What we do
Best-in-class scholarship granting operations empowering kids, families, schools and communities.
25+ years advancing best-fit education
For over 25 years, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» has been serving Illinois students, families, schools and communities by advancing and advocating for innovative educational policy solutions that increase access to best-fit education.
In 2018, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» helped to pass the historic Invest in Kids Act, providing the first-ever tax credit scholarship program for students from low-income and working-class communities in Illinois — and served as Illinois’ largest Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) for the duration of the program.
In scholarship donations
Raised and processed for Illinois students over the life of the Invest in Kids Act.
scholarships awarded to Illinois students
school and network partners statewide
Our patented scholarship granting technology powers applications, awards and status tracking.
Board and Staff
Jim Perry
Chair — Senior Advisor
Madison Dearborn Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»s
Jack Buck
President
Free Market Ventures
Meredith Kirshenbaum
Principal
Goldberg Kohn Law Firm
Dan Lipinski
Professor of Political Science
US Representative (Former)
Patrick Loughery
Corporate Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»
Kirkland and Ellis Law Firm
John Schoenig
Senior Director of Teacher Formation and Public Policy
Alliance for Catholic Education, University of Notre Dame
Chris Vallace
Managing Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»
M3 Investment Group
Anthony Holter
President
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»
Brandan Allen
Senior Advisor Finance and Operations
Be part of what’s next
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program launches in January 2027. Pledge your support today, or apply for a scholarship on EmpowerXchange.