Chicago Scholars has partners all over Chicago, but one of our longest-standing partnerships came to us through Chicago Scholars’ Founder Tim Schwertfeger, former CEO and Chairman of Nuveen Investments.
Since Tim’s initial introduction, TIAA/Nuveen has supported Chicago Scholars through scholarships, sponsorships, and volunteering.
“TIAA/Nuveen is committed to funding college and career readiness for first-generation college students in our community, so our partnership with Chicago Scholars is a natural fit,” said Karly Ashlock, Director of Community Impact at TIAA. “We know that attaining a college degree can unlock the potential for a lifetime of financial security. It’s been an honor for TIAA/Nuveen to walk alongside these students during such pivotal moments, and to invest in the future they’re building.”
In 2025, TIAA/Nuveen sponsored the New Scholar Orientation opening session, playing a crucial role in the Class of 2030’s first impression of Chicago Scholars. Through their sponsorship, we were able to host a virtual celebration for over 600 students and their parents. TIAA/Nuveen also sponsored pre-filled pencil pouches for every incoming Scholar, ensuring that they all had a piece of Chicago Scholars and TIAA/Nuveen to take into their senior year of high school.
TIAA/Nuveen’s impact extends far beyond the current class of high school Scholars. For several years, TIAA/Nuveen sponsored major components of the Onsite College and Leadership Forum experience, including the Leadership Hub, which gave community organizations and vendors the chance to offer resources to Scholars and families, and our Family Engagement programming. Through their support of Onsite alone, TIAA/Nuveen has touched over 1,000 lives.
Recently, TIAA/Nuveen supported Scholars in a new way by contributing to Scholar Dollars, funding that provides emergency funding and grants to Scholars during their college years.
“TIAA/Nuveen have been such good partners to Chicago Scholars,” said Andre Hebert, managing director of partnerships at Chicago Scholars. “We often see a TIAA/Nuveen representative volunteering at signature events, which is a huge help as we undertake those busy and impactful days.”
“The relationships CS has with TIAA/Nuveen is one we want to highlight because it speaks to the impact of strategic partnerships that can deepen over time,” said Jeff Beckham, Jr., CEO of Chicago Scholars. “What started out as a scholarship opportunity led to a company investing their time, treasure, and talent to ensuring Chicago’s youth have access to pivotal college and career readiness programs. One of our primary contacts at TIAA/Nuveen is even mentoring a cohort of Scholars!”
If your organization is interested in exploring a partnership with Chicago Scholars, please contact Andre Hebert at ahebert@chicagoscholars.org.
