Chicago Booth Receives $14 Million in Philanthropic Commitments to Support Civic Scholars Program

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has received $14 million in total gift commitments from University of Chicago trustee and alumnus John Edwardson and Fran Edwardson to support its Civic Scholars Program. In recognition of the Edwardsons’ commitment, the program will be renamed the Edwardson Civic Scholars Program, and its students will collectively be known as Edwardson Civic Scholars. Along with endowing the Civic Scholars Program, the Edwardsons’ gifts will provide matching funds to inspire other donors to provide scholarships for the program’s incoming students.

“John and Fran’s latest generous gift will enhance the Civic Scholars Program offerings for students and ensure that Booth remains at the forefront of developing social sector leaders committed to solving the most pressing challenges in our communities,” said Madhav Rajan, dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting.

The Edwardson Civic Scholars Program offers full-tuition scholarships for Booth Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students who are committed to impact-driven public or nonprofit sector careers. In addition to receiving a scholarship, students in the Civic Scholars Program benefit from specialized programming, dedicated faculty advisors, and opportunities to engage with civic leaders. The program includes opportunities for students to participate in retreats and roundtable discussions that facilitate experiential and community-based learning, hone leadership skills, establish cross-sector connections and seed future collaboration.

Initially established in 2016, the Civic Scholars Program currently has 29 students and 49 alumni, with applicants for the program’s coveted spots increasing over the past few years.

“One of our main philanthropic interests has been strengthening communities and the fabric of civic life and its leaders,” John Edwardson added. “The Civic Scholars Program, by training tomorrow’s government and nonprofit leaders, gives Fran and me the opportunity to play a part in improving quality of life for as many people as possible.”

A business leader with a long track record of philanthropy and nonprofit board service, John Edwardson has championed business education at Chicago Booth for years, with a particular focus on social sector impact. In 2013, Edwardson made a gift in support of the Social New Venture Challenge competition, which is named for him, and he has continued to fund social entrepreneurship programming at the school. His past giving also includes establishing the John Edwardson Family Foundation Social Impact Scholarship, endowing the faculty directorship at the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, and providing the naming gift for the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, along with a sustained commitment to the Chicago Booth Annual Fund.

“The Edwardsons’ gift in support of the Civic Scholars Program is yet another remarkable commitment to educational access and civic engagement at Chicago Booth,” said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, AB ’81. “Enhancing community impact is an important component of the University of Chicago’s service to society, and I am grateful to John and Fran for their dedication to partnering with us to advance that critical goal.”

In 2011, John Edwardson retired as chairman and chief executive officer of CDW Corp. He previously served in senior executive positions at Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Ameritech. Most recently, he has worked as a private investor, focusing on social impact companies.

Beyond his professional achievements, Edwardson has made significant contributions as a corporate citizen, in Chicago and Illinois more broadly, as well as nationally and internationally. Along with serving as a UChicago trustee, a member of the Council on Chicago Booth, and an advisory board member for the Rustandy Center, he is co-chair of Advance Illinois, an independent statewide education policy and advocacy organization. He is also a retired board member of FedEx Corp. and Rockwell Collins, Inc. His previous philanthropy includes a gift to Purdue University’s School of Industrial Engineering, which was named for him.

Fran Edwardson has also spent much of her career in corporate and nonprofit leadership positions, previously serving as the senior vice president and general counsel of UAL Corporation and United Airlines. She is currently a board member of JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and Duluth Holdings Inc. Her nonprofit leadership roles include serving as chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois and her current position as chair of the board of trustees at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

With the Edwardsons’ gift, Booth will build on the fundamental strengths of the Civic Scholars Program, continuing the legacy established by the Neubauer Family Foundation, which provided the seed funding to launch the program in 2016 and an additional gift to enhance its offerings in 2019. The generosity of the Edwardsons, who remain committed to the program’s initial vision, will ensure that Booth continues to be a top destination for students who aspire to solve complex issues and to better their own communities, locally and around the globe.

An excerpt of this story appeared in the Fall 2025 print issue of Chicago Booth Magazine.