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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Ways to give

OPPORTUNITY CREATES  HOPE 
HOPE CREATES  EMPOWERMENT 
EMPOWERMENT CREATES  SUCCESS 
SUCCESS CREATES  IMPACT 

 YOU  create the opportunities that lead to impact across kansas city.

GIVE ONLINE

With multiple payment options, giving online is easy! →

give online

Use credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, or ACH and make an impact.
DONATE TODAY

GIVE BY MAIL

Prefer to donate with a check? →

Give by mail

Mail to : Great Jobs KC, 8080 Ward Parkway, Suite 402, Kansas City, MO 64114. Be sure to indicate in the memo section any restrictions.
OR TO DONATE ONLINE

RECURRING GIVING

Set it and forget it! →

RECURRING GIVING

Create a recurring giving plan and automatically donate every year, month, week, or any desired frequency.
DONATE TODAY

PLANNED GIVING

Explore other ways to give. →

PLANNED GIVING

Donate through a Donor-Advised Fund, IRA Charitable Rollover, Gifts of Stock, Estate Gifts, and more.
LEARN MORE

CORPORATE GIVING

Companies can join our mission! →

CORPORATE GIVING

There are several ways your company can support our scholars.
LEARN MORE

MATCHING GIFTS

Double your donation! →

MATCHING GIFTS

See if your employer will match your donation when you give online.
SEARCH FOR YOUR EMPLOYER
INTERESTED IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TAX CREDITS FOR YOUR DONATION?

Hear from our CEO and Scholars about how much our support has meant to them and the Kansas City Community.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

2025 SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP EVENT SPONSORS

Presenting Sponsor

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation logo with a blue circle featuring a black "K," highlighting the foundation's name in black and gray text—symbolizing its commitment to empowering every changemaker.

Gold Level

Kansas City Foundation logo featuring a blue heart with "Royals" script inside, surrounded by circular text celebrating changemakers on a white background with a gold border.

Silver Level

University of Missouri – Columbia

University of Missouri – Kansas City

APEX Technical Institute

Geiger Ready Mix

Bronze Level

Zeta Driving School

Scrub Hub

University of Central Missouri

DeBruce Foundation 

Northwest Missouri State University

Contributing Sponsors

Complete Technology Solutions

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Me2You Career Academy

Avila University

Centriq Training

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS

SEE A LIST OF THOSE HELPING TO BUILD A STRONGER KC

meet the development team

Maria Chaurand

Development & Donor Relations Coordinator

Laura Cooke

Director of Leadership Annual Giving

Kristin Crites

Director of Corporate & Individual Development

Karolyn Dreiling

Associate Vice President of Development

Gina Piccinini

Grant Manager

frequently asked Questions

General Donation Questions

There are many ways to give, so you can choose the method that works best for you. See above for several options or contact give@greatjobskc.org to speak with someone on our Fundraising & Development team. 

The mission of Great Jobs KC is to provide access to college scholarships and tuition-free job training along with job placement assistance to secure family-sustaining jobs for low- to modest-income individuals in the Kansas City Area. Donations support our KC Scholars Scholarship program, Great Jobs KC Short-Term Training program, and Scholar Support Services.

Great Jobs KC is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your donation receipt as your official record. If you donate online, you will receive a receipt via email upon successful completion of your donation. If you donate via mail, you will receive a receipt within one week of the receipt of your donation. 

Recurring Giving Questions

Yes! Giving monthly to Great Jobs KC is a great way to provide sustainable and consistent support to our Scholars and the services we provide them. Start your recurring plan now.

You will receive a giving summary at the beginning of each calendar year, typically in February. 

Great Jobs KC utilizes an online giving platform, Classy, to create recurring plans. Once your plan is started, you can create a login to adjust your plan details at any time. You can also reach out to our Director of Leadership Annual Giving at laura.cooke@greatjobskc.org. 

Planned Giving Questions

You can use cash, securities, or other property (e.g., real estate, personal property) to make a donation to Great Jobs KC. You can also designate legacy gifts through your will or with a distribution from a retirement plan or life insurance policy. 

Please reach out to our Associate Vice President of Development at karolyn.dreiling@greatjobskc.org.

other donation Questions

Our Federal Tax ID number, also known as an EIN or Employer Identification Number, is 81-3287932. Great Jobs KC is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. 

  • Great Jobs KC

    8080 Ward Parkway, Suite 402

    Kansas City, MO 64114

Please email give@greatjobskc.org.

Yes, if you are a business or individual doing business in MISSOURI, you can take advantage of the Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credits. LEARN MORE HERE
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

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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