2. reth inking crisis Dark times face us. The current economic crisis is subjecting
many Americans to insecurity and poverty. Anxiety and worry
have become an everyday part of the lives of working families
— especially those with limited incomes.
But just as the Great Depression provided a backdrop for
enormous change, this crisis, too, offers a historic opportunity
for transformation— to reflect on and rethink the way we do
things. To question our assumptions. To reimagine our work.
To address the challenge before us.
What’s needed is nothing short of bold and sweeping change—
on Capitol Hill, at the kitchen table and in our tax and financial
systems. We need solutions, not band-aids, that can help all
Americans provide for their families and succeed in our 21st
century economy.
Smart public policies will be important, but the government
can’t change this situation alone. It’s up to all of us to roll up
our sleeves, take a sobering look at what we can do and get
our hands dirty.
America is still the land of opportunity— even in these tough
times— but we must decide. .
What changes are needed to improve current conditions for all?
These are historic financial times— what is our part in the story?
3. 4
Remaking CEP
Starting in 2008, we began to rethink how we could best share our passion and
commitment to making financial security a reality for all Americans. Our new
identity represents how we will work to achieve greater impact and inspire others
to join our cause.
We are expanding our financial services
Operating the largest and most established free tax preparation program in
Chicago and Illinois, we connect families to free, year-round financial services
that help them make economic progress.
O
ne-on-one financial coaching
B
enefits screenings at the workplace
F
inancial aid assistance for low-income and first-generation students
We are local in service, national in voice
What we learn on the ground, we translate into best practices in the field and
workable policy solutions at the federal and state levels. We find the solutions
that work.
Retelling our story
Our vision
We envision an America of shared prosperity, where all working families can
access the financial opportunities they need to succeed.
Our mission
We help hard-working, low-income families move from financial uncertainty
to financial security.
Our tagline
Working Solutions for Working Families
How we achieve our mission
We provide trusted tax and financial counseling, giving Illinois families the
tools to make sound choices.
W
e lead a national coalition of organizations that promote economic progress
for low-wage workers and their families.
W
e advance policies and practices to create a financial system that works for all.
4. Center for Economic Progress : Annual Report 2008 7
to basics
back payments
Pay the rent, pay the bills, take the kids to a movie—most paychecks don’t go
much further than that anymore. In good times, it felt like they didn’t have to—
we had enough to squeak by, and then some. But the American Dream can’t
be built on a mountain of debt and people can’t get ahead when, at the
end of every month, they’re falling behind.
Within this economic crisis and this spiraling culture of debt, though, lies an
opportunity for debate, reflection and action. We all have a chance to
rethink financial security in ways that weren’t possible before. At the Center, our
new financial services department pushes us in that direction.
Maurice highlights the potential impact our financial services can make. A father
of three, Maurice learned about our services through our workplace program.
He met with one of our counselors who helped him apply for benefits
to cover heating bills, review his credit report and devise a budget and debt
repayment plan.
Rather than dig deeper into debt, Maurice learned about the fundamentals needed
to start moving forward. After all, you can’t get ahead if you don’t know how.
rede fining
security
5. 8 Center for Economic Progress : Annual Report 2008 9
my
may day
Taxes are at the core of American life—the cost of our democracy. Each year, The average family we serve receives $1,700 back at tax time—likely the largest
we pay them with a collective sigh, eager to forget the matter until next year. lump sum they’ll see all year and their best opportunity to start getting
But where many see a burden, we see an opportunity to usher in a new era ahead. Last year alone, 1,000 opened bank accounts right at our tax sites and
in the American economy—one where Americans save and invest. more than 350 purchased savings bonds, giving them a path out of the cycle
of debt and moving them towards solid financial ground.
More than at any other time, tax time is “the time” for an annual financial
check-up. See where you’re at, set goals, make a plan and use the tax refund
$45 million back into the pockets of nearly 32,000
as a down payment on the future. families,
Saving $5 million in tax preparation fees
reworking
tax time
6. 10
progress
more need
If the economy taught us anything in 2008, it’s this—more isn’t always better.
More debt, more risks, more financial challenges—enough is enough.
In these lean times, we must rethink what it means to have more—we must
reach out to others and define success together.
By bringing together committed and diverse groups of community leaders and
experts in the tax preparation field, the Center is taking its on-the-ground
experience to the next level and making an impact nationwide.
Our regional summits held in Tennessee and Arizona, attended by hundreds,
served as a catalyst for local leaders to work together to achieve more.
For example, our Memphis summit, acted as a springboard for groups across
Florida to create a first-ever state action plan that launched the Florida Financial
Partnership—addressing the everyday financial needs of families all across
that state.
Through our national work, we promote best practices and encourage
collaboration to shape and grow the tax and financial services field. Together,
we can do more.
revitalizing
the field
7. Center for Economic Progress : Annual Report 2008 13
families
moving agendas forward
Perhaps not since the Great Depression have we all been faced with such a
perfect storm of market failures, broken systems and bad policies. These are
big problems that must be met with equally great resolve. In these historic
times, we must be prepared not just to think big, but to act big.
Through the Center’s national arm, the National Community Tax Coalition, we
work to build an economy that works for all Americans. Representing
more than 700 organizations nationwide, the Coalition serves one million
low-income working families during tax time and recruits tens of thousands
of volunteers each year.
In 2008, we activated our national network to successfully make the Child Tax
Credit available to very low-income families. Passed in October 2008, the
legislation benefited parents of 13 million children.
That same year, with our energized network of activists, we began building a
strong grassroots movement on important issues related to financial security
and consumer protection. E-mail alerts and online trainings tell our members
exactly how to take action on key issues.
We bring the needs of low-income families to the table of policymakers, all while
building our growing group of activists who are committed to tax fairness
mmitting
and advancing financial security for all families.
reco
to change
8. Center for Economic Progress : Annual Report 2008 15
our pocketbook
reimagining Income
Foundations, Government: Donated Services,
Corporations $1,296,851 Materials
Today, everywhere you look it seems there’s a heavy heart. Individuals:
$3,252,636
21% Facilities:
$1,307,959
The sting of tough times is fresh and everyone has had to forego 52% 21%
something. Contractual
Services
Interest
Other Income:
Fees: $17,253
Total Income: $6,197,955 $323,256 1%
5%
Here at the Center, though, we believe that success comes
only with sacrifice. Despite the hardships we face today, we
cannot forego the incredible opportunity we have now to create
a better tomorrow. Perhaps once in a generation, we have
Expenses
a chance to redefine, rework and reimagine— to remake an
America in which we all have a real opportunity to succeed.
Now is our chance.
Focusing on the pocketbook issues of working families, we at Local Programs
(Tax and Financial
Fundraising:
$442,064
the Center, are committed to keeping our eye on the future, Services):
$3,517,265
8%
60%
rolling up our sleeves and getting this work done, even as we Management
General:
all walk on shaky ground. $691,500
12%
Total Expenses: $5,864,329
National Programs
(Coalition, Technical
Assistance and
Advocacy):
$1,213,500
20%
9. 16 Center for Economic Progress : Annual Report 2008 17
Our Movers Shakers Matching Gifts Stephanie Brown
Dale Brutlag
Caroline Harney
Ellen Harper-Ham
Every contribution matters. We would like to thank our community of supporters, who help us get the Adams Street Partners LLC
Zenobia Buckley Val Harris
Ninette Bush Robineisha Haynes
work done and are committed to reimagining a better future for working families. Aon Foundation Gary Bushnell Pam Hays
Baxter International Foundation Alva Butenaite Barbara Heffernan
BP Foundation Kenya Butts Curtis Helwig
Citizens Charitable Foundation
Donors David Marzahl and Anne Reusche
MB Financial Charitable Foundation
Bonnie and Emile Garneau
Wendy and Jerry Goldstein
CME Foundation
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Betty Carmon
Vera Carpenter
Bland Henderson
Sharon Hermes
Joann Cecil Cheryl Hernandez
$250,000 + Hilda Renteria Amy Gould Kraft Foods Henry Champen Gloria Herrera
The Annie E. Casey Foundation Mary and Robert Reusche Pam and Bryan Gruley The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Gina Chang William Hersh
Citi Foundation Robert M. Rudolph Nancy and Donald Hanigan Foundation Shelly Christensen Fred Hicks
City of Chicago Seyfarth Shaw LLP Nancy Caroline Harney Morgan Stanley Keylia Clayton Jackie Hilgendorf
Illinois Department of Human Services Sun Traders LLC Heather Henneman Northern Trust Mitchell Climons David Hill
W. K. Kellogg Foundation Jennifer Tescher and Jonathan Eig Karen Kalichman State Farm Companies Foundation Yvonne Clogston Yuki Hirao
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Elizabeth and Stephen Krupkin
Sherrie Combs Jaclyn Hitchings
Foundation $500 – $999 Arwen Lauen
Hsiang-Li Ho
Zach Conrad
The Rockefeller Foundation Raissa and James Allaire
Duane Cole and Joseph M. Powers
Michael Levy
Erica Maslanka
In-kind Support Ginger Conroy Clara Hodge
John Hodge
Regina Cook-Glanton
$100,000 – $249,999 Diane Dichter David May
Association House Florence Cox Russell Holmgren
Bank of America Foundation Kathy and Mark Donahue Barbara and John Morrison
Bethel New Life Center Joyce Cox Larsenia Horton
Citadel Group Foundation Gregory D. Fields Robert Murphy
Bloomington Housing Authority Rita Crim Mike Hoskins
Families and Work Institute Steven E. and Susan Aiken Fortier Esther and Steven Portnoy
Carver Community Center Teresa Cruz George Huonker
Illinois Department of Children and Philip Graff Janene and James Powers
Decatur Public Library Sandra Cuffee A.S.M Huq
Family Services Mary Ruth Herbers and Todd Dietterle Rebecca Riha
Friendship House Eric Dailey Gerard Inguagiato
The Joyce Foundation Kathleen and Neal Kulick Brian Rivera
Gail Borden Library Edith Dammeyer Carl Jackson
U.S. Department of Treasury Marilyn Lillienfeld Melissa Spear
Graphix Products Monika David James Jackson
Theresia and Robert McKenzie Nancy Stern
Harold Washington College Benjamin Davidson Merle Jackson
$50,000 – $99,999 Steven J. Morton Chidinma Rosemary Umesegha
Harvey Public Library District Martha Davidson Juan Jacome
Anonymous Christine and David Murdoch Julia Vaingurt
Heartland Community College Carshae Davis Philippe Jean-Louis
The Chicago Community Trust Michael Olson David Varnerin
Holy Family Immigration Center LaJune Davis Frances Jenkins
JPMorgan Chase Foundation Timothy P. Shanahan Cynthia Wells
Homan Square Community Center Linda Davis Cynthia Jensen
Polk Bros. Foundation Catherine St. Clair Judith Wemhoff
Howard Area Community Center George Dewey Steve Jetton
SuAnn and Donald Tescher Jodie Winnett
Instituto del Progreso Latino Annette Dillard Johnny Johnson
$25,000 – $49,999 Karen and James F. Young
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Stephanie Dock Larry Johnson
Charter One Foundation $250 – $499
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation Kathleen Donahue Anthony Jones
Citi Sarah Abella and Jeff Ruby Up to $100
Lincoln Land Community College Jenna Doran Carol Jones
Grand Victoria Foundation Meghan Andrews Ivonne Amaro
Man-Tra-Con Corp. Madeline Dort Valerie Jones
Illinois Department of Revenue Anonymous Anonymous
Martin Luther King Center Shelley Dravis Nicole Jurek
Office of Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn Anonymous Ray Boyer
McHenry Community College Melody Driver Naveed Karim
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Ann L. Becker Tyrone W. Burks
Mid-Central Community Action Janice Dudley Anne Kasson
Steans Family Foundation Jacci Christopher David Earle
New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Margie Duff Mel Katz
Sam Coady Jacqueline Ellison
Normal Senior Center Mary Dyar Elmer Kaufman
$10,000 – $24,999 Bridget Gainer Gerard P. Gangloff
North Side Community Federal Credit Union Jim Eberwine Michael Keeley
Alphawood Foundation Gina Guillemette AnnaMarie Garrett
Northwest Community Center Erik Espinosa Sylvia Kellogg
The Community Tax Law Project Christina and Adam Hachikian Cherie and John Hansen
Quad Communities Center for Working Alejandro Espinoza Carol Kelly
The Field Foundation of Illinois Suzanne and Daniel Kanter Janet and Harry Heifetz
Families Sybil Fears Yolunda Kelly
Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation Julie Kimmel Joe Hinton
SalesForce Greg Fears Jr. Dorothy Kemper
Kraft Foods Susan B. and Martin J. Kozak Russell Holmgren
Southwestern Illinois WorkNet Center Andy Fergurson Gerald Kerns
Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois Meredith Mack Eliot Klein
St. Nicholas of Tolentine School Kirstyn Fields Igor Kholodenko
Local Initiatives Support Corporation – Chicago Jeannette Mihalek Faye and Steven Krasner
St. Sabina Employment Resource Center Steven Fife Billie Killam
National Fund for Enterprise Development Agnes and David Murdoch Mary Elle Limato
St. Francis de Sales High School Kerry Fitch Brenda Kirkpatrick
State Farm Companies Foundation Dan Nielsen Timothy J. Loughran
Teaming 4 Technology Chicago Brian Flynn Kathryn Kohles
Washington Mutual Bank Diane J. Rasmussen Winnie Luk
Truman College Brian Folkers Kim Kopetsky
Katie and Brian Scullion Stephanie Lyon
University of St. Francis Bill Forney Stanley Koziol
$5,000 – $9,999 Art Sindlinger Dara and Washington Malone
Waubonsee Community College Brett Fox John Kozlowski
The Chicago Bar Foundation Thomas Matias
Emmanuel Gahoua Theodore Krakowski
Anne Murdoch and Michael Walker $100 – $249 J. Lynn and Michael P. McMahan
Oscar Galvez Faye Krasner
Susan Abraham Edeltraut Mucha
Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank,
Trustee Anonymous O.S. Owen and Maria Jossey Volunteers Frank Gant
Mildred Garcia
Steven Krasner
Tom Krause
TCF Bank Lori Azim and Joel Berg Angela Perkins Contributed 36 hours or more
Emile Garneau Kathleen Kulick
U.S. Bancorp Foundation Richard Babcock Daniel Pettit
Delores Garrett Hyacynthia Lanier
Joseph Patrick Barrett Constance and Steven Pocock Jennifer Aaron
Aileen Geffs Heidi Lau
$2,500 – $4,999 Sarah Brotherton Catherine Ro Danielle Aeschbacher
Wanda Gentry Ed Leidecker
National Disability Institute Matt Carlson Anthony Rothert Charles Ahlenius
Mary Geoghegan Gerardo Leon
Discover Financial Services Robert Castaneda Maureen and John Savage Bruce Aiello
Joseph Gerharz Cindi Lexow
Milorad Cupic Erika Schafer and David Sacks Denise Almaraz
Christy Geving Linda Little
$1,000 – $2,499 Arnold Davis Sarah Spear Mauro Amoroso
Mary Gharrity Ed Livingston
Anonymous Katherine Davis Heather Tammelleo Jeff Anderson
Bill Gibbs Jessica Lopez
Robert Davis Philip Dunn Kenneth Towers Jose Anguiano
Ewelina Giera Carole Macias
IBM Foundation Phyllis and David Eig BarBaretta West Patricia Arias
Gay Michele Glenn Rose Marie Mack
Kirkland Ellis Foundation Michael Evangelist and Kathryn Thornton Sarah Atkinson
Michael Glennon Richard Madinger
Dr. Nicol Lee and Rev. Keith Russell Lee Teri Ford and Kevin Quintin Maria Luisa Aviles
Margaret Glynn Dan Malone
Richard Bail
Della Gray Leslie Malz
Charles Baird
Dorothy Gray Emmanuel Mandujano
Chris Baird
Beverly Green Jeffrey Marinier
Maria Barrera
Saundra Green Shirley Marrs
Bill Bartley
Diane Gregart Danielle Martin
Denise Bauch
Myrna Guadarrama Debra Martin
Elbie Baughman
Plan Your Legacy Glennetta Bell
Stephen Berenson
LaTwanda Guyton
Catherine Haener
Luis Martinez
Susana Martinez
Audrey Hagenow Michael Marvin
We are delighted to announce that we received our very first planned gift in 2008! A long-time supporter Jim Bertolet
Brian Hain Frederick Mason
Antonino Bondi
and volunteer of the Center is leaving a legacy in the form of a planned gift. Although immediate cash gifts Sharon Haji Mkanga David Mattingly
Leticia Bonsu
are essential to keeping our programs running, this gift will help us anticipate and plan for future program Josephine Hall Susan McCartney
Ramona Boston
Dick Halverson Candace McCarty
growth. This type of planning is necessary to ensure the continuity in the services we are able to provide Jean Bracken
Pat Halverson Kevin McGee
Paul Brinkman
to hard-working, low-income families in Illinois. For information about planned gifts, call (312) 630-0277. Shawne Hammonds Lynn McMahan
Michelle Brooks
Donald Hanigan Keva McNeal
Sarah Brotherton
11. CENTE R F O R
EconomicProgress
Working Solutions for Working Families
www.economicprogress.org
29 East Madison, Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 252-0280