, email applicationhelp@greatjobskc.org.
  • Individuals who live, work or volunteer in the six counties that make up the Great Jobs KC service region. KS: Wyandotte and Johnson MO: Clay, Platte, Cass, & Jackson (Note: Individuals with a strong connection to Kansas City are encouraged to apply even if this requirement is not met.) 
  • Individuals at least 21 years of age.
  • Individuals that do not have close personal or professional associations with KC Scholars applicants.
  • Individuals who can attend a 2-hour virtual training session and volunteer 15–18 hours during the December/Januray and March/April review period.

Additionally, Great Jobs KC takes into account regional and geographic diversity while selecting the group of reviewers.
  • Current staff of high schools within the KC Scholars six-county region. KS: Wyandotte & Johnson MO: Clay, Platte, Cass, & Jackson
  • Current staff of community organizations that actively and closely support individuals with their KC Scholars application.
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

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

GET STARTED

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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